Parents keeping an eye on salt and ingredients
If you’re looking for a savoury snack, it’s worth checking the salt, ingredients and allergens before you buy. The Healthy Start network recommends that toddlers have salt and snack foods sparingly.
Who should take care when choosing?
Families with fussy eaters
If your child is more likely to accept a familiar pretzel than other grain-based foods, the ingredients list can help you find a wholegrain or multigrain option. You’ll only know whether they like its texture once you offer it to them.
Parents considering their child’s chewing ability
Your child needs to be able to bite off and chew a pretzel safely. The Healthy Start network points out that toddlers’ chewing ability may be limited until their molars come through.
What should you look for when buying?
When choosing a pretzel for snack time, first consider whether your child can chew it comfortably. Then compare the salt and ingredients of the specific option. Wholegrain is another factor to consider.
| What matters | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and portion size | How soft or hard is this particular pretzel? Can you break it into a small portion that’s suitable for your child’s chewing ability? | If my child can’t chew confidently yet, I don’t want to assume a hard, crunchy pretzel is like a soft pretzel. For around 42% of consumers, a texture that’s easy to chew is the top priority. |
| Salt, ingredients and allergens | Compare the salt per 100 g in the nutrition information and check the ingredients list. For loose products, ask for allergen information. | When choosing a savoury snack, I want to know how much salt the option contains and which ingredients are relevant to my child. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Acceptance and variety of grains | For products labelled wholegrain or multigrain, check which grains and flours are actually listed in the ingredients. | My child likes familiar pretzels, and I’d like to gently introduce other grain varieties without assuming something is wholegrain just because it’s dark in colour. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this combination of acceptance and grain variety. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming crunchy pretzels are like soft pretzels
Textures can vary considerably. The Huober Bio Schwäbische Knusper-Brezel listed by EDEKA24 is crunchy and, according to the product information, contains 5.5 g of salt per 100 g. This doesn’t tell you how much salt a soft pretzel contains.
Check the texture and salt content of each product type separately instead of relying on the word ‘pretzel’ alone.
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Assuming a dark colour means it’s wholegrain
Colour alone doesn’t tell you which flours have been used. To find out whether a pretzel contains a mix of white and wholemeal flour, check the ingredients of the specific product.
Look for wholegrain ingredients explicitly named in the product description and ingredients list.
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Relying on in-store pretzel information without checking
ALDI SÜD notes that its MEINE BACKWELT Laugenbrezel may be supplied by different suppliers, so the nutrition information may vary accordingly.
Check the current information on the product or in store when you buy it.
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Making pretzels an everyday go-to snack
The Healthy Start network recommends a varied diet for toddlers and advises using salt and snack foods sparingly.
Think of a pretzel as an occasional small addition, and offer other age-appropriate foods as part of your child’s everyday diet too.
Brands to consider
Ditsch
The published product information for the Ditsch Laugenbrezel makes it possible to compare a specific bakery pretzel.
- Ditsch lists wheat as an allergen and 2.05 g of salt per 100 g for this Laugenbrezel.
- This information applies to this option only. It doesn’t apply to all Ditsch products or indicate whether a toddler can chew them safely.
MEINE BACKWELT (ALDI SÜD)
The in-store Laugenbrezel is an option to compare if nutrition information is important to you before buying.
- ALDI SÜD lists 1.6 g of salt and 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g for the Laugenbrezel shown.
- As different suppliers may provide the product, the current information on the product in store is the one to follow.
LIDL – Unser Brot
Lidl describes an in-store range of freshly baked bread and pastries, including wholegrain and multigrain breads.
- If you’re looking for a different grain option, you can check what’s available at your local store.
- The range description alone doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients or nutrition of a specific pretzel.
Huober
The Bio Schwäbische Knusper-Brezel is an example of packaged, crunchy pretzel bread. It isn’t the same as a soft, freshly baked pretzel.
- EDEKA24 lists wheat, possible traces of sesame and 5.5 g of salt per 100 g for the product listed.
- Because it’s crunchy, parents should check separately whether their child can chew this product safely at all.
Pretzels at Joybuy
Suitable products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are pretzels suitable as an everyday snack for toddlers?
They’re not ideal as an everyday go-to snack. The Healthy Start network recommends using salt and snack foods sparingly for toddlers, so a pretzel is better viewed as an occasional small portion within a varied diet.
Is it enough to remove the visible salt from a pretzel?
No. That won’t show you the total salt content, as there may also be salt in the dough. Check the salt per 100 g for the specific option too.
How can I tell whether a pretzel is wholegrain?
Check the product description and ingredients list for wholegrain ingredients explicitly named, rather than judging by the colour. The Healthy Start network points out that wholegrain foods generally contain more vitamins, minerals and fibre than foods made with white flour. The label will show which flours are in a particular pretzel.
Which allergen information is important for pretzels?
Check the information for the specific pretzel, particularly its ingredients and any possible traces. Ditsch lists wheat as an allergen for its Laugenbrezel; possible traces of sesame are also listed for the Huober Knusper-Brezel sold by EDEKA24. If you’re buying loose products, ask for allergen information.