New costa meal deal is irresponsible

[Habanero]

Costa have just launched a lunchtime meal deal with a toastie, crisps and a coffee. The one pictured on the ad with a cheese and ham toastie and a latte contains 754 calories, 34g fat, 15.4g saturated fat and 2.1g salt. You can cut off a bit of the calories and fat by opting for lower-fat milk, but it’s still a third of an adult’s daily calories with no source of fibre and no fruit or veg. This sort of thing normalises overeating: by making this a “meal deal” the company is presenting this as a normal lunch option, psychologically nudging people towards consuming an energy-rich, nutritionally poor midday meal.

Clearly it’s a first world problem and we all have choices and don’t need to buy this, but it’s the normalisation of overeating like this which I think has done more than anything to raise obesity levels. AIBU?

Mmm, quite fancy that

*The new Costa lunchtime meal deal is available from 11am to 2pm in participating stores until May 2.

Options include a cheese and ham or cheese and onion toastie, popcorn, crisp or fruit and a small or medium hot drink from the full menu.*

op why didn't you say you could have a small hot drink and fruit instead of crisps? doh! silly you!

£4.95 though, fairly good price.

YABU.

It is not irresponsible at all. Costa is selling meal deals the way that supermarkets do - the only difference is that they offer the deal with a hot drink instead of a cold one.

Has it ever occurred to some, that there might be people who don't really care if they are overweight? As for 'they're a burden on the NHS' well, live long enough, and most of us will be. People who have children are a burden on the NHS. People who get dementia are a burden on the NHS. People who travel in automobiles can become a burden on the NHS. Blah blah blah. Live and let live!

can you name one place that serves a balanced meal? Who counts calorie these days. Eat what you like.

YABU and ridiculous.

I know a lady who has a large costa caramel latte,one of their sandwiches as well as a piece of rocky road 4 days a week for her lunch and she’s tiny. But yes it is unhealthy.
I’d rather pay a bit more and get a superfood salad from Pret as at least it’s a bit fresher and healthier

“Live and let live”- obesity is a huge public health issue.

Obese children are at risk of long term ill health.

YABU
If people want to eat crap food and stuff their faces with high calorie items then that’s fine. Costa tell people what the calorie intake is so what’s the problem?

I wouldn’t eat that for lunch so I wouldn’t buy it, there’s something called ‘choice’

A latte or cappuccino doesn't have to be full of sugar and fat though. Just don't add any syrup, or sugar obviously. And if you're that bothered about drinking some full fat milk just get skimmed milk or soy/ almond.

IME it is really difficult to find low calorie food in central London.

You can get a bottle of water with a Happy Meal, you just have to ask.

I am on the fence on this. At what point, does a government have a responsibility for the health of its citizens? 60% obese is not something to be proud of. We visited the Imperial War Museum the other day, and a portion in the post war years was a few pieces of veg, a single lamb cutlet and a few potatoes. I don’t know any adult now who would eat this quantity by choice.

IME it is really difficult to find low calorie food in central London.

Pret has lots of healthy options. Also there's plenty of Japanese food on offer.

Who counts calorie these days.

raises hand ....

Pret is one of the few options. Also Boots and M&S.

Sushi chains too, but the hot stuff some sell is very large portions and calorific, and they don’t provide any calorie info at the point of sale. I had one green salad where dressing wasn’t separate, turned out to be over 400cal.

For Pret, Itsu and sushi chains nutrition info is very difficult to find online.

Just because it’s a “meal deal” doesn’t mean you have to make it your daily meal everyday. Some days I might want a toaste and a latte, at which time I would be greatful for the cheap pairing. You can keep the crisps though!

YANBU at all OP! 15g of sat fat in one meal is appalling, but unfortunately typical of many packaged sandwiches and toasters. It is a reason why the nation is obese because people just opt for convenience and have no understanding of what they're eating.

I’m already burdening the NHS as they’ve realised my cholesterol is buggered. I don’t drink, don’t smoke, exercise and on average my intake of saturated fat is half the recommended intake for a woman simply due to dietary choices. But my bad cholesterol levels are still shit; although my good levels are much higher than average. I’ve not got to have genetic testing etc and if that comes back as the reason so have all the kids in the family.

The saturated fat in the ops meal is high, but can be lowered acceptable by opting for the fruit or popcorn option and skimmed milk. Given it’s an eat option than anyone who is botheeed about their diet can easily balance the day. And someone who doesn’t can go to the chippy on their way home. At no point have Costa marketed it as a healthy lunch. They’ve just simply made it a third of the average adults calorie intake.

*eat out option

Apologies for the typos the dogs trying to convince me we should go for a walk now, rather than after my parcel has been delivered

Solasum, this is what I’m getting at: over the years large portions and more frequent eating, including snacking,has been normalised, and children are going to die earlier than their parents, and experience more ill health in their lives as a result

The interesting thing about this thread so far is that nobody has challenged the OP on her assertion that dietary fat is a bad thing. But it isn't: there is no need at all to avoid fat in one's diet. The NHS has been giving the wrong advice for years, but it's now recognised we all need fat and it's not harmful. Sugar, on the other hand, is something most of us eat far too much of.

Many people can’t or don’t “manage their day” (or week) of calories . If we could so that there would be a smaller proportion of overweight people.

The “food environment” is a factor in the current public health situation. It is harder to buy affordable low calorie food than it is to buy calorific stuff, especially in low cost housing areas. Working hours and conditions are another factor.

The majority of my (London) colleagues are overweight. We almost all have long journey times to work and work long hours.

The meal OP described is full of salt and sugar, not just fat.

Salt's not the great demon it's been painted out to be either. For years the sugar industry has been quietly making people fat and sick while the blame has been pointed at fat and salt.

There are healthy options out there or doesn't Central London have any Subways (food is shite, but you can get salad), Greggs, Pret or Eat etc, supermarkets including M&S, or McDonalds, Toby Carvery or Wetherspoons are OK if you choose carefully plus a multitude of independents.

Just that sometimes the healthy versions don't look particularly appetising or filling.

You could just have the toastie, a piece of fruit and a cup of tea or a water if you're that worried. Lots of people have a sandwich for lunch, it's no different.