Puff pastry-wrapped treats are a holiday favorite, but they’re packed with sweet fruits and often loaded with fat and sugar.
In fact, a MailOnline audit of 31 popular varieties has revealed that one brand of mince pie has more calories than two whole McDonalds burgers.
Aldi’s ‘Ultimate All Butter Mince Pie’ may take first place in taste tests, but it’s also the most fattening on the market.
The 110g pies, made with cognac-infused mince, provide a whopping 469 calories, while a McDonalds burger has 248 calories.
For context, the average woman is recommended to consume around 2,000 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, while 2,500 are suggested for men.
This means that a single Aldi meat pie will consume a quarter of a woman’s daily ration and a fifth of a man’s.
These treats also contain 42g of sugar, which is equivalent to 10 teaspoons, more than 10g more than a Mars bar contains.
Adults are recommended to consume no more than 30g of added sugars per day (about seven teaspoons) to protect teeth and prevent weight gain.
Mince pies are packed with sweet fruits, spices and wrapped in dough. But Christmas treats are also loaded with fat and sugar.
This website also looked at the nutritional content of mince pies available at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Cook, Marks & Spencer.
The second worst offender in our audit was the convenience food company’s Cook’s Mince Pie Crumble Tarts, made with Bramley apple, citrus zest and rum-spiced mince.
Each 115g cake contains 465 calories, 32.7g of sugar and 9.5g of saturated fat.
Government guidelines recommend that men consume no more than 30g of saturated fat a day and women no more than 20g, meaning eating just two or three mince pies could see you reach the limit.
Too much saturated fat can raise cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease, warns the NHS.
Mr Kipling All Butter Mince Pies are also among the most calorie-dense at 311 calories per pie, as are the Free From Milk & Gluten Mince Pies sold at Waitrose which contain 314 calories.
At Marks and Spenser, their ‘Best Ever Mince Pies’ contain 349 calories and Sainsbury’s own mince pies contain 243 calories.
MailOnline’s audit of more than 30 varieties of mince pies sold on supermarket shelves found that Aldi’s ‘Ultimate All Butter Mince Pie’ (pictured) is the most fattening on the market.
The pie that best fits your waist is Aldi’s specially selected Millionaire Crumble Mince Pies (pictured). Each 48g cake contains 179 calories, about the same as two chocolate digestive biscuits.
In contrast, Aldi’s Crumble Mince Pies, specially selected for millionaires, made with caramel and topped with chocolate crumble, are surprisingly one of the best mince pies and the lowest calorie option.
Each 48g cake contains 179 calories, about the same as two chocolate digestive biscuits.
However, it still contains 18g of sugar and 3.9g of saturated fat.
Eating more calories than you burn will cause you to gain weight over time. Six in 10 adults and four in 10 children are overweight or obese, figures suggest.
Being fat can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke, as well as mental health problems.
“Constantly eating high-sugar treats like these can lead to more dramatic fluctuations in blood sugar spikes and weight gain, which can be difficult to change in the new year,” said Rob Hobson, registered nutritionist and author from “Unprocess Your Family Life.” Online mail.
But sticking with simpler cakes that don’t have frosting, crumbles or puff pastry toppings can help limit calorie and sugar intake, she explained.
She said: ‘To enjoy mince pies without overloading them with calories and sugar, consider smaller portions or versions without extras such as frosting, crumble or cake toppings, which often add sweetness and unnecessary calories.
‘Those with thinner dough may be better options.
‘Mince pies don’t need to be completely off the menu; after all, they are a holiday staple.
“The key is moderation and balance, mindfully enjoying them as part of an overall healthy approach to your celebrations.”
Kim Pearson, a nutritionist who runs a London-based clinic specializing in weight loss, suggests consuming mince pie with a balanced meal.
She said: “If you are indulging in a mince pie, it is best to have it after a balanced meal and not on an empty stomach.”
‘The fiber, protein and healthy fats in food can help slow sugar absorption and minimize blood sugar spikes.
“Opting for smaller meat pies or without toppings such as crumble, cake or frosting can reduce the calorie and sugar content while allowing you to enjoy festive treats in moderation.”