Shoppers looking for wholemeal options and fibre
You’re looking for a rusk to use as the base for a snack and want to compare the label to check whether it’s wholemeal, how much fibre it contains per 100 g and how much one rusk weighs.
Who might find this snack choice useful?
People who eat shortly before a workout
You want to have a little something to eat, but you’re mindful of when you’ll be training. The Voedingscentrum advises against eating a large portion or foods high in fibre, fat or protein just before exercising.
Households planning to take this combination out with them
You want to take rusks and chocolate sprinkles in your gym bag. Keeping them dry, deciding how much chocolate sprinkles to use and checking the allergens on both packs are all practical considerations.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, choose a rusk to suit when you plan to eat. Then compare the nutritional information on the rusk and decide separately how much chocolate sprinkles you want to take with you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare fibre per 100 g; also check the weight of each rusk. | If I’m not eating the snack just before exercising, I want to know whether the base is genuinely wholemeal and how much fibre it contains. This is the priority for around 50% of shoppers. |
| Timing and portion size | Check how long it is until your workout and keep a snack small if you’re eating shortly beforehand; also consider fibre, fat and protein. | If I’m eating something shortly before a workout, I don’t want to have a large or heavy portion. This is the main consideration for around 30% of shoppers. |
| Chocolate sprinkles and portability | Compare sugars per 100 g and the portion you want; check the allergens and how to keep both products dry. | I want the sweet flavour, but I also want to decide how much chocolate sprinkles to use and take the rusks with me whole. This is the priority for around 20% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing the highest-fibre rusk to eat just before exercising
A fibre-conscious choice for an everyday snack isn’t automatically suitable just before exercise. The Voedingscentrum advises having a small portion and avoiding foods high in fibre, fat or protein shortly before exercising.
Decide when you want to eat the rusk. If it’s shortly before your workout, keep the portion small and pay attention to what feels comfortable for you.
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Assuming ‘dark’ or ‘with seeds’ means wholemeal
On their own, these words don’t tell you whether a rusk is wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, a product can only be called ‘wholemeal’ if all the flour used is wholemeal.
Check the description and ingredients list, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g rather than relying on the front of the pack.
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Counting chocolate sprinkles as a high-fibre base
It’s the rusk, not the topping, that determines whether the base is wholemeal. The dark chocolate sprinkles from De Ruijter and Venz reviewed here contain 64 g and 65 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, according to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo.
Choose a rusk to suit when you’ll be eating, then decide separately how much chocolate sprinkles to add.
Brands to compare
Bolletje
Bolletje offers several wholemeal rusks. Jumbo lists Bolletje Wholemeal Rusks as containing 11 g of fibre per 100 g, with 13 rusks per pack. Albert Heijn lists Bolletje Fibre-Rich Farmhouse Wholemeal Rusks as containing 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The nutritional information per 100 g makes these two varieties easy to compare.
- The larger farmhouse rusk with oats and seeds may not be the right portion shortly before a workout; also check the allergens for the variety you choose.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Wholemeal Rusks in a 140 g pack, with 9 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The product information includes ingredients, nutritional values and allergens, making it easy to compare.
- The product contains wheat and egg. Check the current label when you buy it.
Jumbo
Jumbo publishes nutritional information for Bolletje Wholemeal Rusks and also has a product page for Jumbo Organic Wholemeal Rusks.
- For the Bolletje product listed, you can check details including fibre per 100 g and allergens.
- Jumbo says its organic own-brand variety is no longer available in its online range, so don’t treat it as a current online purchase option.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists a 140 g pack of wholemeal rusks as an in-store product.
- The listed pack gives you a useful reference when looking for the right variety in store.
- Compare the fibre, sugars and allergens on the pack before comparing these rusks with other varieties.
ALDI
ALDI has product pages for Goud Gebakken Wholemeal Rusks, with 13 rusks per pack, and Kiekeboe Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, in a 600 g pack.
- You can consider these two product types separately: one as a rusk base and the other as a topping.
- Check the nutritional information and allergens on the rusk pack before comparing it with other wholemeal rusks.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter is relevant here as a topping. Albert Heijn lists its Dark Chocolate Sprinkles in a 390 g pack, with a 20 g serving and 64 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The serving size and nutritional information listed help you assess the amount of chocolate sprinkles separately from the rusk.
- The product information lists milk and soya as allergens; the topping doesn’t make the rusk base wholemeal.
Venz
Venz Dark Chocolate Sprinkles are another topping option. Jumbo lists a 400 g pack containing 65 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The nutritional information per 100 g can be compared with that of other chocolate sprinkles.
- Jumbo lists milk and soya as allergens. Check the current pack and decide for yourself how much to use.
Wholemeal rusks on Joybuy
These rusks are bases for a snack with chocolate sprinkles: a dark wholemeal variety for anyone looking for a larger rusk, and a regular wholemeal variety. Choose the variety and portion to suit when you’ll be exercising; add the chocolate sprinkles separately.
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Bolletje dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces
An option if you’re looking for a dark wholemeal rusk for a snack you won’t be eating just before your workout.
The pack contains 10 rusks. Check the weight of each rusk when planning your portion, and read the current label if you have any allergies. Add the chocolate sprinkles separately.
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Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces
A regular wholemeal rusk base for putting together a snack with chocolate sprinkles.
The pack contains 13 rusks. Before deciding on a portion, compare the fibre per 100 g and the weight of each rusk on the current label. Add the chocolate sprinkles separately.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat wholemeal rusks with chocolate sprinkles just before a workout?
If you’re eating shortly before exercising, keep the portion small. The Voedingscentrum advises against foods high in fibre, fat or protein at that time, so a high-fibre rusk is better suited to a time when you have longer before your workout.
How can I tell if a rusk is wholemeal?
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and read the ingredients list. According to the Voedingscentrum, a product can only be called this if all the flour used is wholemeal; ‘dark’ or ‘with seeds’ doesn’t mean that on its own. Then compare the fibre per 100 g.
What should I bear in mind about chocolate sprinkles if I’m looking for fibre?
Treat chocolate sprinkles as a topping and check the wholemeal and fibre content of the rusk itself. Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Sprinkles as containing 64 g of sugars per 100 g; Jumbo lists Venz Dark as containing 65 g per 100 g. Decide separately how much topping to use.
Can I assume that all rusks contain iodine?
No. Don’t assume what’s in a particular pack based on general information about baker’s salt. Check the ingredients on the current packaging or ask the manufacturer what salt is used if that matters to your choice.
How can I take rusks and chocolate sprinkles in my gym bag?
Keep the rusks dry in a sealed container, and ideally take the chocolate sprinkles separately until you’re ready to eat your snack. Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Wholemeal Rusks in a dry place and keeping them in a sealed tin once opened. Check the storage instructions on the packs you use, too.