If you have diabetes and are choosing a savoury snack with protein in mind, first compare the carbohydrate content of the portion you’ll actually eat, then check the protein and salt. Classic salted pretzels keep their familiar shape, while high-protein savoury snacks may be another option. However, a protein claim alone doesn’t make any product suitable for your individual diabetes plan.
If you’re planning a snack around exercise, both its protein and carbohydrate content may matter to you. If you have diabetes treated with insulin, checking the protein content doesn’t replace individual carbohydrate planning; diabetesDE explains why carbohydrate information matters when calculating insulin doses.
You want to stick with pretzels and know how many carbohydrates your portion contains. For people with diabetes treated with insulin, the amount of carbohydrate-containing grain snack eaten is particularly important, according to diabetesDE.
You want to enjoy a savoury snack in a manageable portion and take its salt content into account as part of your daily intake. The German Nutrition Society recommends up to 6 g of table salt per day as a guideline.
First decide whether the pretzel shape matters to you or whether you’d consider a different savoury snack. Then compare the nutritional information for the amount you plan to eat.
| What to check | Buying check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates per portion | Check the carbohydrates per 100 g and the weight of the portion you plan to eat. If you have diabetes treated with insulin, use the calculation method you’ve been taught. | When I include a snack in my diabetes plan, I need to know the carbohydrates in the amount I eat. Around 42% of consumers put this need first. |
| Protein for exercise | Compare the protein and carbohydrates per 100 g, and check how much of each your portion contains. | Around exercise, I want to know how much protein my snack actually provides without overlooking its carbohydrates. This need comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Salt and pack size | Work out the salt per 100 g for the amount you plan to eat, and check whether the pack size makes portioning easier. | If I snack regularly, I want to keep an eye on my portion and its salt content. Around 25% of consumers put this need first. |
You can see the differences between snack types by comparing their nutritional information: Lorenz lists 12 g of protein, 69 g of carbohydrates and 3.5 g of salt per 100 g for Saltletts Brezel. According to the nutritional information provided by REWE, funny-frisch Protein Chips Curry contains 21 g of protein and 52 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, but it’s a crisp-style snack, not a pretzel. Neither set of figures replaces calculating the nutritional content of the portion you actually eat.
A higher protein figure alone doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates the amount you eat contains. Lorenz lists 12 g of protein and 69 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Saltletts Brezel; REWE lists 21 g of protein and 52 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for funny-frisch Protein Chips Curry.
Compare the nutritional information for the same amount you’ll eat, then decide whether the pretzel shape or a different snack matters more to you.
For carbohydrate planning if you have diabetes treated with insulin, the total carbohydrate figure is relevant. Looking only at the sugars line means overlooking the other carbohydrates in a grain-based snack.
Use the ‘Carbohydrates’ figure and the weight of your portion; diabetesDE explains why this information is needed for individual calculations.
According to Lorenz, Saltletts Brezel contains 3.5 g of salt per 100 g. Even a smaller portion adds to the salt you get from the rest of your food that day.
Calculate the salt content for the amount you eat and consider it as part of your total daily intake. The German Nutrition Society recommends up to 6 g of table salt a day as a guideline.
According to Lorenz, NicNac's Original contains 34 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, less than the 69 g in Saltletts Brezel. However, peanuts are the main ingredient in NicNac's Original; the product also contains wheat and cheese powder.
If you switch to a different type of snack, check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack too, rather than basing your decision on one nutritional figure alone.
Saltletts is a useful reference for classic salted and mini pretzels if the pretzel shape matters to you.
Protein Chips Curry is a legume-based savoury snack for people who don’t mind choosing something other than pretzels.
NicNac's Original is a peanut-based savoury snack, not a pretzel.
If you’d consider a high-protein savoury snack instead of a pretzel, the product below is one option to compare. For diabetes planning, the nutritional information for the portion you eat remains key.
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An option if you’re looking for a high-protein savoury snack instead of a pretzel; check the carbohydrate and salt information on the pack for the portion you plan to eat.
Paprika flavour; tray of six 50 g bags.
No. The name alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for your individual plan. Compare the carbohydrates in the portion you eat; according to diabetesDE, this information is needed for individual insulin calculations if you have diabetes treated with insulin. Protein, salt and portion size are other factors to consider.
Yes. If you eat salted pretzels, the actual amount of carbohydrates they contain should be included in your individual calculation. Check the figure per 100 g on the pack and work it out for the amount you eat; how you factor this into your treatment depends on the personal guidance you’ve received.
Work out the salt content for the portion you eat and remember to include the rest of your food for that day. The German Nutrition Society recommends up to 6 g of table salt per day as a guideline for your overall diet, not as a limit for a single snack.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack, especially if you’re switching between types of snack. Lorenz lists wheat in Saltletts Brezel; according to the manufacturer, NicNac's Original contains peanuts, wheat and cheese powder. The Verbraucherzentrale explains that ingredients and allergens are among the details that must be listed on packaged foods.