The 2 a.m. Pretzel Crunch

Dot's Original Pretzels are the kind of snack that disappears from the bag without you noticing. The label shows zero sugar per 100g, which is a huge win when you're trying to avoid a sugar crash at 2 AM. The ingredients are simple: enriched wheat flour, salt, and vegetable oil. They have that classic, sharp crunch and a salty finish that can be really satisfying when you're deep in a study session. I could see these being a lifesaver during a late-night library cram session. The trade-off is that the ingredients list doesn't specify the type of vegetable oil, which might be a consideration for some people tracking their fat sources.

These Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels offer a more balanced profile, with 6g of sugar per 100g. The ingredients list is currently updating, so it's hard to dive deep into the specifics right now. The concept of a salty pretzel shell with a creamy peanut butter center is a classic for a reason—it can provide a bit of protein and fat alongside the carbs, which may help you feel full longer. This would be a solid choice for a pre-gym snack or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up when you need more than just empty carbs. The main trade-off here is the lack of a clear ingredients list, making it difficult to assess the quality of the peanut butter filling or oils used.

This generic 'Pretzels' option sits in the middle with 3g of sugar per 100g. The ingredients list is a bit messy and truncated, mentioning enriched flour and essential vitamins like niacin and iron. It seems to be a very standard pretzel, likely offering a straightforward, crisp texture without any fancy flavors. This is the kind of thing you'd grab from a vending machine for a quick, no-frills snack. It would be perfect for a simple craving at your office desk when you just need something to crunch on. The trade-off is the confusing and incomplete ingredient information, which doesn't inspire much confidence in its overall quality compared to a clearly labeled brand.

Burkes Peanut Butter Swirl Pretzels are a completely different beast, packing a massive 70g of sugar per 100g. With a low score of 3.0, this is essentially a dessert disguised as a pretzel. The ingredients are a mystery, but the sugar content alone tells you this isn't for regular snacking. The experience would likely be intensely sweet, with a sugary peanut butter flavor that completely overpowers any pretzel salt. I can imagine these being a wild treat for a movie night, but they'd be a terrible choice for a study snack, likely leading to a major energy crash. The trade-off is obvious: the extreme sugar content makes it a nutritional non-starter for anyone mindful of their intake.

The Raspberry Yogurt Pretzels land with 46g of sugar per 100g and a score of 5.4. The ingredients are listed as 'updating,' so we can't see what's in that yogurt coating. The concept is appealing: the tartness of raspberry and the creaminess of yogurt to balance the pretzel's salt. It might be a nice, occasional treat. I could see these being a fun snack to pack for a long bus ride home. However, the sugar level is still quite high, and without knowing the ingredients, it's impossible to say if the yogurt part is real or just a sugary coating. The trade-off is the high sugar and the lack of ingredient transparency, which leaves you guessing about what you're really eating.