Shoppers counting calories per snack
If you have a calorie target for elevenses, compare the stated figure per cake or serving with the number you plan to eat. A thin cake and a jumbo flavoured snack are not identical portions.
Who is choosing rice cakes for elevenses?
Shoppers adding their own toppings
A plain or lightly salted cake gives you a base for savoury or sweet toppings. Its declared calories cover the cake alone, so consider the topping separately when planning the portion.
Gluten-free and allergen-aware shoppers
Check the exact pack for an explicit gluten-free claim where needed, alongside its ingredients and precautionary allergen wording. Rice-based products can have different recipes and warnings.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the portion you intend to eat, then compare flavour, ingredients and dietary labelling. A figure per 100g is useful alongside, not instead of, the figure for your serving.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Read kcal per cake or declared serving and its weight. Count the cakes and any toppings you expect to eat. | I want the calorie figure to reflect my whole elevenses, not just one cake from a larger portion. |
| Plain or flavoured | Compare calories, sugars and ingredients for the stated serving. Tesco lists less than 0.1g sugars per Tesco Lightly Salted cake, while its Snack a Jacks Caramel Jumbo listing gives 2.4g per 13g snack; the portions differ. | Some days I want a plain base for toppings; on others, I would choose a sweet flavour and check its own label. |
| Dietary labelling | Look for the specific gluten-free or other dietary claim you require. Read ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current pack. | I need to check whether this particular product meets my dietary requirements, rather than assuming every rice cake has the same labelling. |
| Protein-focused options | Compare protein and energy on the same basis, then check the serving size. M&S lists 24.8g protein and 451 kcal per 100g for its Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes. | If protein matters to me, I still want to know the calories in the portion I would eat. |
| Current pack details | Confirm nutrition, ingredients and allergen statements on the pack received. Tesco notes that food product details may change. | I want the label I use to make my decision to match the product in my cupboard. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every rice cake has the same calories
Declared portions differ. Kallo lists 18 kcal per Organic Unsalted Thin, while Tesco lists 50 kcal per Snack a Jacks Caramel Jumbo snack.
Compare the calories and weight of each individual cake or stated serving before deciding how many you will eat.
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Treating a flavoured cake like a plain one
Flavour can come with a different ingredient and nutrition profile. Tesco lists 2.4g sugars per 13g Snack a Jacks Caramel Jumbo snack and less than 0.1g per Tesco Lightly Salted cake; these are different-sized servings.
Choose the flavour you want, but compare its own serving information rather than applying a plain cake’s figures to it.
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Assuming rice-based means suitable for every restricted diet
Kallo Organic Lightly Salted carries a gluten-free claim alongside precautionary wording for milk, sesame and soya. The Snack a Jacks Caramel Jumbo listing includes a precautionary statement covering wheat and other cereals containing gluten.
Read the ingredients, dietary claims and precautionary statements for the exact product you buy.
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Relying on an older online label
Tesco advises that food product ingredients, nutrition and allergen information can change.
Use a listing to shortlist options, then check the pack received before eating, particularly where an allergen matters.
Relevant brand references
These examples show how particular products differ; the figures and claims do not apply to every product from each brand.
Kallo
Its Organic Unsalted Thins and Organic Lightly Salted Rice Cakes offer two plain formats with different per-cake declarations.
- Kallo lists 18 kcal per Organic Unsalted Thin and 27 kcal per Organic Lightly Salted cake.
- The Organic Lightly Salted product has precautionary wording for milk, sesame and soya.
Tesco
Tesco Lightly Salted Rice Cakes are a plain brown-rice option with a per-cake nutrition declaration.
- Tesco lists 27 kcal, less than 0.1g sugars and 0.02g salt per 7.2g cake.
- Tesco advises checking the physical label because food product information can change.
Snack a Jacks
Caramel Jumbo Rice Cakes are a sweet, flavoured option rather than a plain topping base.
- Tesco lists 50 kcal per 13g Caramel Jumbo snack.
- The same listing gives 2.4g sugars per snack and precautionary allergen wording that includes wheat and other cereals containing gluten.
M&S
Its Lightly Salted Rice Cakes and Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes serve different preferences.
- M&S labels its Lightly Salted Rice Cakes gluten free, vegan and vegetarian.
- M&S lists 24.8g protein, 451 kcal and 16.2g fat per 100g for the Barbecue High Protein product; check the serving size before comparing calories.
Rice cakes and an alternative on Joybuy
These options cover a lightly salted rice cake and a lentil-cake alternative for elevenses. Check each pack’s portion and dietary information against what you need.
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Kallo Organic Lightly Salted Rice Cakes 130g
A lightly salted rice cake to consider when you want a plain elevenses base. Kallo lists 27 kcal per cake and describes it as gluten free; its product information also carries precautionary wording for milk, sesame and soya. Add any toppings to your portion calculation.
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Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes 100g
A lentil-cake alternative if you are considering a different base for elevenses rather than another rice cake. The pack is 100g; check its label for calories per cake, ingredients and allergen information before comparing it with a rice-cake serving.
Questions about rice cakes for elevenses
How can I compare rice cakes for a lower-calorie elevenses?
Compare kcal per cake or stated serving, then count the portion and any toppings you plan to eat. Kallo lists 18 kcal per Organic Unsalted Thin and 27 kcal per Organic Lightly Salted cake; Tesco lists 27 kcal per Lightly Salted cake and 50 kcal per Snack a Jacks Caramel Jumbo snack. Check serving weights as well, because these formats differ.
Are all rice cakes gluten free?
No; check the claim on the specific pack if gluten-free labelling matters to you. Kallo labels its Organic Lightly Salted cakes gluten free, while the Snack a Jacks Caramel Jumbo listing has precautionary wording for wheat and other cereals containing gluten. Read other allergen warnings separately.
Do toppings count when comparing calories?
Yes. A rice cake’s declared per-cake figure does not include a topping you add yourself. Check the topping’s portion information separately to assess the elevenses you will actually eat.
How should I store rice cakes after opening?
Follow the instructions on the individual pack. Tesco advises keeping its Lightly Salted Rice Cakes in a cool, dry place and using an airtight container once opened.