Q What’s the difference between that ‘superfood salad’ and a Big Mac? A Up to 150 calories (but guess) which is worse...
TRENDY ‘superfood’ salads can contain as much saturated fat as a McDonald’s Big Mac and more salt than four bags of crisps, a Mail on Sunday investigation has revealed.
While weight-watchers might see such salads as the healthy option, they can contain the same calories as a plate of pasta or a pizza.
One of the worst examples the Mos discovered was the insalata super zucca with chicken from restaurant chain Zizzi, which contains 693 calories.
It is advertised as ‘a top Italian contender for superfood dishes’ but has the same calorie content as the chain’s spaghetti carbonara. The dish also has 9.1g of saturated fat – the same amount as a Big Mac – and 150 more calories than the burger.
The Gourmet Burger Kitchen chain is not famed for being waist friendly, but there is little point ordering its superfood salad to be healthy. With 14.2g saturated fat per serving, it is worse for your arteries than their ‘classic burger’.
It also has the equivalent of three teaspoons of sugar.
In appearance, the Itsu ‘hip, humble & healthy combo’ salad looks packed with nutrients and goodness. But, although relatively low on the saturated-fat front at 3.6g, this avocado, rice and muki bean salad at the Asian-inspired chain has 530 calories – more than a double cheeseburger from Burger King. It also contains a third of the daily recommended amount of salt – more than four large ‘grab bags’ of Walkers Ready Salted crisps.
At the ‘naturally fast food’ chain Leon, a ‘super salad’ with broccoli and quinoa has 515 calories, and 11.4g of saturated fat per portion – the same fat content as a medium cheese pizza or three iced buns. Diet and nutrition experts said restaurants should make labelling clearer. Paul Gately, professor of exercise and obesity at Leeds University, said: ‘Two-thirds of UK adults have a weight problem. For those trying to manage their weight there is a lot of difficulty deciphering what is healthy. Restaurants should be clearer in labelling “healthy options” such as salads alongside nutritional information to help people make better choices.’
But nutritionist Helen Bond says the popularity of a ‘plant-based-diet’ means that healthy does not have to mean low-calorie. ‘While some superfoods do pack a calorie punch, you have to look at where that comes from,’ she says. ‘They are better for your health than a burger, with plenty of fibre and nutrients.’
A Zizzi spokesman said: ‘Our super zucca salad is packed with nutritious ingredients.’
Itsu said: ‘The hip, humble & healthy salad contains more than 13g of protein, pumpkin seeds and avocado which is high in good fats.’
Leon and Gourmet Burger King did not comment.