EXCLUSIVE: UK's most calorific pies REVEALED

Britain’s most calorific pies revealed – and the worst ones are NOT what you would expect…

• A MailOnline audit revealed the most calorific of Britain’s best-loved pies
• The worst offender is Marks and Spencer’s Chicken and Leek, with 775 calories 

There’s nothing more comforting than tucking into a plate of pie, mash and gravy.

But, as with every guilty pleasure in life, that satisfaction comes with a cost to your waistline.

A MailOnline audit on British Pie Week has revealed that some of Britain’s best-loved varities contain more than a third of your daily calorie intake.

The worst-offender, with a staggering 775 calories, is sold by Marks and Spencer’s.

Read our table below to find out the top offending pies on the market 

Some of Britain’s best-loved single-portion pies contain more than a third of your daily calorie intake

The chain’s Gastropub Chicken and Leek pie has more than double the calories of a Greggs sausage roll (329).

It also has 30g of saturated fat — almost triple the amount found in a McDonalds Big Mac.

Vegetarian and vegan pies made up four of the ten most calorific pies.

MailOnline carried out an audit of pies bought by Brits from supermarkets across the country, including Tesco, Asda and M&S. 

Several of the unhealthiest pies contain more than a woman’s recommended intake of saturated fat for the whole day.

What should a balanced diet look like? 

• Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables count

• Base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain

• 30 grams of fibre a day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole-wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of wholemeal bread and large baked potato with the skin on

• Have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks) choosing lower fat and lower sugar options

• Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish every week, one of which should be oily)

• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consuming in small amounts

• Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water a day

• Adults should have less than 6g of salt and 20g of saturated fat for women or 30g for men a day

Source: NHS Eatwell Guide 

NHS guidelines say women should have no more than 20g of saturated fat each day and men no more than 30g.

And a woman’s daily recommended calorie intake is 2,000 calories, while a man’s is 2,500. 

After the M&S pie, the second most calorific sold in UK stores is the Charlie Bigham’s Chicken, Ham and Leek (733 calories).

And Pieminister’s Tikka to Ride Chicken Tikka pie, which has a whopping 725 calories in a 270g single-serving, comes in third.

And the worst offending pies in terms of saturated fat content are the M&S Chicken and Leek (30g), Higgidy’s Free Range Chicken and Ham Hock (23.5g) and Higgidy’s Spinach, Feta and Pine Nut (23.4g).

This compares to just 3.8g of saturated fat in a Krispy Kreme ring doughnut, 11g in a Big Mac and 12g in a Greggs sausage roll. 

Sarah Almond Bushell, a registered dietitian and feeding therapist at Children’s Nutrition, said: ‘Saturated fat increases LDL cholesterol levels in the body, which is often called the “bad cholesterol” and this is what is linked to heart disease and stroke.’

Dr Bushell added: ‘Fat contains more calories than any other nutrient and so when we eat too much of it we eat more calories. And too many calories cause weight gain.’

Melissa Snover, a registered nutritionist, and founder of 3D-printed personalised vitamin brand Nourished, said it depends on an individual’s weight whether a high calorie diet is good or bad for them.

But she said: ‘Generally speaking, a high-calorie diet is one of the basic risks for the development of obesity.’

Ms Snover added: ‘Women are advised not to consume more than 20g of saturated fat per day. 

‘If you want to lower your cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, then the NHS recommends you consume less fat altogether and swap saturated fats for unsaturated fats.’

Examples of unsaturated fats are oils found in plants or fish, including mackerel, olive oil, nuts, avocados and rapeseed oil.  

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Revealed: How just a TABLESPOON of Britain’s best loved pancake toppings contains as much sugar as a doughnut 

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