You might think opting for a salad or sandwich for lunch will see you on your way to a healthy lifestyle. But in fact sandwiches and pasta salads can contain more fat, calories and sugar than burgers and pizzas. Some apparently healthy meals are worse for you than demonised junk foods from the likes of McDonald’s, Burger King and Pizza Express, researchers have found. Scroll down for video . Some apparently healthy meals are worse for you than demonised junk foods from the likes of McDonald’s, Burger King and Pizza Express, researchers have found . For example, Asda’s Piri Piri Chicken Pasta Salad contains 46.5g of fat – two thirds of the recommended daily intake for an adult – which is more than the 43.3g found in a Burger King Bacon and Cheese Whopper. Meanwhile a Marks & Spencer Chicken and Smoked Bacon Salad sandwich contains 694 calories and 37.1g of fat – but a Pizza Express Classic Margherita pizza has 683 calories and contains only 22.5g of fat. And a 624-calorie Brie and Bacon Panini from Caffè Nero comes in at more than 100 calories higher than a 518-calorie McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Consumer group Which?, which conducted the research, said it was surprised to find that three of the sandwiches it surveyed contained more than three teaspoons of sugar. These included Pret’s Posh Cheddar and Pickle on Artisan, which contains 17.6g of sugar – equivalent to more than four teaspoons. Which? added it was easy for customers to overeat at lunchtime, with dishes such as Morrisons’ Tomato and Basil Chicken Pasta, which states it contains seven servings, often eaten by one person – meaning they consume 683 calories and 38.6g of fat in one sitting. This is more than Burger King’s Chicken Royale with Cheese, which has 648 calories and 37.2g of fat. Which? said its research proves all food suppliers need to adopt the traffic light labelling system, which flags up levels of calories, fat, sugar and salt, to help consumers cut through the confusion and find healthy lunch options. A 624-calorie Brie and Bacon Panini from Caffè Nero comes in at more than 100 calories higher than a 518-calorie McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese . The system is voluntary and many stores opt not to use it. A Which? spokesman said: ‘We’ve uncovered sandwiches and salads that contain more calories and fat than a Big Mac. ‘Given our research, it’s perhaps not surprising that two thirds of UK adults and a third of children are classed as overweight or obese. Overconsumption of foods high in calories, sugar and fat is fuelling our obesity crisis.’
Some apparently healthy meals worse for you than demonised junk foods . Asda’s Piri Piri Chicken Pasta Salad contains a surprising 46.5g of fat . This exceeds the 43.3g found in a Burger King Bacon and Cheese Whopper . Caffè Nero has more fat than McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese .