Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
WHILE YOU WERE probably aware that your Friday night Indian takeaway wasn’t the healthiest meal of the week, a new survey has revealed the stark levels of calories and salt in each portion.
The latest research conducted by Safefood as part of their Nutrition Takeout Series found that the typical Indian takeaway contains enough food for two people with approximately twice their recommended maximum level of fat.
A typical meal consisting of a starter, main course, and pilau rice can contains far more than the total daily calorie requirement for adults.
Researchers found some samples of Peshwari naan bread had as much as 168% of an adult’s total guideline daily amount for saturated fat.
All starters contained more than one third of the guideline daily amount for salt.
Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, director of human health and nutrition with Safefood said: “These dishes have become very popular, but the Indian dishes tested in this survey were less than healthy.”
While traditional meals in India are low in fat, high in fibre and rich in fruit and vegetables, chefs here have adapted their recipes to suit local tastebuds favouring foods high in fat and salt and serving bigger portions.
However, the message isn’t that this food should be avoided completely as Ruth Price from Ulster University, who carried out the research for Safefood, explained:
Our advice is not that consumers should avoid these takeaway foods, but rather consider consuming them less often and in moderation, by either choosing smaller portions, sharing portions or limiting the added extras such as starters and side orders.
If you’re looking for a healthier option, that might not be possible. Less than 10% of takeaways provided information on this.
Here’s how some of the most popular meals breakdown:
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Don’t forget the six pints beforehand.
Coming next week. Why Thai food is not good for you. Sponsored by McDonald’s.
Myself and my Mrs share a meal and add in a big slice of naan bread. No need for two meals, we just end up with a load of waste.
You’re not called Socrates for nothing.
And explains why he is still alive…
Peshwari Naan bread. Yummy.
Until he gets poisoned ….
Well said Sir
1 main, 1 rice and a starter to split between 2 is grand! Avoid Korma, Tikka Masala and heavy butter based sauces. Instead go for Bhuna, Jalfrezi etc. These are mainly tomato based sauces and much “healthier”…. All bets are off if you’re hanging from the night before! ;-)
When I’m getting takeaway it’s because I’m hungover and a portion between two is nowhere near enough. Often times the entire portion leaves me a little peckish. It might be a bit odd but when I’m hungover I crave spicy food, even my chicken fillet roll early in the day is laced with jalapenos!
It’s grand once you have it with a diet coke
Our local Indian Spice in Greystones do a smaller portion called a clampdown specials, perfect for 1, they even do smaller portion of rice and Nan. Go for a tomato based sauce as opposed to cream base and it is quite healthy as a treat,
Here’s a crazy fact that these joy-killing pencil pushers don’t seem to get…
People don’t eat Indian or other types of takeaway every day!!
It’s an occasional treat which, pending the person follows an otherwise balanced diet/exercise regime, will have a net negative effect of exactly zero on the body. I really wish these people would research something of use for a change…
I think you missed the value of this research, which is fair enough, but don’t be ranting online when the average calorie counts printed beside menus in takeaways and questioning how they came up with the figures.
‘Our advice is not that consumers should avoid these takeaway foods, but rather consider consuming them less often and in moderation, by either choosing smaller portions, sharing portions or limiting the added extras such as starters and side orders.’
This is what the vast majority of people already do…So explain the value of this ‘research’?
OMG, who would’ve thunk????
Here we go again SafeFood caught in the 1970s timewarp. I know lots of Indian people, yes their food is full of fat and guess what they are all skinny. Saturated fat is not bad for “Low Fat” is bad for you and has caused the obesity epidemic.
They’re skinny because they cook their own indian food the way it’s done in India, not the way it’s done in Indian takeaways in Ireland.
Well the Indians i know say our local Indian restaurant is the real deal so i call horeshiite on this one by SafeFood…
it’s not that foods are low fat that contributed to the obesity epidemic, it’s the fact that the missing fat was replaced with sugars.
it’s possible that, despite being Indian, your friends are not experts on Indian restaurant cooking.
I’ll be the judge of that.
If it all did in my belly, how is that too much?
Ah sure that’s grand, I only eat Chinese anyway.
Takeaways are bad. more heavy hitting journalism from the journal. A Total fat column for example-without further breakdown this is useless information.
There is no issue with eating more than the RDA of fat, it’s merely a macronutrient, carb intake can be reduced accordingly. Calories in vs. Calories out.
And I really think SafeFood should be forced to defend their outdated stance on nutrition, they’re about 20 years behind with their ‘fat = unhealthy’ idea.
Shhh don’t tell them that Owen, let them think 0% yoghurt is great for ya.
It would be if no sugar was added! But most people can’t read a label.
Saturated fat is good for you
Low fat & fat free stuff is horrific.
Indian food is perfectly healthy it’s the bread & rice that’ll add serious poundage.
With all genetically and chemically modified food these days – amount of calories and fats in a meal is least of an issue… I’d rather have fatty, but natural meal than that low- everything Mendeleev chemical table packed stuff.
I hate to break it to you, Tomasz, but everything you eat – and indeed all matter – comes from the “Mendeleev chemical table” or the periodic table, as it’s more commonly known.
Ah stop ruining my cheat meal! ☺
Split 1 meal between 2 and incorporate a salad to fill up on !
Then it’s only half the calories….so you can have twice as much
Jaysus I’d murder an onion bahji aftet reading this
You say this like it is on any way surprising.
Just avoid the butter/cream dishes.
Also, when ordering, ask them for no salt in any dishes. I do that and it tastes the same.
Thankfully I don’t eat such but, I wouldn’t trust this report, the University of Ulster, filled with ‘academics’ who cannot count!
University of Ulster is renowned for it’s Accounting and Finance degrees.
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
It’s a kip for thickos who didn’t get the grades to go to a real University!
I dropped out halfway through the third year of the degree because if was too hard. How far did you get?
What I don’t understand people have been eating this food and others for centuries,
If you go by what the say we should all be dead and our race wiped out.
Our problem is not the food it the amount we eat, the big wholesalers and shops make there money selling us large amount of foods we don’t need or eat cause we have and payed for is causing the problems.
If we all bought less and eat in moderation, big business would louse millions. They rather makes us eat more of another food that is supposedly better for you while the still make money. Than tell restaurants/take outs to reduce sizes, and
when cooking at home the same.
With a little walking we be fit as fiddle.
have your say