WE'VE spent months miserably stuffing takeaways into the microwave, but now Brits are finally enjoying dining out again at our favourite restaurant chains.
However, despite the introduction of 'eat out to help out' vouchers that could slash our bills, Boris Johnson's new war on obesity has been a reality check for many.
As part of his new policy, calorie counts will have to be printed on restaurant menus, so you can tell how much of your recommended daily intake is in each meal before you tuck in – and some of them will shock you.
For example, a bacon cheese burger and chips at Five Guys takes you way over the 2,000 daily calories recommended for women – while men have slightly more leeway, with a recommended daily calorie count of 2,500.
Many meals are hitting the mark before you’ve even added a drink.
A glass of wine will add 214 calories to your total, while a milkshake in Five Guys would add another 870 calories.
Surprisingly, some of the ‘healthier’ options on the menus are highly calorific – like the chicken and grain salad at Nandos which comes in at a whopping 990 calories.
Here, we show you what 2,000 calories looks like at some of the UK's most popular restaurant chains.
McDonald's: Big Mac's no big deal
Popping out for a Big Mac was high on lots of agendas as soon as the golden arches opened their doors last month.
While the burger itself will only eat up a quarter of your daily calories, the sides soon whack up the count.
Big Mac: 508 cals
Medium fries: 337 cals
Mozzarella dippers: 256 cals
Mixed berry muffin: 298 cals
Banana milkshake: 386 cals
Sour cream and chive dip: 140 cals
Total: 1,925 cals
The healthy alternative
Spicy veggie wrap: 364 cals
Nando's: beware the 'healthy' salad
The home of the Peri-Peri chicken has become one of the most popular go-to chow stops in the country in recent years.
The chicken is healthy enough but Peri-Peri salted chips pile on the count. And if the veggie or salad option is your choice, you might be surprised by the calorie count.
1/2 chicken, Perinaise hot: 468 cals
3 chicken thighs, Perinaise hot: 324 cals
Large Peri-Peri salted chips: 747 cals
Regular coleslaw: 168 cals
Barely baked brownie: 387
Total: 2,094 cals
The healthy alternative:
Ancient grains, Peri chicken and tomato salad: 990 calories
Feta, avocado and grain wrap: 890 calories
Hummus with Peri Peri drizzle: 1216 calories
KFC: the sides add up
Finger-lickin' good it may be, but it's not hard to get to the 2,000 mark with atasty takeaway from Colonel Sanders.
Just some popcorn chicken and three sides could have you bursting at the seams.
Large popcorn chicken: 465 cals
Large fries: 345 cals
Large coleslaw: 320 cals
Onion rings: 400 cals
Salted caramel Krushem: 375 cals
Total: 1,905 cals
The healthy alternative:
Fillet salad: 370 cals
Veggie rice box: 365 cals
Greggs: sausage adds the rolls
We are a nation of pastry lovers and the largest bakery chain in Britain has been attracting queues in every high street for over 20 years.
Its pies, pasties and sausage rolls have become iconic, but may not be the best choice if working on the waistline.
3 sausage rolls: 318 cals each
2 caramel custard doughnuts: 325 cals each
Large Mocha coffee: 300 cals
Total: 1,904 cals
The healthy alternative:
Pasta, feta and tomato: 378 cals
Pizza Express: dodge the dough
Who doesn't love a pizza on a family night out?
But the calorific content of Pizza Express's tasty treats range from the Leggera range, which are under 600, to some that are double that.
Then there are those irresistible dough balls with garlic butter…
Dough balls: 396 cals
Pizza pollo ad astra: 1145 cals
Tiramasu: 412 cals
Total – 1,953 cals
The healthy alternative:
Pollo salad with dressing and dough sticks: 954 cals
Chicken Caesar salad (no dough sticks): 636 cals
Domino's: one pizza and out
If you're sticking to the government guidelines, it's best not to hog your Domino's – especially if it's a large one.
The takeaway kings do have a lighter range – the Delight pizzas – which are usually between 500 and 600 calories.
Otherwise, make sure you share.
Large American hot pizza: 2,080 cals
The healthy alternative:
Medium vegan pizza: 1,333 cals
Small Delight (low-cal range) veggie: 590 cals
Subway: baking bad
The smell of freshly baked bread and a choice of fillings and dressings gets the juices flowing in Subway.
But a footlong sandwich may not be a good idea if you're planning to eat anything else though the course of a day.
Footlong chicken and bacon ranch melt: 1060 cals
Sweet onion teriyaki salad: 409 cals
Chocolate chip cookie: 210 cals
Large Coke: 144 cals
Total: 1,823 cals
The healthy alternative:
Tuna nicoise salad – 308 cals
The best alcoholic drinks to choose if you're trying to lose weight
While alcohol contains calories, recent evidence has shown that a single tipple a day can help blitz body fat.Choose from the following six drinks to limit calorie intake:
- Rum and Diet Coke – 97 calories
- Small red wine – 123 calories
- Vodka soda – 96 calories
- Gin & slimline tonic – 115 calories
- Champagne – 90 calories
- Whisky – 105 calories
Five Guys: skimp on toppings
The high street restaurant chain is known for its juicy burgers but be careful what you pile on the top.
The cheese and bacon adds another 150 calories and mayo an additional 100. And you might not want to go large on those chips.
Bacon cheeseburger: 920 cals
Large fries: 1,314 cals
Total: 2,234 cals
Healthy alternative
Cheese veggie sandwich – 510cals
Fish and chips: fry another day
The chippy is the most traditional takeaway of them all and Brits have been chomping on battered cod in paper for over 150 years.
But while fish is a healthy part of a balanced diet, the humble fish supper adds a lot of extra fat and carbohydrates, making it a highly calorific treat.
Cod in batter (medium): 444 cals
Medium chips: 950 cals
Mushy peas: 100 cals
Saveloy: 235 cals
Can of Coke: 139 cals
Total – 1,868 cals
Wetherspoons: the big breakfast
They say you should breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper.
With Wetherspoons famed for its full English breakfast, it certainly frontloads the calories in your day.
But add a couple of drinks, and you've reached your calorie limit before noon.
Large breakfast: 1420 cals
3 pints lager: 180 cals each
Total – 1,940 cals
Healthy alternatives
Large veggie breakfast: 1357 cals
Moma porridge with honey and banana: 447 cals
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