Anyone with a session coming up
You’re considering a snack shortly before training or a competition, and your main concern is avoiding digestive discomfort. INSEP highlights the role of digestive comfort in food choices on competition day.
Who is this choice for?
Fans of a planned frozen dessert
You’re looking for a recipe featuring chocolate, cream, sauce or nuts, and can choose a time when you won’t be eating it shortly before a session.
Shoppers who check the ingredients
You need to check the ingredients and allergen information for each flavour, particularly when a recipe combines milk, nuts, wheat or soya.
What should you check before exercise?
Start by considering how soon your session is and what you usually tolerate well, then compare the portion size and ingredients of the ice lolly you plan to eat. An indulgent recipe or mini size alone doesn’t mean it will suit you just before exercise.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and digestive comfort | How long until your session, and your experience with this type of recipe. | If I’m heading off to train soon, I’d rather not discover during exercise that a dessert disagrees with me; around 39% of consumers put digestive comfort at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Nutritional values per portion | The amount in each ice lolly and the nutritional values per portion, particularly fat and sugars. | To fit this dessert into my day, I want to know what’s in the ice lolly I’ll eat; around 31% of consumers prioritise keeping track of nutritional values per portion. |
| Recipe and ingredients | The flavour, inclusions and allergens listed for the exact product. | I’m looking for a particular combination of chocolate, caramel or nuts, while still avoiding any ingredients I need to steer clear of; around 15% of consumers put the recipe first. |
| Pack size and availability | The number of ice lollies, net quantity, and delivery or collection options for your address. | To plan my frozen desserts, I need a box in a size that suits me and that I can get delivered or collect; access to the right pack size comes first for around 15% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming an indulgent recipe is a performance snack
Chocolate, cream or nuts tell you about the recipe, not whether it’s suitable just before a session. INSEP advises taking digestive comfort into account on competition day.
First, consider when your session is and what you’ve already eaten without discomfort, then choose your flavour.
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Comparing only the figures per 100 g
The portion sizes for the products documented here differ: Magnum gives a serving of 100 ml for its Almonds x4 ice lolly, while Nuii lists 90 ml and 71 g for Cream & Anatolian Pistachio. The figures per portion therefore don’t relate to the same quantity.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, then consider how many ice lollies you plan to eat.
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Guessing allergens from the flavour alone
Recipes can include several ingredients beyond those highlighted on the front of the box. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be emphasised on the labels of prepacked foods.
Check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the box for your chosen flavour, even if you already know the brand.
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Confusing the box size with the amount in each ice lolly
A pack of mini ice lollies tells you how many are in the box, but not necessarily the nutritional values for each flavour.
Check the portion size for the exact product and, when ordering frozen food, confirm delivery or collection options for your address.
Brands to know
Magnum
The range includes vanilla or chocolate ice lollies coated in chocolate, including almond varieties and mini sizes.
- For its Almonds x4 product, Magnum lists 270 kcal, 17 g of fat, 23 g of sugars and 25 g of carbohydrate per 100 ml ice lolly.
- This product contains milk and almonds, and may contain other nuts. Its nutritional values shouldn’t be assumed to apply to other boxes in the range.
Nuii
Nuii offers ice lollies featuring ingredients such as cream, chocolate, nuts or coffee, depending on the recipe.
- For Cream & Anatolian Pistachio, Nuii lists 244 kcal, 14 g of fat and 20 g of sugars per 71 g portion.
- This recipe includes milk, pistachio, wheat and soya, among other ingredients. Ingredients and dietary information vary by flavour, so check the packaging for the one you choose.
Côte d’Or
Auchan lists a Côte d’Or ice lolly combining vanilla, caramel sauce, chocolate and almonds.
- This combination of ingredients makes it easy to spot if you’re looking for a caramel and almond dessert.
- To compare the portion size and nutritional values with another product, check the information for the exact ice lolly on its packaging.
Carrefour Sensation
Carrefour’s range includes several ice lollies and frozen bars, with flavours such as double chocolate, salted butter caramel, vanilla and macadamia, chocolate and pecan, pistachio, and speculoos.
- The range of flavours and pack sizes lets you choose a recipe and number of units to suit your preferences.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of the product you’ve chosen before comparing it with another.
Ice lollies on Joybuy
These products include recipes with almonds, caramel or pecans, as well as several mini sizes. If you’re having one before exercise, choose the timing according to what you usually tolerate and check the portion size and ingredients on the exact box.
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Magnum Vanilla Almond, 8 ice lollies, 600 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for a vanilla and almond recipe to enjoy well before a session, or one you already know you tolerate well.
Box of 8 ice lollies, 600 g in total. Check the nutritional values per portion and allergen information on this box.
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Nuii Caramel White Chocolate & Texan Pecan, 4 × 66 g
For when you fancy caramel, white chocolate and pecans, at a time that suits what you usually tolerate before exercise.
Four 66 g portions are listed. Check the nutritional information and ingredients list for this specific recipe.
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Magnum Mini Classic, Almond & White Chocolate, 6 ice lollies, 254 g
A selection of mini ice lollies with different flavours, if you’d like a choice — but don’t assume the mini size will suit you just before a session.
Box of 6 ice lollies, 254 g in total. Check the nutritional information and allergens for the flavour you plan to eat.
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Magnum Double Billionaire's Mini, 6 ice lollies, 282 g
For anyone looking for the Double Billionaire's flavour in a mini size, and planning their dessert around their session.
Box of 6 ice lollies, 282 g in total. Check the portion size, nutritional values and allergens on the packaging for this variety.
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Magnum Mini Deluxe Caramel, 6 ice lollies, 330 g
For when you fancy caramel in a mini ice lolly, without assuming that its size means it will suit you before exercise.
Box of 6 ice lollies, 330 g in total. Check the amount in each ice lolly, as well as the ingredients and nutritional values for this box.
Frequently asked questions
Is an indulgent ice lolly a good choice just before an intense session?
It’s not a default choice just before an intense session. INSEP reminds us that digestive comfort matters on competition day. If you fancy this type of dessert, consider how long you have before exercise and how well you’ve tolerated the recipe in the past.
Which allergens should you check on the box?
Check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information for the exact product. Magnum Almonds contains milk and almonds; Nuii Cream & Anatolian Pistachio includes milk, pistachio, wheat and soya, among other ingredients. Ingredients can vary from one flavour to another.
How should you arrange delivery of ice lollies?
Before ordering frozen food, check whether delivery or collection is available for your address. When your order arrives, follow the storage instructions on the box.
Does ‘premium’ mean an ice lolly is suitable for sport?
No. Here, it describes the indulgent positioning of the recipe, not its performance during exercise. When choosing, look at the portion size, ingredients, nutritional values and how well you tolerate it, rather than relying on this label alone.