You could believe you're making a healthier choice by opting for this. meal deal over a McDonald’s on your lunch break.
Nevertheless, a recent study has revealed some of the most beloved sandwiches out there. high street contain more fat than fast food burgers .
Actually, numerous options contain more calories than a McDonald’s cheeseburger or a candy bar.
This announcement follows the efforts of the campaign organization Action on Salt analysed 1,511 ready meals distributed through 11 key stores, including Tesco , Aldi , Lidl and M&S.
The study revealed that Iceland performed the poorest among supermarkets, as 84% of its ready meals were deemed high in sodium. This includes the Taste of Italy vegetable lasagna, containing 3.9 grams of salt for every 400 grams.
If you're seeking a healthier option for your midday meal today, consider steering clear of these sandwiches.
What high street sandwiches have the highest amount of saturated fats?
Waitrose No. 1, The Perfect Ploughman’s Cornish Cheddar Sandwich turned out to be the biggest disappointment.
The supermarket sandwich includes 13.1 grams of saturated fat, surpassing the total amount found in over two McDonald’s cheeseburgers, with each burger containing only 5.4 grams of saturated fat.
The M&S’s Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese Ploughman was yet another choice with high fat content, containing 11.3 grams of saturated fat.
That exceeds the amount found in a Big Mac, which has 8.8 grams.
Based on the analysis conducted by MailOnline, each sandwich includes more than half of the NHS’s suggested maximum intake of saturated fats for women per day (20 grams), as well as almost half of the recommended limit for men (30 grams).
On which main road would you find the highest calorie count?
The analysis revealed that the Pret’s Posh Cheddar & Pickle Baguette sandwich had 643 calories, which is higher than the calorie count of two McDonald’s cheeseburgers combined (each has 295 calories) or even a whole Big Mac, which contains 494 calories.
What high-street sandwiches have the highest amounts of sugar?
In terms of sugar content, the analysis revealed that Sainsbury’s Brie Bacon & Chilli Chutney Sandwich led the pack with 19.7 grams of sugar.
To put this into perspective, you would have to eat two KitKat chocolate bars, each containing 10.3 grams of sugar, just to surpass the amount of sugar found in the sandwich.
The M&S All Day Breakfast Sandwich, a favoured choice priced at £4, contains approximately 10.1 grams of sugar.
This is just marginally lower than a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnut, which contains 12 grams of sugar.
The NHS suggests that adults should limit their daily intake to a maximum of 30 grams (approximately six teaspoons) to minimize the risks of weight gain and tooth decay.
What high-street sandwiches have the highest amount of salt?
The analysis revealed that Pret's Ham & Greve Baguette had a significant level of salt content when compared to choices from fast-food options.
The baguette had 3.85g of salt, which makes it more salty than four servings of big McDonald’s fries, with each serving containing 0.82g of salt.
M&S’s Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese had 1.78g of something—over twice as much as two big McDonald’s fries.
To provide some context, the NHS recommends that adults should have no more than 6 grams of salt each day.
What high street sandwiches should you opt for to have a more nutritious lunch?
Not all supermarket sandwiches are unhealthy.
Tesco’s Chicken Salad Sandwich, which is included in its £3.60 Clubcard meal deal, features low levels of fat and sugar but has a moderate amount of sodium.
The sandwich with lemon and pepper mayo includes 5.8g of fat, 4.5g of sugar, and 0.99g of salt.
The Waitrose RoastChicken Salad Sandwich features a reduced-fat content at 5.2g, lower sugar with 4.4g, and a moderate amount ofsalt at 1.12g.
Supermarkets provide numerous healthier options too, including choices like salads, protein pots, and grain bowls, for example Marks & Spencer’s Roast Chicken & Egg Protein Pot or Waitrose’s Feta & Beetroot Salad Bowl.
The details of every meal, such as the amount of fat, sugar, salt, and overall calorie count, are typically displayed prominently on the front of the package.
Has reached out to Waitrose for their input.
How extra fats, salts, and sugars can affect your body
Fat
The NHS website states that consuming an excessive amount of fat, particularly saturated fats, can elevate your cholesterol levels, thereby increasing the likelihood of developing heart disease.
The United Kingdom government recommendations suggest reducing your overall fat intake and swapping out saturated fats for some unsaturated fats instead.
The authorities suggest that men should limit their intake of saturated fats to no more than 30 grams per day, women to a maximum of 20 grams daily, and children should consume even less.
Sugar
The NHS cautions that consuming excessive amounts of sugar can impact your well-being, leading to issues like weight gain and dental erosion.
The government advises that free sugars—those added to foods or beverages as well as those occurring naturally in substances like honey, syrup, and unsweetened fruit and veggie juices—should constitute less than 5% of your daily calorie intake from all food and drink sources.
Salt
Consuming an excessive amount of salt can lead to hypertension, thereby increasing the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. According to the NHS, it's quite simple to ingest too much salt; approximately three-fourths of the salt we consume originates from prepackaged and common food items like bread, prepared meals, and breakfast cereals that we purchase regularly.
Individuals over the age of 18 shouldn’t consume more than 6 grams of salt per day, which equates to roughly one leveled teaspoon. This total encompasses both the pre-existing salt content in prepared foods as well as any additional salt sprinkled during preparation or at mealtime.
Have you got a tale to tell?
Reach out via email LifestyleTeam@.co.uk .
Subscribe to 's The Slice newsletter for your go-to resource on all things happening in London, featuring reliable reviews, promotions, and contests.
