Buffet planners mindful of fibre
You want to offer bread or pretzels with a clearly identifiable wholegrain ingredient and comparable fibre information, rather than relying on colour or seeds.
Which options are right for you?
Families with children at the christening buffet
You’re looking for small portions that are ready to serve without baking, and want to check the ingredients, allergen information and salt content first.
Hosts planning timings and quantities
You want to serve several guests freshly baked pretzels, so you need to plan for the pack size, oven time and allergen information.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether the pretzel itself needs to contain wholegrain flour, or whether a wholegrain roll would work as an accompaniment. Then consider preparation and the information your guests may need to plan your buffet.
| What matters | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain and fibre | Look for a wholegrain label and wholegrain flour in the ingredients list; compare fibre per 100 g. | If I’m specifically looking for a wholegrain accompaniment for the christening, I want to be able to see what it’s made from, even if that means choosing a different type of baked good instead of a large pretzel. Around 46% of consumers are likely to prioritise this. |
| Freshness and buffet timings | Check the pack size and any defrosting or baking instructions against the oven time available. | What matters to me is having the pretzels ready to serve when the guests arrive, without holding up the rest of the buffet preparations. Around 27% of consumers are likely to prioritise timings. |
| Allergens and salt | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information; check whether coarse salt is included and whether different options should be served separately. | If children or guests with allergies are eating, I want to know what’s in each option before serving it. Around 27% of consumers are likely to check this information and suitable portion sizes first. |
Which mistakes can you avoid?
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Assuming dark or seeded pretzels are wholegrain
Seeds and colour don’t show how much wholegrain flour is in the dough. EDEKA explains this distinction for bread; the same principle applies to pretzels, so check the specific ingredients.
Check the product description, ingredients list and fibre per 100 g.
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Planning to serve traditional party pretzels as a wholegrain option
The traditional pretzels described by Ditsch, EDEKA, REWE and ALDI SÜD are not wholegrain simply because they’re pretzel-shaped.
If wholegrain is a must, choose an additional pretzel product explicitly labelled as wholegrain or a bread accompaniment described as wholegrain.
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Leaving salt and allergen checks until the buffet
Ingredients and may-contain information vary between pretzel products; some bake-at-home products include coarse salt in a separate sachet. Once unpacked, it can be easier to mix up different options at the buffet.
Read the current packaging in advance, decide whether to use the coarse salt, and have the ingredients information and separate serving options ready.
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Preparing filled pretzels too early
Unlike plain pretzels, some toppings need to be kept chilled. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment recommends keeping perishable foods refrigerated until they’re eaten.
Serve these toppings chilled or fill the pretzels shortly before serving.
Brands to consider
The examples below cover different types of baked goods: a traditional pretzel is not the same as a wholegrain snack or a wholegrain roll.
REWE
REWE provides product information for both a small wholegrain pretzel snack and organic wholegrain rolls.
- The Freche Freunde snack described by REWE contains wholegrain spelt and chickpea flour, and has 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g. REWE’s organic wholegrain rolls contain 66% wholemeal wheat flour and have 6.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The snack consists of small pretzels; the wholegrain rolls are a different type of baked good and need to be baked before serving.
Ditsch
Ditsch describes traditional pretzels in different sizes, including a party-size pretzel.
- Ditsch lists the party-size pretzel as 50 g per piece and provides warming or defrosting instructions for another pretzel.
- The 150 g pretzel described is not labelled as a wholegrain product. Ditsch lists 2.9 g of fibre per 100 g and says it may contain traces of milk and sesame.
EDEKA
When planning to serve the frozen pretzels described, check the preparation instructions and information on the specific pack.
- EDEKA’s product information describes pretzels that need to thaw slightly before baking.
- The product described contains wheat and soya; other allergens are listed as possible traces. EDEKA notes that the information on the packaging may differ.
ALDI SÜD
The MEINE BACKWELT pretzel described is a traditional pretzel from the in-store bakery range.
- ALDI SÜD lists 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g for this pretzel.
- The product is not labelled as a wholegrain pretzel. According to ALDI SÜD, suppliers and nutritional values may vary; always check the information for the specific product.
Lidl
Lidl describes wholegrain and multigrain breads and bake-at-home pretzels as separate baked-goods options.
- Bread explicitly labelled as wholegrain is worth considering as an accompaniment if the pretzel shape isn’t essential.
- Information about wholegrain bread doesn’t apply to bake-at-home pretzels. Check the product description and ingredients list for the pretzels themselves.
Wholegrain pretzels at Joybuy
For a christening buffet, a pack of wholegrain salted pretzels could work as a small snack, rather than as a freshly baked party pretzel.
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Alnatura organic wholegrain salted pretzels, 125 g
An option if you’re looking for small wholegrain pretzels for the buffet instead of large bake-at-home pretzels.
Before serving, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, particularly the information about sesame.
Frequently asked questions
Are dark or seeded pretzels automatically wholegrain?
No. Colour and visible seeds don’t prove that a pretzel contains wholegrain flour. Check the product description, the flour listed in the ingredients and the fibre per 100 g for the specific pretzel.
Is there a recommended fibre amount per pretzel?
No. The German Nutrition Society’s recommended amount of at least 30 g of fibre per day applies to adults, not to an individual pretzel or to children. To compare two products, use the nutritional information per 100 g.
How can I let guests with allergies know what’s in the pretzels?
Have the latest ingredients and allergen information ready for each option you’re serving. If you’re serving filled pretzels, check the spreads and toppings too, and use separate serving tongs where possible.
How should I serve pretzels with toppings that need to be kept chilled?
Keep perishable toppings chilled until serving, or fill the pretzels just beforehand. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment notes that temperature is important when transporting and storing these foods, too.
Can I leave off the salt supplied with the pretzels?
If bake-at-home pretzels come with coarse salt in a separate sachet, you can decide whether to use it. REWE and EDEKA describe products like these, but you should still check the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific pretzel: leaving off the coarse salt doesn’t mean the pretzel is salt-free.