Do Greggs do healthy food? Uncovering the 'Balanced Choice' Menu

Greggs has actively pursued a mission to offer customers healthier choices, ensuring that by 2024, over 30% of their menu items were classified as 'Healthier Choices'. So, do Greggs do healthy food? The answer is a surprising yes, alongside their traditional baked goods.

Quick Summary

Greggs has expanded its menu beyond traditional bakes and pastries to include a 'Balanced Choice' range featuring salads, soups, and other options under 400 calories. This offers customers a spectrum of options, from indulgent treats to more health-conscious meals.

Key Points

• Balanced Choice Range: Greggs offers a dedicated menu of items under 400 calories, specifically designed to be healthier.

• Nutritional Transparency: The company provides full nutritional information online and via labels, allowing customers to check contents like fat, salt, and sugar.

• Indulgent vs. Healthy Options: The menu includes both classic high-fat bakes and pastries, and newer, more balanced salads, soups, and fruit pots.

• Vegan Does Not Equal Healthy: While vegan options are available, customers should check the nutritional content, as some can still be high in processed ingredients and saturated fat.

• Strategic Health Improvements: Greggs has committed to improving the nutritional value of its menu by reducing salt, fat, and sugar across its products without altering taste.

The Shift from Traditional Bakery to Food-to-Go

For many years, Greggs was primarily known for classic comfort food like sausage rolls and steak bakes. However, in response to evolving customer demand for healthier options, the company has transformed into a modern food-to-go destination. This transformation included a strategic plan to introduce a 'Balanced Choice' menu.

Greggs has also reformulated some existing products to improve their nutritional profile by reducing salt, fat, and sugar while maintaining flavour. This has resulted in a menu that offers a balance between traditional favourites and more nutritious choices.

Unpacking the Balanced Choice Menu

The 'Balanced Choice' range is central to Greggs' healthier offerings. These items contain less than 400 calories and adhere to 'amber' and 'green' standards on the nutritional traffic light system for fat, saturated fat, salt, and sugar. The range provides healthier options for various meals and snacks.

Examples of Healthier Greggs Items

• Salads: Options like the Chargrill Chicken Salad and Sweet Potato Bhaji and Rice Bowl are good sources of protein and vegetables.
• Soups: Available seasonally, soups offer a low-calorie lunch option.
• Sandwiches and Wraps: The Honey Roast Ham Salad Baguette is a lower-calorie alternative.
• Breakfast and Snacks: Porridge and fruit pots, starting from just 51 calories, are available for a balanced breakfast or snack.
• Vegan Options: Healthier plant-based choices include the Sweet Potato Bhaji and Rice bowl.

How to Make Healthy Choices at Greggs

1. Spot the label: Look for the 'Balanced Choice' logo in-store and on menus.
2. Focus on whole foods: Choose items with vegetables, lean protein, and complex carbohydrates like salads and grain bowls.
3. Consider customisation: Removing one slice of bread from a sandwich can reduce carbohydrates.
4. Evaluate vegan options: Not all vegan items are low-calorie; check nutritional information.
5. Select healthy drinks: Water, black coffee, or cold-pressed juice are better choices than sugary drinks.

Comparing Healthy vs. Indulgent Choices

The following table compares the nutritional content of a classic and a healthier Greggs item, based on available information.

Item	Calories	Fat	Saturated Fat	Protein
Sausage Roll	348 kcal	24g	11g	9.2g
Chargrill Chicken Salad	235 kcal	~10g	~1g	~15g

This comparison highlights that healthier options like the Chargrill Chicken Salad have significantly fewer calories, less saturated fat, and more protein, contributing to a more balanced meal. The classic Sausage Roll is higher in fat and saturated fat, making it an occasional treat.

Conclusion: Navigating Your Options

Greggs offers both healthy and indulgent food options. The company's 'Balanced Choice' range provides numerous healthier, nutritionally balanced, and low-calorie choices, such as salads, soups, and fruit pots.

However, traditional items like pastries and bakes are higher in saturated fat, salt, and calories and are best enjoyed in moderation. Greggs provides clear nutritional information online and on packaging to help customers make informed choices. The availability of both types of food allows Greggs to cater to diverse preferences while enabling health-conscious choices. You can explore the full menu and nutritional details on their official website at Greggs.co.uk.

Making a Smarter Greggs Trip

1. Review nutritional data online: Access all product nutritional information on the Greggs website.
2. Choose salads and soups: These are typically low-calorie and contain vegetables.
3. Check traffic light labels: Balanced Choice items have favorable 'amber' and 'green' ratings.
4. Prioritise protein: Opt for protein-rich options like the Chargrill Chicken Salad for satiety.
5. Be mindful of processed vegan items: Some vegan bakes can be high in fat and salt.

Healthier Greggs Menu List

• Chargrill Chicken Salad
• Sweet Potato Bhaji and Rice Bowl
• Tomato Soup
• Honey Roast Ham Salad Baguette
• Omelette Breakfast Roll
• Strawberry and Granola Yoghurt Pot
• Mixed Grape Fruit Pot
• Cold Pressed Juices
• Black Coffee
• Tuna Mayo Roll

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greggs' Balanced Choice menu actually healthy?

Yes, items on the 'Balanced Choice' menu are designed to be healthier, as they all contain fewer than 400 calories and meet favorable nutritional traffic light system ratings for fat, saturated fat, salt, and sugar.

What are some of the healthiest items at Greggs?

Some of the healthiest options at Greggs include the Chargrill Chicken Salad, Sweet Potato Bhaji and Rice bowl, various soups, and fruit pots.

Are the vegan options at Greggs always a healthy choice?

Not necessarily. While vegan options like the Sweet Potato Bhaji and Rice are nutritious, other items, such as the vegan sausage roll, can still be high in processed ingredients and saturated fat, similar to their meat-based counterparts.

Where can I find the nutritional information for Greggs products?

Comprehensive nutritional information for all Greggs products is available on their official website, Greggs.co.uk.

What should I avoid at Greggs if I'm trying to eat healthily?

If you're watching your health, it's best to limit or avoid the high-calorie, high-saturated fat items like traditional sausage rolls, steak bakes, and doughnuts.

Are Greggs' breakfast options healthy?

Some breakfast options are healthier than others. The Simply Creamy Porridge is a good source of fibre, while a bacon roll is higher in processed meat and saturated fat. An Omelette Breakfast Roll is a better protein-rich choice.

Has Greggs improved the healthiness of its food recently?

Yes, Greggs has been making strategic improvements for years, including reformulating classic recipes to reduce salt and fat and expanding their menu to include a wider range of healthier choices.