If you're on the run, shopping at the mall, or just want a pretzel, Auntie Anne's always offers the ideal snack. However, since pretzels have a very high amount of carbs, it's very difficult to find something suitable on the menu if you have diabetes.

Auntie Anne's is well-known for its sweet and salty treats, as well as its refreshing lemonades, which make a fantastic after-shopping snack. However, if you're trying to manage your diabetes and opt for low-carb and low sugar snacks, having a treat there can prove to be quite a challenge.

When ordering from Auntie Anne's menu, you can still make smarter, healthier choices. Here's everything you need to know about enjoying a treat at Auntie Anne's if you have diabetes.

Classic Pretzels

Auntie Anne's Classic Pretzels are the most popular item on the menu, and they come in various sizes and flavours. While most of them have over 80 grams of carbs, which makes them highly unsuitable for someone with diabetes, you can still find some pretzels that you can safely enjoy once in a while.

One of the best ways to enjoy a pretzel at Auntie Anne's if you have diabetes is to share it with a friend. That way you can satisfy your craving while halving the number of carbs and calories. 

The Jalapeño Pretzel with no butter and salt is one of the best items on the menu if you're watching your calorie and sugar intake. It has 300 calories for the whole pretzel and 8 grams of protein, which will keep you full for longer. When it comes to carbs, you're looking at 63 grams for one serving, 9 grams of which are sugar.

Pretzel Dogs

The pretzel dog section at Auntie Anne's is surprisingly low in carbs. Even though pretzel dogs are quite high in salt, they are a lower-carb option that can satisfy that pretzel craving. Choose the classic pretzel dog without butter as this is the lowest-calorie and carb option on the menu. The pretzel dog has 33 grams of carbs and a total of 320 calories. It also boasts 11 grams of protein, but it's quite high in sodium at 740 mg. You can also opt for the Cheese Pretzel Dog, which also has 33 grams of carbs per serving.

Dips

There are lots of dips to choose from at Auntie Anne's, but you need to look carefully at the nutritional information on the menu because there are some significant differences in carbs between them. Fortunately, not all dips are the same. You don't have to give up your dipping sauce if you want it with your pretzels.

The Cheese Dip is one of the safest bets because it has just 2 grams of carbs per serving and only 1 gram of sugar. The Marinara dip and Melted Cheese dips are also safe to enjoy at 4 grams of carbs per serving. However, you should steer clear from the Caramel and Sweet Glaze dips, as they both have over 30 grams of carbs per serving.

Breakfast

The breakfast section at Auntie Anne's has several items that are low in carbs and suitable for people who have diabetes. The Egg & Cheese Breakfast Pretzel Sandwich has 29 grams of carbohydrates and 240 calories. If you want to have some sausage in your sandwich as well, the calorie content will rise to 300 per serving, but the number of carbs will remain the same.

If you're having breakfast and Auntie Anne's, you should definitely stay away from the Breakfast Sausage Stix, which has 760 calories and a whopping 65 grams of carbs.

Smoothies are another good breakfast option at Auntie Anne's. The 16 fl. oz. Mango Smoothie has 20 grams of carbs and 230 calories, and it's the lowest carb option on the menu.

What to avoid at Auntie Anne's if you have diabetes?

Even though they are one of the most popular options on the menu, you should stay away from the Original Nuggets. Besides the fact that a single serving has no less than 75 grams of carbs, you're also looking at a total of 390 calories and 1,280 mg sodium per serving.

Bottom Line

Even though it's not easy to find low-carb items at Auntie Anne's, it's still possible to enjoy a treat there from time to time if you're living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Just like in the case of any other restaurants or fast-food outlets, it's important to have a close look at the menu so you can spot the items that are too high in carbs.