Don’t choose a mini ice lolly as something to take with you for a marathon: it needs to be kept in the freezer, so it isn’t suitable for several hours of running. If you’d rather have an ice cream after crossing the finish line, the mini size makes it easy to choose an individual portion. Compare the weight per lolly, ingredients and allergens of the product you buy.
If you’re looking for something to have during several hours of running, distinguish between a frozen dessert and the food and drink intended to fuel your effort. The Australian Institute of Sport, for example, describes sports gels as a way to provide carbohydrates during exercise. Your chosen fuel should also be tried during training, taking hydration and digestive comfort into account.
An individually wrapped lolly can help you choose a dessert portion without confusing it with everything you eat after the race. Carrefour France, for example, lists eight 32 g lollies in its Carrefour Extra selection; check the weight of the pack you’re interested in.
The recipes in a multipack can vary from one flavour to another. If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging of the specific product, particularly for milk, soya or nuts.
First decide whether you’re looking for fuel to have during the race or an ice cream to enjoy afterwards: frozen products need to be stored differently. For a dessert, the number of lollies isn’t enough to go on; check their weight, the recipe and the allergens too.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel during the race | Choose something that’s easy to carry and consume; try it during training alongside your hydration strategy. | During the marathon, I want to use my fuel without needing a freezer; around 50% of consumers would prioritise this need during the race. |
| A portion after the finish | Compare the number of lollies, their stated weight or the total pack weight, then check the nutritional information. | After the race, I’d like one ice cream and want to know what portion that is; a small portion would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for each recipe in the multipack you’re buying. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, making sure every flavour is suitable matters more than the number in the box; around 20% of consumers would put this check first. |
The fact that an ice cream contains sugar doesn’t make it a practical choice for fuelling yourself during a race. For endurance exercise, ease of consumption, hydration and digestive comfort matter too.
Plan separately what you’ll take with you during the race and try it on your long training runs; save the ice cream for another time.
An ice lolly that needs to be kept frozen isn’t suitable for several hours in a pocket or an unrefrigerated bag. The Joybuy product listing for the Magnum Mini Classic, Almond and White Chocolate selection says to store it at −18 °C or below.
For the journey home from the shop, the DGCCRF recommends using an insulated bag and keeping the journey as short as possible. Then follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
A small ice lolly can contain ingredients that some people need to avoid. Flavours and warnings about possible traces can also vary within a multipack.
Read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the exact box you’re buying, rather than relying on the size or the look of the range.
The brand offers mini ice lollies, including Classic, Almond and White Chocolate selections.
The retailer offers mini ice creams under its Carrefour Extra and Simpl ranges.
The retailer offers mini ice lollies under its own brand, as well as Magnum products in its ice cream range.
ALDI France lists, among other products, a box of 12 MUCCI mini ice lollies weighing 429 g.
E.Leclerc DRIVE offers a range of frozen products that varies depending on the selected drive.
These boxes of individually portioned ice lollies are better suited to a dessert after your race or at home than to carrying as fuel during a marathon. Compare the pack sizes and check the packaging of the product you choose for its recipe and allergens.
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A box of individually portioned ice pops to consider as a dessert after your race. The title lists 12 ice pops weighing 444 g in total; check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
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A selection of individually portioned ice creams to enjoy after your run or at home. The box contains six mini ice lollies weighing 254 g in total; the Joybuy product listing states that it contains milk and may contain traces of nuts. It should be stored at −18 °C or below, and must not be refrozen after thawing.
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Six individually portioned ice lollies, so you can choose a dessert portion. The box weighs 330 g in total; if the weight of one lolly or its nutritional values will affect your choice, check these details on the packaging, along with the allergens and storage instructions.
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A box of six mini ice lollies to consider for a dessert in individual portions. The total weight is 282 g; check the weight per lolly on the packaging if you’re comparing portions, then read the recipe, allergens and storage instructions.
They’re not a practical choice for several hours of running, as they need to stay frozen. For your race-day fuel, choose food or drink that’s easy to consume while exercising, and try it during training with hydration and digestive comfort in mind.
A mini ice lolly is better suited to dessert after you cross the finish line or to enjoy at home, provided you can maintain the cold chain. Its individual size gives you a guide to the portion, but it’s no substitute for the drinks or food you’ve planned for after a long run.
Use an insulated bag and keep the journey as short as possible, as the DGCCRF recommends for frozen products. Then store the ice creams at the temperature stated on their packaging; the Magnum Mini Classic selection featured on Joybuy needs to be kept at −18 °C or below.
Check the information on the specific box you’re buying, as recipes vary between flavours. Depending on the product, the options featured by Carrefour France and Joybuy include milk, soya or almonds, as well as warnings about possible traces of other ingredients. The name of the selection alone isn’t enough to tell you whether it’s suitable.