For a ready-to-eat, protein-focused snack, compare the protein per 100g and per cake: M&S lists 24.8g per 100g for its Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes, while Sainsbury’s lists 26g per 100g for Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes, which are not rice-only cakes. A plain rice cake with a suitable accompaniment gives you more control over the snack, but check the current pack for protein figures and allergens, particularly as retailer descriptions of the Kallo product differ.
Compare an explicitly protein-focused cake with an ordinary rice cake using the figures per 100g and per cake. A flavour or a light-sounding description does not tell you how much protein is in the portion.
Pea- and lentil-based products offer alternatives to rice-only cakes. Check the individual child’s ingredients and allergen requirements against the current pack, including any “may contain” statement.
A plain rice cake can be served with an appropriate accompaniment instead of choosing a packaged cake for its protein claim alone. NHS Healthier Families recommends fruit and vegetables for snacks and advises checking labels when choosing packaged options.
Start with the protein in the portion likely to be served, then consider the rest of the label and where the snack will be eaten.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | Compare protein per 100g on the current packs. M&S lists 24.8g per 100g for its Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes; Sainsbury’s lists 26g for Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes and 8.1g for its plain rice cakes. | I’m looking for a protein-focused cake, rather than assuming a flavoured or light-sounding rice cake has the same composition. |
| Portion | Check protein per cake or serving as well as per 100g. Sainsbury’s lists 1.8g per Kallo lentil cake and 0.6g per plain Sainsbury’s rice cake; cake sizes differ. | One cake may be the whole snack, so I want to compare what that portion contains—not just the larger per-100g figure. |
| Whole label | Read ingredients and nutrition information for sugars, fat and salt alongside protein. Check whether the product is a rice cake, a lentil cake or a coated snack. | My child may prefer a plain cake with a suitable topping, or a ready-to-eat savoury option. I don’t want a protein claim to decide the entire snack. |
| Allergens and setting | Read the current pack, including “may contain” wording. Sainsbury’s says Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes may contain sesame seed and soya. Ask the school, club or activity provider about food brought from home. | If I’m packing a snack for an activity, its ingredients and the provider’s rules matter as much as the flavour. |
Those descriptions do not establish protein content. Sainsbury’s lists 0.6g protein per plain rice cake, while its listing for Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes gives 1.8g per cake.
Compare both per-100g and per-cake figures on the packs before choosing between differently sized cakes.
Tesco lists 0.9g protein and 3.0g sugars per 15g serving for Snack a Jacks Chocolate Chip Jumbo Rice Cakes. Chocolate flavour alone is not a guide to protein content.
Read the nutrition panel for the serving you intend to offer, or consider a plain cake with a suitable accompaniment.
Ingredients and allergen statements can change. A plant-based description also does not replace the allergen statement for a particular product.
Check the physical pack each time where an allergy or intolerance is involved, including “may contain” statements, and confirm any food restrictions with the activity provider.
These references concern the named products, not every snack made by each brand.
M&S Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes are a savoury rice-cake option made with wholegrain brown rice, pea protein and lentil flour.
Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes use a lentil-cake format rather than being conventional rice-only cakes.
Mountain Joe’s Protein Rice Cakes are chocolate- or white-chocolate-covered options rather than plain or savoury cakes.
This lentil-cake option is for shoppers considering a ready-to-eat alternative to a conventional rice cake for school-holiday snacks.
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Consider these if a lentil-based cake, rather than a plain rice cake, suits the child’s taste. Check protein per cake on the current pack because retailer descriptions give different figures. Joybuy’s product description lists milk as an allergen despite also describing the product as vegan; do not rely on the vegan wording to assess a milk allergy.
Compare protein per 100g and per cake on the current pack, rather than relying on flavour or a light-sounding description. For Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes, Sainsbury’s lists 26g per 100g and 1.8g per cake, but retailer descriptions differ, so check the figures on the pack you buy.
Do not assume they are: Sainsbury’s lists 0.6g protein per cake for its plain rice cakes. If you want a snack containing another protein food, a plain cake can be served with a suitable accompaniment.
They need not replace them. NHS Healthier Families recommends fruit and vegetables for snacks and advises checking labels when choosing packaged snacks; a rice cake is another option to consider in that wider choice.
Ask the individual provider about food brought from home and check the product’s current allergen statement before packing it. Department for Education guidance on school food covers food and drink provided in state-funded schools in England; it does not establish a universal rule for snacks brought to schools or holiday clubs.