‘Healthy’ gym snacks take the biscuit

A NEW concept thrilled the nutrition geek within me this week: the introduction of ‘healthy’ vending machines.

Now, I’m not opposed to the odd chocolate bar or bag of Walkers Max but, typically, the only options given by vending machines are sugary confectionery, caffeine and sugar-laden energy drinks and packets of salty crisps.

I’ve got one such machine at my gym – and it does seem to defeat the object.

So what’s not to like about the idea of convenient grab-and-go snacks that are also a bit better for you? Well, my hopes of a healthy, post-workout bite were shattered when I learned what sort of products were available in these machines, launched at 13 Virgin Active gyms nationwide. Let’s look at one offering: Ollybars breakfast bars. They contain 16g of sugar per bar, more than half the daily limit, and the calorie equivalent of four Oreo biscuits.

Thirsty? Try a can of fizzy Tenzing, a ‘100 per cent natural’ energy drink. It’s made with green coffee, herbal extracts, Himalayan rock salt – and a load of caffeine and 30g of sugar. That’s just a little less than a can of Coke. Seems to me it’s a case of same old vending machine rubbish, in slightly different packaging. Avocado energy balls and peanut protein bites are also on offer – for those interested in punishing their taste-buds.

While I appreciate the sentiment, this attempt at reprogramming snack culture seems to me like a missed opportunity.

Harry’s diet havoc

AS MUCH as I love ’em, I was rather disappointed by the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s alleged pre-wedding diet. On Meghan’s instigation, the pair were said to have opted for a liquid diet of fruit and vegetable smoothies. Harry, 33, shed half a stone. But according to dietician Sarah Ellis, juicing diets cause havoc on the body. She says: ‘High levels of sugar in juice are linked to dental cavities and spikes in blood sugar, and when fruit is juiced, you lose the fibre.

‘This diet is seriously low in protein and energy, meaning it won’t fill you up. Why waste calories on juice when you could have a nice sandwich and piece of fruit for the same calories and micro-nutrient content?’

I’ll give the Royal smoothies a miss, thanks, and stick to a good old-fashioned coronation chicken sandwich.