How healthy are your fries?
SINGAPORE – In Singapore, 100g of french fries, about a medium serving, gives you between 270 and 324 calories.
Fat content ranges from 14g to 27g. So is that healthy?
The New Paper spoke to four polytechnic nutritionists and polytechnic course managers and the consensus was that there is no such thing as commercial fries that are healthy, but they can be eaten in moderation.
Ms Tessa Riandini, of the School of Applied Science in Republic Polytechnic, said that the recommended calories from fat is about 20 to 30 per cent of our total calorie intake.
So if an average person’s minimum calorie requirement is about 1,800 calories, between 360 and 540 of those calories can come from fat. That means after that 100g of fries, you have a small budget left for more fatty food.
But how do fries line up against local food, like a plate of char kway teow?
Said Ms Riandini: “Char kway teow contains about 46 per cent fat in a plate, whereas (a serving of) fries has about 45 per cent. They are equally unhealthy since the percentage of calories from fat is almost the same.”
A 384g plate of the noodles has about 38g fat and 744 calories, according to the Health Promotion Board.
Over the years, fast-food restaurants like Burger King and McDonald’s have incorporated more healthy alternatives.
A spokesman for Burger King said: ” We support our customers… with innovative products and meal customisation options. We offer BK Salads in our Menu.”
A spokesman for McDonald’s Singapore said that customers can order fries without salt or swap it for a corn cup in extra value meals at no extra charge.
Source: The New Paper
Published: 08 Dec 2013
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
