For a 5k lasting under an hour, custard creams need not be bought as during-run fuel: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says snacks during shorter activities may only be needed for hypoglycaemia prevention or treatment. If the biscuits are mainly for household sharing, compare the 400g Tesco and Asda packs with the amount your household will use. Tesco also lists a 750g format in five 150g packs, but check its availability before relying on it.
A biscuit may be familiar and easy to count, but timing and fat content matter if you are considering one before a 5k. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes different snack considerations for exercise lasting under and over 60 minutes.
Pack weight and the number of inner packs affect how much is opened at once. Tesco and Asda list 400g custard creams; Tesco also lists a 750g format divided into five 150g packs.
Ingredient and precautionary allergen wording differs between products. Check the current physical pack for the person who will eat the biscuits rather than relying on a previous purchase.
Start with whether the biscuits are for ordinary household sharing or a snack around a run, then compare the pack and label details that matter for that use.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Run timing | University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes pre-workout snacks eaten 60–90 minutes before exercise as containing carbohydrate and protein with minimal fat. For shorter activities, a snack during exercise may only be needed for hypoglycaemia prevention or treatment. | If I am considering a biscuit before a 5k, I want to think about when I last ate and whether this snack fits my usual running routine, rather than treating it as necessary during-run fuel. |
| Pack format | Tesco and Asda list 400g packs. Tesco lists a 750g format as five 150g packs; its product page marked it out of stock when reviewed, so check availability before choosing that format. | For a shared biscuit cupboard, I want enough for the household without opening more biscuits at once than we expect to use. |
| Per-biscuit figures | Tesco lists 8.4g carbohydrate and 2.5g fat per biscuit for its 400g pack. Asda lists 8.1g carbohydrate and 2.6g fat per biscuit for its 400g pack. Compare the same serving basis on current labels. | I would rather count the biscuits I plan to eat than judge a serving from the weight of the whole pack. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredient and allergen statement on the physical pack. Asda lists wheat and milk and warns of possible rye, barley, oats and sesame; precautionary wording varies by product. | When buying for someone with a food allergy, I need to check the exact product each time, including its precautionary wording. |
For shorter activities, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says snacks during exercise may only be needed for hypoglycaemia prevention or treatment. A larger biscuit pack does not change that distinction.
Choose the pack for how your household will use it. If you manage glucose around exercise, follow your individual clinical plan rather than general biscuit-buying advice.
Custard creams also contain fat. Tesco and Asda list 2.5g and 2.6g fat per biscuit respectively for their 400g packs, while University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes minimal fat as a feature of a pre-workout snack eaten 60–90 minutes before exercise.
If you are considering biscuits before a run, check the per-biscuit label and try any unfamiliar snack during ordinary training rather than relying on it for the first time at an event.
Tesco lists its 750g custard creams as five 150g packs, but the product page marked the format out of stock when reviewed. The inner packs are useful only if the size and availability suit the household.
Recheck stock and decide how many biscuits you expect to use after each inner pack is opened.
Allergen statements vary: Asda warns of possible rye, barley, oats and sesame, while Sainsbury's says its 200g custard creams are not suitable for customers with a barley allergy because of manufacturing methods.
Read the physical pack's current ingredients and allergen statement before eating or serving the biscuits.
Tesco lists both a 400g custard-cream pack and a 750g format divided into five 150g packs.
Asda lists an own-label 400g custard-cream pack for household sharing.
The Crawford's custard-cream listing is a 300g branded pack with approximately 26 biscuits.
Sainsbury's lists a smaller 200g custard-cream pack with approximately 16 servings.
M&S lists Extra Cream and chocolate-coated custard-cream variants for a flavour-led biscuit choice.
Joybuy listed McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams Biscuits in a 300g format.
The Joybuy option here is a 125g gluten-free custard-cream pack for shoppers considering a smaller format, rather than a like-for-like 400g household pack.
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For a household considering custard creams in a smaller format, this gluten-free pack contains 125g. Check the current physical pack for its full ingredients and allergen information before buying for a dietary requirement.
Not necessarily for a 5k lasting under an hour. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says snacks during shorter activities may only be needed for hypoglycaemia prevention or treatment; individual glucose-management decisions should follow a clinical plan.
Consider timing, portion size and the fat listed per biscuit. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes a snack 60–90 minutes before training as containing carbohydrate and protein with minimal fat; the Tesco and Asda 400g custard creams list 2.5g and 2.6g fat per biscuit respectively.
Tesco and Asda list 400g packs if that amount suits your household. Tesco's 750g format comes as five 150g packs, but its listing marked it out of stock when reviewed, so check availability and how many biscuits you will use after opening an inner pack.
No. Read the current physical pack's ingredient and allergen statement for the exact product. Asda's 400g custard creams contain wheat and milk and carry additional precautionary wording; other products can have different warnings.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and its best-before information. If a format has separate inner packs, consider opening only the one your household expects to use.