Is your meal deal helping you pack on the pounds?
It can be tricky to choose nutritious lunches on the high street , particularly with so much choice and so many calorific offerings masquerading as ‘healthy options’.
The thing about meal deals in particular is they’re there to be grabbed on the hoof – how many of us actually give their nutritional value much thought, nevermind analysis?
So, if you’re on a diet , to help you make the best informed choice we’ve rounded up the healthiest meal deals from your favourite high street chains.
1. M&S
The Wild Salmon and Cucumber sandwich is one of the healthiest and most nutritious choices, as salmon is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.
The mini-roll selection pack of three is probably best avoided. It’s carb and fat-heavy and contains sodium nitrate.
2. Greggs
If you’re dead set on Greggs for your lunch, the chain famous for their sausage rolls are now offering a range of pasta salads.
The best option is the Feta and Tomato Pasta for 378kcal, with only 1.7g of saturated fat per portion.
For those who love the baked savouries, stay away from the Sausage, Bean and Cheese Melt for 453kcal and instead opt for the Vegan Sausage Roll, which only has 312kcal.
3. Boots
There are over seven million Boots meal deal combinations, which makes choosing something that won’t be too calorific quite difficult.
According to Boots themselves, adults should aim to eat around 600 calories at lunchtime, so their best options include the Humous and Falafel Flatbread at 368kcal and the Tuna, Grilled Pepper and Pea sandwich for 398kcal.
For snacking, Boots recommends their Egg and Spinach pot which only have 0.1g of sugar and 110kcal, or the Apple and Cheddar pack with only 93kcal and 0.29g of salt.
4. Pret
While Pret a Manger doesn’t offer a meal deal, it has tonnes of healthy-seeming wraps and flatbreads to choose from. However, the Avocado and Falafel Flatbread will set you back 499kcal, and when paired with an orange juice and a carrot cake, your lunch will weigh in at over 900kcal.
Instead, pick the Freerange Egg Mayo sandwich for 361kcal, with a Diet Coke and Sweet & Salt Popcorn for just 163kcal per bag.
5. Leon
At Leon, the healthy-sounding vegan Lebanese Mezze Salad has more calories than the Chargrilled Chicken Burger, and only marginally fewer calories than the LOVE Burger and the Korean Chicken Burger.
If you’re craving a juicy burger (vegan or otherwise), Leon is a good lunch choice.
The Chicken and Chorizo Club Hot Box is best avoided at 667kcal, as is the Vegan Sweet Potato Falafel Hot Box, which might seem like a good choice, but weighs in at 665kcal.
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
6. Nando’s
If you fancy a sit-down meal, Nando’s has become one of the UK’s classic lunchtime destinations. For those watching their weight, however, the menu can be a minefield.
Peckish for a starter? Don’t choose the Houmous with Peri-Peri Drizzle, which comes in at a massive 819kcal. Instead, choose the Spicy Mixed Olives for only 138kcal.
For a main dish, the Fino Pitta is best avoided at 758kcal. Exchange for a Grains n Greens salad for only 189kcal or a 1/4 chicken breast for 323 kcal.
The process of choosing a nutritious, low-calorie lunch can be full of pitfalls, but if you read nutritional labels or the company’s website carefully, it’s possible to make an informed and healthy choice.
