Gym-goers avoiding gluten
A familiar biscuit can be an option after exercise, but check that the particular pack says gluten-free. The biscuit name alone does not establish suitability.
Who is this choice for?
Gym-bag snack packers
Individually packed biscuits are easier to carry as a defined portion. Their packaging does not tell you how much protein the snack contains.
People planning food around their next meal
If there will be a wait after exercise, compare the biscuit’s stated serving and nutrition with what else you intend to eat and drink.
What should you check?
Start with the gluten-free claim on the specific pack, then compare portion formats and nutrition using the same serving basis.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free identification | Look for a gluten-free statement on the specific pack. Read its current ingredients and allergy advice, especially if you have another allergy. | I need to tell a gluten-free custard cream apart from a conventional one, without relying on the brand name. |
| Nutrition per portion | Match the stated serving sizes before comparing figures. Tesco lists 0.4 g protein per 14 g biscuit; its per-biscuit figure is not directly equivalent to Schär’s 25 g two-biscuit pack. | If my next meal is some time away, I want to know what the biscuits contribute to the snack, rather than judging them by the gluten-free label. |
| Carrying and portioning | ASDA describes Schär’s 125 g product as five 25 g packs, with two biscuits in each. Tesco’s Free From custard creams are listed as a 125 g loose pack. | A sealed portion would be convenient in my gym bag; alternatively, I can portion biscuits from a larger pack before leaving. |
| Other dietary requirements | Check separate milk-free or vegan statements where relevant, along with ingredients and precautionary allergy advice. A gluten-free claim does not answer every dietary question. | I may need to check requirements besides gluten, so I cannot assume one free-from claim covers them all. |
What could catch you out?
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Assuming every custard cream is gluten-free
The specific conventional McVitie’s Tasties and Crawford’s custard creams listed by Joybuy and Tesco contain wheat flour. The biscuit style is not a gluten-free assurance.
Choose a pack specifically labelled gluten-free and read its current ingredients and allergy advice.
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Equating a portable biscuit with a whole post-gym snack
Individual wrapping changes how biscuits are carried, not their nutrition. Tesco lists 0.4 g protein per biscuit for its Free From custard creams.
Check the portion you intend to eat and consider what else you plan to have before your next meal.
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Comparing unlike serving sizes
ASDA describes a Schär portion as two biscuits weighing 25 g; Tesco’s per-biscuit figures refer to a 14 g biscuit. The figures describe different amounts of food.
Use per 100 g figures to compare products on the same weight basis, then check the nutrition for the portion you would actually eat.
Relevant brand references
Schär
Schär lists gluten-free custard creams in a 125 g product; ASDA describes this version as five two-biscuit packs.
- The individual packs offer a defined portion to carry.
- Schär lists 3.5 g protein per 100 g for this product; portion packaging does not change that figure.
Tesco
Tesco Free From Custard Creams are a listed 125 g loose-pack option labelled gluten-free and milk-free.
- Tesco gives per-biscuit figures, including 0.4 g protein and 2.8 g sugar per 14 g biscuit.
- Check the current pack’s ingredients and allergy advice rather than extending these details to other Tesco biscuits.
ASDA
ASDA lists its own Free From Custard Creams as a gluten-free, milk-free product.
- Its listing gives per-biscuit figures, including less than 0.5 g protein.
- Read the current pack for ingredients and allergy information.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists its Free From Custard Creams as gluten-free and milk-free.
- The listing provides per-biscuit nutrition, including less than 0.5 g protein.
- Those product statements do not describe Sainsbury’s conventional biscuits.
McVitie’s
The specific conventional McVitie’s Tasties Custard Creams listed by Joybuy are a useful reminder to check the variant, not a gluten-free option.
- That listing names wheat flour and identifies wheat as an allergen; do not infer gluten-free suitability from the custard-cream name.
Gluten-free custard creams on Joybuy
This Schär option represents individually portioned gluten-free custard creams for carrying after the gym.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125 g
A gluten-free custard cream to consider when you want biscuits to carry after the gym. ASDA describes this 125 g Schär product as five 25 g packs containing two biscuits each; check the current pack format and nutrition for the portion you intend to eat.
Common questions
Does gluten-free also mean suitable for a wheat allergy?
No. A gluten-free claim does not settle a separate wheat-allergy question: Coeliac UK notes that some gluten-free foods can contain specially processed wheat starch. Check the specific pack’s ingredients and allergy advice.
Are custard creams enough as a post-gym snack?
That depends on what else you will eat and when: a gluten-free label does not describe the biscuit’s overall nutrition. Tesco lists 0.4 g protein per 14 g biscuit for its Free From custard creams, so check the portion and nutrition panel if the biscuits will be your whole snack before a later meal.
How should I handle gluten-free biscuits after opening them?
Keep them away from crumbs, shared spreads and surfaces used for gluten-containing food. Coeliac UK advises cleaning preparation surfaces and using clean utensils to reduce cross-contamination; follow the biscuit pack’s storage instructions as well.