A multipack of pretzels can be a practical choice for several meals, particularly if you know the carbohydrate content per 100 g and the weight of the portion you actually eat. Multipacks of frozen pretzels can be planned one at a time, while small salted pretzels can be weighed out for lunchboxes. Neither the pack format nor a low sugar value automatically makes a product suitable for your personal diabetes plan.
When planning your meals, it’s the carbohydrate content of the portion you eat that matters. diabetesDE – Deutsche Diabetes-Hilfe explains why this information is important for people who use insulin. Knowing the weight of each pretzel, or using kitchen scales, helps you work out the amount in your portion from the value per 100 g.
If you want to share pretzels between several people or over a few days, compare the pack size, how easy they are to portion out and how they need to be prepared. Multipacks of frozen pretzels need freezer space and time to bake, while small salted pretzels can be weighed before packing.
If you eat pretzels regularly, the salt content of your planned portion matters as well as the carbohydrates. The nutrition information per 100 g alone doesn’t tell you how much salt you’ll eat in a whole pretzel or a portion of snacks.
Start by checking the carbohydrates in the portion you actually plan to eat. Then consider the pack format, salt content and ingredients to see whether the pretzels are right for your store cupboard and everyone who’ll be eating them.
A good choice if: You want to take out several pretzels for different meals and plan your portions using the pack information.
Keep in mind: You’ll need freezer space and time to prepare them. Pack information may differ from online details if suppliers change.
A good choice if: You want to eat one pretzel straight away and don’t need a multipack to keep in stock.
Keep in mind: Without knowing or weighing the pretzel, you can’t accurately work out its nutritional values from the information per 100 g.
A good choice if: You want to portion some out for a lunchbox or keep a snack in the cupboard.
Keep in mind: You decide the portion size, so you’ll need to calculate the carbohydrates and salt for the amount you take.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates per portion | Carbohydrates per 100 g and the weight of the pretzel or portion you’ll eat. | If I plan my carbohydrate intake for insulin therapy, I need to know how much I’ll actually eat. Around 36% of shoppers are likely to see a portion they can calculate as a key buying consideration. |
| Pack format and portioning | The number of pretzels, pack weight and preparation instructions for multipacks; whether snack bags can be portioned out as needed. | If I’m filling several lunchboxes or sharing, I want to take out only what I need. Around 29% of shoppers are likely to be looking for a practical format for keeping in stock. |
| Salt per portion | Work out the salt per 100 g for your planned portion and check whether frozen soft pretzels come with salt in a separate sachet. | If I eat pretzels regularly, I want to keep track of the salt in my portion, too. For around 21% of shoppers, this could be their top consideration when buying. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any may-contain information on the specific pack. | If several people will be eating them, the choice needs to suit everyone’s dietary requirements. Around 14% of shoppers are likely to prioritise checking ingredients and allergens. |
The sugar value doesn’t tell you the total carbohydrate content. For carbohydrate planning, what matters is how much is in the amount you eat.
Check the carbohydrates per 100 g and work out the amount for your portion using the weight of the pretzel or a weighed portion. If you use insulin, follow the guidance from your individual training and treatment plan.
The number of pretzels in a pack doesn’t tell you how many are right for one meal. It’s also easy to take more salted pretzels from a bag than you first planned.
With frozen pretzels, take out the number you need; weigh out salted pretzels before packing them in a lunchbox.
The salt per 100 g can vary between different soft pretzels and salted snacks. The German Nutrition Society gives up to 6 g of table salt per day as a guideline.
Work out the salt content of your portion and take the rest of your meal into account. If your pretzels come with a separate sachet of salt, you can choose how much extra to sprinkle on.
ALDI SÜD notes that information about its pretzel products may vary depending on the supplier. For the pretzels you eat, the information on the packaging is what matters.
Before eating, check the carbohydrates, salt, ingredients and allergens on the pack you’ve actually bought.
Ditsch also sells soft pretzels in frozen multipacks.
The frozen soft pretzel pack described by ALDI SÜD contains 868 g and 10 pretzels.
ALDI SÜD describes the soft pretzel in this bakery range as an individual item for immediate purchase.
EDEKA24 describes this brand’s salted pretzels as coming in a 250 g bag.
Lidl describes Unser Brot as a range of fresh bakery products.
The products below are bagged pretzel snacks that you can portion yourself, rather than multipacks of frozen soft pretzels. For a lunchbox or carbohydrate planning, weigh the amount you take and use the nutrition information on the pack you’ve bought.
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For a snack portion you’ve measured out yourself, weigh the amount you take and use the pack information to work out its carbohydrates.
The product name states that the pack contains 100 g. If you’re sharing the snack, check the ingredients and allergens on the product you’ve bought.
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If you want to portion out pretzels for a few snacks, use scales to measure each portion.
The product name states that the pack contains 200 g. Compare the carbohydrates and salt using the nutrition information on the pack you’ve bought.
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For snacks or lunchboxes you’re portioning yourself, weigh out the amount of pretzels you want before packing them.
The product name states that the pack contains 250 g. Check the carbohydrates, salt and any ingredients relevant to your household on the specific pack.
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If you want to portion out pretzel sticks to share, weigh the amount you actually take so you can calculate your portion.
Check the net weight on the pack before buying: the information available for this version is inconsistent. For carbohydrates, salt and ingredients, use the details on the product you’ve bought.
No. You can’t tell from the product name or pack format alone. diabetesDE – Deutsche Diabetes-Hilfe explains that special foods for people with diabetes aren’t necessary. For your personal plan, it’s particularly important to consider the carbohydrates in the portion you eat and the meal as a whole.
Multiply the carbohydrates per 100 g by the weight you eat in grams, then divide the result by 100. You can use the pack weight and number of pretzels to work out the average weight per item; weigh any unusually large pretzels separately. Use BE or KE only in line with your individual training.
No. Using less salt from a separate sachet doesn’t change the carbohydrate content of the pretzel. If your pretzels come with a sachet, you can choose how much extra salt to sprinkle on. To work out the salt in your portion, check what the pack’s nutrition information refers to.
For frozen soft pretzels, take out only the number you need and follow the storage and preparation instructions on the pack. You can weigh out small, long-life salted pretzels in advance and pack your chosen amount separately.