A study has shown that fast food meals containing vegetables do not contain fewer calories than meat.
In a study conducted in Poland, researchers examined a total of 1,868 foods, including sandwiches, salads, noodles, and pizza, from 50 food chains in five countries.
Research published in the journal Nutrition found that plant-based diets were lower in protein and sodium, while higher in carbohydrates and sugar, than meat-based diets.
The study found that overall plant-based diets were not associated with lower calorie intake.
Study lead author Mikolaj Kaminski, from the Poznań University of Medical Sciences in Poland, said the findings suggest that plant-based fast food diets contain higher amounts of carbohydrates and sugar than meat-based diets.
He said that, surprisingly, research shows that plant-based foods have nothing to do with low calories, which consumers may not realize.
He added that research emphasizes the importance of food choices, especially when it comes to fast food (especially important when dealing with a metabolic problem like type 2 diabetes).
"These studies debunk the myth that plant-based alternatives to fast food are healthy choices," he said.