For a lunch that doesn’t break the bank, a meal deal — typically a sandwich, snack and drink for around £3 — is tempting. But some are loaded with sugar, fat and as many as 900 calories.
‘An average woman won’t need more than 600 calories at lunchtime,’ says registered dietitian Helen Bond. ‘Regularly exceeding this by just 100 calories a month could lead to nearly a pound of weight gain.’
Common pitfalls include ‘healthy’ veggie options that are anything but, and ‘grab bag’ crisps that are bigger than ones you’d put in a packed lunch.
ANGELA DOWDEN shopped for lunch deals and asked Helen for her verdict. We then gave them a health rating.
Tesco