Plant-based sandwiches, salads and pizza are NOT healthier than meat options, study reveals

MOST people see the new year as an opportunity to kick-start a healthy diet, and maybe even give Veganuary a try.

But vegan fast food meals don't contain fewer calories than their meaty counterparts, a study suggests.

Researchers analyzed a total of 1,868 meals, including sandwiches, salads, noodles and pizza, from 50 fast-food chains in five countries, including the United Kingdom.

These chains included Wagamamas, Pret, Pizza Express, Leon and Burger King.

The team collected data on calorie content, the presence of allergens and the amounts of nutrients, fiber and salt in each meal.

Their findings, published in the journal Nutrition, showed that plant-based meals contained less protein and sodium, and higher levels of carbohydrates and sugar, compared to meat-based meals.

But – bad news for those trying to shed some pounds – they found that plant-based meals were generally not linked to having fewer calories.

Lead author Mikołaj Kamiński, from Poznań University of Medical Sciences in Poland, said: 'Our findings revealed that plant-based fast food meals are likely to contain more carbohydrates and sugar than meat-based equivalents.

'Surprisingly, our research shows that plant-based meals are not associated with lower calories, which consumers may not realize.

'This really highlights the importance of making informed food choices, especially when it comes to consuming fast food – especially if you suffer from a metabolic disorder such as type 2 diabetes.

'It unmasks the illusion that plant-based alternatives to popular fast food dishes are automatically a healthier choice.'

The findings also showed that the meat-based meals were likely to contain allergens such as dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish and mustard, while plant-based meals were likely to contain allergens such as sesame, seeds and nuts.