Happy Monday everyone! Now I don’t know about you. But trying to find healthy, but affordable lunches is a challenge for me. While I know I should be better at getting organised and making my own lunches. I never am. I rely heavily on convenience food, which isn’t always the healthiest. But last week Greggs challenged me to eat healthier and try their new Balanced Choice salad range. Now while salads might not be the first food you think of when you think of Greggs. It really should be! Their new range is aimed at those of us who want something healthy, tasty and under 400cal. As part of the challenge, I got to try the new range – spoiler alert it was really tasty! And try some of their competitor’s salads to see how Gregg’s compare with the likes of Marks & Spencer, Boots, Pret and Starbucks.
Greggs Chargrill Chicken, Roast Vegetable & Grains Salad £3
Let’s start with Greggs. And the reason for this challenge. They have five salads to choose from in their Balanced Choice range including Cheese, Tomato and Basil Pasta, Honey Roast Ham, Free Range Egg and Potato, Coconut, Lime and Chilli Chicken, Falafel, Harissa, Roast Vegetable and Grains. And the one I picked. Which as the name suggests is made up of chargrill flavour chicken, fresh leaves, cucumber, sun blushed tomatoes, roasted vegetables and mixed grains. Plus a tiny pot of vinaigrette dressing. Not only was this salad full of flavour, but at just 235cal this is a great lunch option for when you want something quick and healthy.
Starbucks Buttermilk Chicken Mango Salad £4.99
Now the first thing I have to say is that this salad is huge! It was the most expensive though at £4.99. With a lovely mix of shredded carrot, rice, edamame beans, mango, buttermilk chicken and red peppers. And a tiny pot of chipotle dressing. This salad gives you the right amount of kick to transform a plain meal. Into something that brings together beautiful flavours and definitely fills you up. Surprisingly this is under 400cals, but just. It’s 351cals which is the most calorific salad out of the five I tried.
Pret-A-Manger Chef’s Italian Chicken Salad £4.50
Back when I worked in London, Pret was always a firm favourite when it came to lunch destinations. I just love how their food is always super fresh. But at times quite expensive. And while this one wasn’t the most expensive. It also wasn’t the cheapest. But it was very tasty. I went for the Italian Chicken Salad which is a combination of Caesar dressed chicken with roasted red pepper, kalamata olives and finished with toasted pistachios. And at 345cal per salad, its not the most calorific either.
Boots Moroccan Style Chicken Couscous Salad £3
Now this salad actually has the fewest calories out of all five at just 209cals. And unfortunately that was pretty clear when it came to taste. Not only that, but after eating this, I was hungry again within an hour or so. Which is a shame, as I normally like the Boots meals and the flavours sounded promising.
Marks & Spencer Sesame Chilli Chicken & Red Rice Salad £3
Now this is also a super lower calorie salad at just 229cals. But it is also the smallest. It is pretty tasty though, as you would expect from Marks and Spencer. With Sesame Chicken, Red Rice Salad and a hot sriracha chilli dressing, this salad certainly packs a punch when it comes to flavour and spice.
Out of all five, I definitely have a favourite. And while the Greggs one was lovely. It just didn’t compare to the Starbucks one. But then the Starbucks one was the most expensive and most calorific. In a close second was the Greggs one. Followed by Pret-A-Manger, Marks and Spencer and then Boots in fifth place.
So there you have it. Who would have thought that Greggs offer tasty and healthy lunch options? But they do!
Which salad would you like to try? Where’s your favourite healthy lunch spot?
I really enjoy having a salad for lunch. I really like Pret a Manger food, but they’re not cheap. It’s a shame the Boots salad wasn’t great – I don’t think I’ve ever tried their salads x
Jenny
Oh, my days – these all look absolutely delicious! I’ve never tried the Boots salads, but I have been a fan of the ones sold by Tesco. x
I hardly ever buy pre-made salads from shops these days. I make them at home with my mum because I’m veggie, and she’s vegan. But these are fab ideas for anyone that’s looking for recommendations for a healthier lunchtime meal!
What a great line up of salads, I have to admit I think I like the look of the Boots Moroccan Style Chicken Couscous Salad most, I’m going to have to try that one myself.
Whilst the most calorific, to be honest the Starbucks salad was pretty low for me – I’d rather that it kept me full for longer rather than being tempted to snack in the afternoon as I’m already hungry!
I love a good salad and the marks and spencers tend to be the best ones to go for in my opinion
Wait… Greggs does salads? Who knew! M&S and Boots salads are so good, but I also love going to Tossed and make my own salad when I feel adventurous. I might have to give Greggs new range a go now though!
I always forget how much I love salads and thats really interesting that Greggs do such good ones! x
Oh I love this! I often have to pick out salads with being gluten free, I had no idea Greggs did salads! I LOVE pret a manger though!
It is great that there are so many salad options. The morrocoan chicken salad looks delicious x
Wow, so many salad choices. I love salads too but sometimes I feel that one order is not enough for me. Haha, Not yet tried Pret-A-Manger Chef’s Italian Chicken Salad though.
I really need to start eating more salads… I eat a lot of rubbish, really…
I’m really bad when it comes to buying food out as well, even though I’m lucky enough to be able to go home for lunch each day. The M&S one looks really good to me x
I really like Greggs salads, I was very surprised when I found out that they do salads, but they’re pretty fab!
I literally didn’t know that Greggs did salads. I’ll have to check them out for sure!
You can’t beat a good salad – I would never have thought Greggs would offer such a delicious option!
I saw those salad bowls in Starbucks today and I will try one next time. They were a really good size too.
I am really hoping to keep eating salad through autumn this year, it’s such a healthy alternative to bread all the time. Love your round up!
Its really good to get some goodness in you and we’ve always been fans of Pret, however it is expensive. M&S do great salad pots too x
Wow, I love any kind of salad this is really looks yummy and delicious, I would love to give this a try
Typically the highest calorie one is the one I like the sound of! lol That buttermilk chicken sounds good!
I wasn’t even aware that greggs did salads!!! They all look great though I really love the M&S low calories boxes though, I often get them but you’re totally right they are really small!!
The 5 days, 5 salad challenge sounds like something I should try, as I have salads every day for lunch 🙂 but I just can’t justify myself to spend that much per day on lunch 🙁 eating in London is super expensive, so I bring a pack lunch x
The salads look delicious and very fresh. I’m not a big fan of eating out so I don’t really have a favorite lunch spot other than at home.
I didn’t know Greggs do salads, but they actually look good. I normally get mine from Sainsbury when on the go.