To choose organic noodles for breakfast or another meal connected with cycling, first look for a recognised certification. Then choose between wheat, rice and egg noodles according to the ingredients you can eat. The organic label tells you how the product was made, not whether a meal is right for your ride. Also check the portion you have in mind, the nutritional information and the allergens listed on the packaging.
If organic certification is your top priority, look for the EU organic logo or the AB logo on the product you buy. The French Ministry of Agriculture states that these logos are reserved for products that meet the requirements for organic farming. The ingredients list and nutritional information can then help answer other questions about your meal.
Don’t assume rice noodles are gluten-free just because rice is their main ingredient. The organic semi-wholegrain rice noodles from Jom Bao and Noad featured by Auchan carry this claim. Check the packaging of the specific product you buy.
If preparation time matters around a ride, compare the cooking instructions and ingredients for each product. Auchan says the Noad noodles cook in 4 minutes, while the Jom Bao Wok Express noodles can be cooked straight in a wok. Joybuy’s product listing says the Hakubaku udon take 10 minutes. These timings alone don’t tell you what to include in your meal.
For a meal before or after a bike ride, start by checking the product’s organic status. Then check for any ingredients you need to avoid and look at the information that can help you put your meal together. Cooking time can help you choose between options that already meet your dietary needs.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Look for the EU organic logo or AB logo on the specific product, then read its ingredients list. | I want to tell certified organic noodles apart from a product that simply uses organic-sounding marketing. Around 42% of consumers would put this check at the top of their list. |
| Gluten, eggs and other ingredients | Check for a ‘gluten-free’ claim if needed, and read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packet. | If I need to avoid gluten or eggs, the recipe’s suitability matters more than its shape or cooking time. This would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Preparation and meal composition | Compare cooking times and nutritional values per 100 g. Also check the per-portion values where available. | When I’m planning a meal around a ride, I want to choose a portion and accompaniments that fit the time I have. Around 25% of consumers would make this their main consideration. |
Organic certification relates to how a product is made. It doesn’t determine how much you should eat or the nutritional make-up of your meal. What you eat around exercise depends on factors such as the ride and the individual.
Use the organic logo to check the certification, then read the nutritional information and choose the rest of your meal to suit your needs.
Rice and organic certification are no substitute for a product-specific ‘gluten-free’ claim. Auchan lists the organic semi-wholegrain Jom Bao and Noad products as gluten-free, but this doesn’t apply to all rice noodles.
If you need to avoid gluten, check the claim on the packaging of the specific product you’re buying.
The organic Jardin Bio Étic Chinese noodles featured by Carrefour contain wheat flour and 15% egg. The product listing also mentions possible traces of soya, mustard and lupin.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packet you buy. Don’t assume that one product’s ingredients apply to an entire brand.
Carrefour offers wholemeal wheat noodles in blocks and egg noodles in 250 g nests under this brand, as well as 220 g packs of organic rice noodles.
Auchan offers organic semi-wholegrain Thai rice noodles labelled ‘gluten-free’, organic Thai rice noodles and Wok Express noodles made with organic durum wheat semolina.
Joybuy’s product listing describes 270 g Hakubaku udon as organic, made with 96% organic wheat flour and 4% salt. It says they take 10 minutes to prepare.
Carrefour offers 250 g packs of organic Jardin Bio Étic Chinese egg noodles, made with soft wheat flour and 15% egg.
Look for the EU organic logo or the AB logo on the product you buy. The French Ministry of Agriculture explains that these logos are reserved for products that meet the requirements for organic farming. A section name or the word ‘natural’ on its own is no substitute for checking.
No. Check for a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the specific product and its packaging. Auchan states this for the organic semi-wholegrain Jom Bao and Noad rice noodles mentioned here, but the claim doesn’t automatically apply to other rice noodle recipes.
No. It tells you how the noodles were produced, not what portion to eat or what to include in the rest of your meal. Read the nutritional information, including carbohydrates, protein, fat, sugars and salt per 100 g. Also consider your planned portion and the other foods in your meal.
Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the product you buy. For example, Carrefour’s listing for the organic Jardin Bio Étic Chinese noodles states that they contain wheat and 15% egg, and may contain traces of soya, mustard and lupin.