Supposedly “healthy” dishes served at popular UK restaurant chains can contain as many calories as two and a half Big Macs, MailOnline analysis has shown.
The salads sold at Ask Italian and the vegetable-rich ‘Buddha Bowls’ prepared by Pizza Express contain almost half the recommended daily energy intake.
MailOnline’s audit found that the worst offender, Wagamama’s Vegatsu, a katsu curry made with tofu instead of chicken, has 1,164 calories. And that’s before adding other sides or a drink.
Soy protein is added to the dish for added volume, before being topped with crispy panko breadcrumbs. Served with white sticky rice, katsu curry sauce and salad.
It comes as a recent shocking report found popular UK restaurant chains serving microwave meals and plates full of ultra-processed foods.
An analysis of 20 family favorites, including TGI Fridays and Franco Manca, found some “rarely” prepare food and cook on-site using fresh ingredients.
Looking specifically at children’s menus, the Soil Association, which carried out the investigation, said the chains were “misleading or even ripping off parents”.
As a guide, men should consume no more than 2,500 calories a day. Women are advised to limit themselves to 2,000 or less.
Healthiest dishes served at popular UK restaurant chains may contain as many calories as two and a half Big Macs, analysis shows
Zizzi’s Sicilian Salmon, a pasta dish served with fried salmon, lemon, parsley butter, and crispy kale, was another offender at 1,158 calories.
The chain’s chicken Milanese, served with potatoes, green beans, kale and spinach, also clocked in at 1,067 calories.
In comparison, a McDonald’s Big Mac contains 493 calories.
Meanwhile, the Ask Italian Caesar di Grande salad contained 1,100 calories, equivalent to more than three servings of McDonald’s medium fries.
Contains fried chicken breast, baby lettuce leaves, Caesar dressing, anchovy croutons and hard cheese.
Other salad offerings from three family favorites also recorded values around 1,000.
Wetherspoon’s Lemon Herb Grilled Half Chicken with Mediterranean Salad, Pizza Express’ Crispy Chicken Buddha Bowl and TGI Fridays Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken and Honey Mustard Dressing clocked in at 1,048, 887 and 884 calories. respectively.
Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon told MailOnline: ‘Wetherspoon has highlighted the number of calories in each meal on its menu for a number of years.
A shocking report yesterday found that popular UK restaurant chains are serving microwave meals and plates full of ultra-processed rubbish.
Looking specifically at children’s menus, the Soil Association, which carried out the investigation, said the chains were “misleading or even ripping off parents”. The full ranking showing the quality of children’s menus in the UK’s top restaurants
‘It allows customers to make an informed decision.
“The menu also contains a large number of low-calorie options.”
MailOnline has contacted the other five restaurants mentioned for comment.
The Soil Association, a food and farming charity, said it discovered an “abundance of unhealthy options, overly sugary desserts, problematic additives, plus ultra-processed and low-welfare meat” in its recent research into restaurant chains.
Ultra-processed foods (UPF) is a general term that covers a large number of foods full of artificial colors, sweeteners and preservatives, in addition to calories and sugar.
In recent years, UPFs, which are often high in salt, sugar and saturated fat, have been linked in studies to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer and premature death.
The UK consumes more UPF than any other European country, with these foods estimated to make up 57 per cent of the national diet.
They are believed to be a key driver of obesity, which costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year.
Foods can be divided into four broad categories: fresh foods, simple ingredients used in cooking, processed foods that combine the last two groups, and ultra-processed foods, which are made with numerous additives and preservatives.
Franco Manca came last in the rankings for not serving enough vegetables to children, while KFC was found to be importing meat from around the world.
It was claimed that Wahaca and Carluccio’s were the only chains that made dishes with minimally processed ingredients.
Price was not a barrier to improving children’s menus, with JD Wetherspoon being one of the cheapest chains surveyed with a high score.
The popular pub scored highly for serving all children’s meals with two portions of vegetables and a fruit option for pudding.
For the study, the Soil Association used secret diners and restaurant chains surveyed to compile a ranking of menus in the rankings.
It also asked chains to provide information on the extent to which their three most popular meals were freshly prepared.
At least 40 per cent of the 140 protein options (meat, fish and plants) across the high street were ultra-processed, according to the charity’s analysis.
Only Wagamama, Nando’s and León offered children’s menus completely free of artificially sweetened drinks and added sugar.
Most fruit and vegetables also came from abroad, and only one restaurant, Nando’s, reported using 100 per cent British meat for children’s meals.
KFC and TGI Fridays served meat from as far away as Thailand and Brazil.