Pret?...Please!
- ciaralitchfield
- Aug 19, 2014
- 2 min read
Fast food is defined as any food or beverage consumed outside of the home that has not been prepared by yourself.
Many of us are victim of the grab and go and as it’s not always avoidable. The question is not how to avoid fast food but how to make the best decisions when it comes to buying something.
Pret boasts fresh natural food with minimal additives. Obviously this seems like a good choice but just because a food provides vitamins and minerals it doesn’t mean it won’t have a negative effect on your waist line.
Below i have compared 3 typical meals that you may buy when on the go from Pret and McDonalds. Meal 1 is for the ultimate treat, Meal 2 is slightly trimmer and Meal 3 is for the angels among you. I have tried to pick options that i feel match up fairly. I have calculated how much these meals contribute to your daily allowances. RDA (Recommended daily intake) for women is:
Calories – 2000
Fat – 70g
Salt/Sodium - 5/2g
Carbohydrate – 300g
1A) A Big man, medium fries and medium strawberry milk shake
Calories: 1200 / 61%
Fat: 47g / 70%
Carbohydrate: 150g / 54%
Salt/Sodium: 3.1g / 62%
1B) Hot meatball wrap with ready salted crisps and a vanilla frappe
Calories: 1189 / 59.5%
Fat: 58.3g / 83%
Carbohydrate: 234g / 78%
Salt/Sodium: 1.3g / 65%
Result for meal 1: Pret is higher in fat, Carbohydrate and salt than McDonalds
2A) Deli Chicken Chilli wrap with a medium Diet Coke from McDonalds
Calories: 464 / 23%
Fat: 18g / 27%
Carbohydrate: 53g / 19%
Salt/Sodium: 2.2g / 44%
2B) Pret Chicken and Avocado sandwich with a Sparkling elderflower and grape drink
Calories: 615 / 30.8%
Fat: 23.4g / 33.4%
Carbohydrate: 74.7g / 25%
Salt/Sodium: 0.6g / 30%
Result for meal 2: Pret is higher in fat, Carbohydrate and Calories than McDonalds
3A) McDonalds grilled chicken salad with a medium strawberry and Banana Smoothie
Calories: 330 / 17%
Fat: 4g / 5%
Carbohydrate: 50g / 19%
Salt/Sodium: 1g / 20%
3B) Pret Sesame chicken salad with a super smoothie
Calories: 558 / 27.9%
Fat: 18.4g / 26.3%
Carbohydrate: 75.9g / 25%
Salt/Sodium: 1.3g / 65%
Result for meal 3: Pret is higher in fat, Carbohydrate, salt and Calories than McDonalds
Obviously im not condoning McDonalds in any way and i know that Prets meals will provide better nutrition. The point is that you shouldn’t fall for clever marketing when eating out. If you are trying to cut down your fat and calorie intake check all food labels even if you trust the brand!
