For a protein-led office snack, compare protein per 100g and per cake rather than assuming every rice cake fits the brief. Kallo lists 26.0g per 100g for its lentil cakes, while M&S lists 24.8g per 100g for its barbecue rice cakes; choose according to whether you want a rice-cake format or are happy with a lentil-based alternative, and check the current pack before relying on its figures. Tesco’s plain lightly salted rice cakes list 0.7g per cake, making them a crunchy base rather than the protein-led option on their own.
A dry, crunchy snack can be convenient at a desk, but its protein content depends on the product and portion. Kallo lists 26.0g per 100g for its Protein Packed Lentil Cakes, and M&S lists 24.8g per 100g for its Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes. Check the pack you intend to eat.
Kallo labels its Protein Packed Lentil Cakes suitable for vegans and vegetarians. M&S gives the same suitability labels for its Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes, which contain rice alongside pea protein and lentil flour.
Both protein-led examples are labelled gluten-free, but that label does not settle other allergen questions. Kallo warns of possible sesame, soya and milk cross-contact, so inspect the current pack for the allergens you need to avoid.
Start with the protein figure for the amount you expect to eat, then check whether the format, storage instructions and allergen information work at your desk.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per portion | Compare protein per 100g on the current packs, then check the figure per cake or serving. Tesco lists 0.7g per plain rice cake; Tesco’s Kallo listing gives 1.8g per lentil cake. | I want the cakes I actually eat at work to contribute protein, not just carry a promising name. |
| Cake format | Read the ingredients: Kallo’s cakes are lentil-based, while M&S Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes include wholegrain rice, buckwheat, pea protein and lentil flour. A plain rice cake can instead serve as a base for another food. | If I specifically want rice cakes, I’ll look at the M&S format. If a lentil cake suits me, I can compare Kallo’s portion information too. |
| Desk storage | Check whether the exact product is ready to eat and how it must be stored. Tesco’s Kallo listing says to keep it in a cool, dry place, then airtight after opening and use it within 14 days. | A pack kept in an office cupboard needs storage instructions I can follow after opening. |
| Allergens | Check the current pack’s ingredients and precautionary statements. Kallo labels its lentil cakes gluten-free but warns of possible sesame and soya; Kallo also flags possible milk cross-contact. | Even if I need a gluten-free snack, I still have to check any other allergens that matter to me. |
Tesco Lightly Salted Rice Cakes list 9.3g protein per 100g, compared with Kallo’s published 26.0g per 100g for its lentil cakes and M&S’s 24.8g per 100g for its barbecue rice cakes. These are different products, not interchangeable protein choices.
Compare the current nutrition panels. Choose plain cakes as a base if another food will provide the protein you want.
Tesco’s Kallo listing gives 25kcal and 1.8g protein per lentil cake. The per-cake energy figure alone does not tell you the protein content of the portion you plan to eat.
Check the number of cakes in your usual portion and compare its protein, energy, fat and salt using the pack’s nutrition table.
A gluten-free label addresses gluten, not milk, sesame or soya. Kallo’s lentil cakes carry warnings concerning those other allergens.
Read the current pack’s ingredient and precautionary allergen statements before deciding whether it suits your requirements.
Joybuy’s Honor Sliced Rice Cake listing describes a frozen raw product that must be cooked thoroughly. It is not a ready-to-eat alternative to the Kallo or M&S snacks discussed here.
Check the exact product name, storage conditions and preparation instructions rather than relying on the words “rice cake” alone.
A frozen cooking product also requires freezer space and preparation before it can be eaten.
These examples show how a lentil cake, a rice cake with added plant ingredients and a plain rice cake differ; the details apply to the named products, not every item from each brand.
Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes are a lentil-based alternative for shoppers willing to move beyond a conventional rice cake.
M&S Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes retain a rice-cake format while including pea protein and lentil flour.
Tesco Lightly Salted Rice Cakes offer a plain rice-cake reference point for comparison with protein-led products.
This lentil-based option is for shoppers considering a ready-to-eat alternative to ordinary rice cakes for an office snack.
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A lentil-cake option for a dry desk snack rather than a conventional rice cake. Kallo lists 26.0g protein per 100g on its own product page; check the current pack’s nutrition and allergen information before choosing by those details. Tesco’s storage instructions for this product say to keep it in a cool, dry place, then airtight after opening and consume it within 14 days.
For a high-protein nutrition claim, the legislation cited by the UK Department of Health and Social Care requires at least 20% of the food’s energy value to come from protein. The department’s nutrition-claims guidance addresses the rules in Great Britain; check the actual product claim and nutrition panel rather than assuming “rice-based” means high protein.
Do not assume they are. Tesco lists 0.7g protein per cake and 9.3g per 100g for its Lightly Salted Rice Cakes, while its Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes listing gives 1.8g per cake and 26.0g per 100g. Plain cakes can serve as a crunchy base if you plan to add another protein-containing food.
M&S Barbecue High Protein Rice Cakes contain wholegrain rice alongside buckwheat, pea protein and lentil flour, and M&S lists 24.8g protein per 100g. Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes are primarily lentil-based, so check the ingredients as well as the protein figure when choosing between these formats.
No. A gluten-free label does not answer questions about other allergens. Kallo’s lentil cakes are labelled gluten-free, but the Tesco listing warns of possible sesame and soya, and Kallo also flags possible milk cross-contact. Read the current pack’s statements for the allergens you need to avoid.
For Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes, Tesco’s product instructions say to store the pack in a cool, dry place, keep it airtight after opening and consume it within 14 days. Follow the instructions on the exact pack you buy.