Low-carb food

Low-carb processed foods are no healthier than their conventional equivalents — but can cost a lot more.
 
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  • Updated:22 Aug 2005
 

02.Result table

Nutrients per serve
Brand / product1 Serve size2 (g) Price per serve3 ($) Energy (kJ) Total fat (g) Total carbohydrate (g)
ATKINS Endulge Wafer Crisp Mint Biscuit 28 2.95 595 9.8 1.7
ARNOTT’S Tim Tam Original Biscuit 35 0.43 760 9.5 21.7
ATKINS Advantage Chocolate Shake 330 4.25 723 9.2 2
BIG M Chocolate Milk 330 0.9 1089 10.4 31
EMPOWER LOW CARB Chocolate 14 0.74 327 6.1 7
CADBURY Dairy Milk Chocolate 20 0.4 442 5.9 11.4
CONTINENTAL CARB OPTIONS Chinese Sweet & Sour Stir Fry Sauce 100 0.67 281 0.2 14.5
CONTINENTAL Asia Tonight Chinese Sweet & Sour Stir Fry Sauce 100 0.56 410 0.2 28.6
CONTINENTAL CARB OPTIONS Cup-a-Soup Chicken & Sweet Corn 100 0.38 123 1.3 3.4
CONTINENTAL Cup-a-Soup Gourmet Chicken & Sweet Corn 100 0.38 299 3.2 10.3
CONTINENTAL CARB OPTIONS Pasta & Sauce Four Cheeses 100 0.58 532 4.7 13.4
CONTINENTAL Pasta & Sauce Four Cheeses 100 0.37 572 4.3 19.3
ATKINS Quick Cuisine Pancake and Waffle Syrup 20 0.41
COTTEE’S Maple Flavoured Syrup 20 0.12 227 0 13.3
CARB OPTIONS Apple & Cinnamon Cereal 50 0.55 865 7 20.2
KELLOGG’S Just Right Original Cereal 50 0.44 744 0.8 36
ATKINS Quick Cuisine Creamy Ranch Dressing 20 0.43 307 7.3 0.7
PAUL NEWMAN’S OWN Ranch Dressing 20 0.28 500 12.7 1.1
NESTLE PETERS CARB SMART Vanilla Ice Cream 50 0.37 173 1.4 2.4
PETERS Extra Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream 50 0.23 455 6.3 12
RAGULETTO CARB OPTIONS Bolognaise Sauce 100 0.53 156 0.7 5.6
RAGULETTO Bolognaise Classic Tomato Sauce 100 0.4 238 1.2 9.5
RAGULETTO CARB OPTIONS Spirals (pasta) 100 0.64 1360 1.5 47.4
SAN REMO Large Spirals (pasta) 100 0.4 1518 1.5 73.6
ATKINS Quick Cuisine Bake Mix 20 0.73 278 0.4 2.5
WHITE WINGS Plain Flour 20 0.04 299 0.2 15.7
NATURE’S WAY Slim Right Weight Loss Bar Choc Mint 50 2.98 696 5.1 15
UNCLE TOBYS Chewy Muesli Bars Choc Chip 31 0.47 540 4 19.8
ATKINS Quick Cuisine Ketch-A-Tomato 20 0.6 56 2.7
FOUNTAIN Tomato Sauce 20 0.08 104 5.4
CARLTON Pure Blond Beer 335 2.49 447 3.6
CARLTON Draught Beer 335 2.79 519 0 9
LEAN CUISINE Chicken Cacciatore (frozen dinner) (A) 350 3.98 1180 5.3 35
WEIGHT WATCHERS Chicken Fettuccine (frozen dinner) 320 4.98 1280 4.8 49.6
 

 

Table notes

(A) It includes pasta; the packaging claims that it "helps you count your carbohydrate intake"

1 Brand / product
This is a sample of the more than 30 brands/types of ‘low-carb’ processed foods that we found in the major supermarket chains in May 2005. We’ve paired them with the closest conventional equivalent we could find. They’re in no particular order.

2 Serve size
Manufacturers’ recommended serve sizes vary. For ease of comparison we’ve used standardised serve sizes, unless the product is a single unit, such as a muesli bar.

3 Price per serve
This is based on the price we paid in Sydney supermarkets in May 2005. We bought the conventional version in the packet/container size that most closely matched the low-carb product.

This article last reviewed August 2005

 

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