The Greggs diet: is a ring doughnut much healthier than a jam one? (2024)

At a recent childhood obesity conference, Roger Whiteside, the chief executive of Greggs, pointed out that ring doughnuts “are between 200 and 300 calories; the ball doughnuts are between 300 and 400 calories”. In lieu of a dream “diet” doughnut, Greggs has a different tactic to encourage healthier consumer choices. Its lower-calorie doughnut is simply a ring version that it will display more prominently than the heftier custard, jam or chocolate doughnuts.

The Greggs website clarifies his figures. A 245-calorie Greggs jam doughnut has 12g of sugar and 10g of fat. Its glazed ring doughnut has more sugar – at 13g, thanks to the glaze – but marginally fewer calories, at 191, because it is smaller. It compares better with the triple chocolate doughnut, which weighs in at 341 calories and 29g of sugar. Don’t be fooled by Greggs’ ring doughnut dripping in icing and sugar strands – coming in at 263 calories, it has more than twice as much sugar as the jam version.

There has been ridicule. Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City, University of London, told the Sunday Times that the move was “a bit of a joke”.

But isn’t the calorie maths right? “First and foremost, we should be encouraging healthier snacks over things like doughnuts,” says Samantha Gill, a dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. These could include dried fruit, mixed nuts and seeds if you’re out and about, or hummus with carrot sticks or apple with peanut butter if at home. “But we need to be realistic,” Gill says. “Enjoying your favourite treats in moderation is fine and often more sustainable – if you deprive yourself of something, you often crave it more. Therefore, including occasional treats is more realistic for people. Choosing a ring doughnut over a jam doughnut is the better option of the two, but that doesn’t justify eating more of them or eating them on a regular basis. It’s all about moderation and balance, and ensuring lots of variety and diversity from all the food groups.”

Removing the centre isn’t a new idea – Pizza Express serves lower-calorie pizzas with a hole in the middle filled with salad. The holes in Greggs’ doughnuts are filled only with a deep longing for custard.

The Greggs diet: is a ring doughnut much healthier than a jam one? (2024)

FAQs

The Greggs diet: is a ring doughnut much healthier than a jam one? ›

A 245-calorie Greggs jam doughnut has 12g of sugar and 10g of fat. Its glazed ring doughnut has more sugar – at 13g, thanks to the glaze – but marginally fewer calories, at 191, because it is smaller.

How many calories in a Greggs doughnut ring? ›

Nutritional Information
Typical valuesPer 100gPer portion (58g)
Energy kJ1541kJ895kJ
Energy kcal367kcal213kcal
Fat16g9.2g
of which Saturates6.6g3.8g
11 more rows

How many calories in a jam Doughnut from Greggs? ›

There are 245 calories in 1 portion (76 g) of Greggs Jam Doughnuts.

Are jam doughnuts unhealthy? ›

Jam doughnuts

They are high in sugar, made from white flour and are, of course, deep fried. A single jam doughnut contains around five teaspoons of sugar as well as high levels of saturated fat and weighs in at around 330 calories, according to sports nutritionist Rob Hobson.

What is the most fattening doughnut? ›

The glazed jelly stick is the highest-calorie donut, coming in at 540 calories, 30g fat, 15g saturated fat, 66g carbohydrates, 4g protein, 37g sugars, and 430mg sodium. Dunkin' also offers some other stick donuts and specialty pastries that come with a higher calorie count: Apple Fritter: 510 calories.

How much fat is in a Greggs jam doughnut? ›

A 245-calorie Greggs jam doughnut has 12g of sugar and 10g of fat. Its glazed ring doughnut has more sugar – at 13g, thanks to the glaze – but marginally fewer calories, at 191, because it is smaller. It compares better with the triple chocolate doughnut, which weighs in at 341 calories and 29g of sugar.

What is the lowest calorie donut? ›

While you might think that the sugar raised donut or the plain glazed donut has the least calories, in fact it's the French cruller that's the least unhealthy. The French cruller contains 220 calories, 15 grams of fat, seven grams of saturated fat, and 10 grams of sugar.

What is the healthiest thing from greggs? ›

What To Order At Greggs, According To A Nutritionist
  • Bacon Breakfast Roll. 330 Calories.
  • Vegan Sausage Roll. 309 Calories.
  • Tuna Mayo Roll. 333 Calories.
  • Tomato Soup. 216 Calories.
  • Steak Bake. 408 Calories.
  • Sausage Roll. 328 Calories.
  • Sausage And Omelette Breakfast Baguette. 615 Calories.
  • Feta and Tomato Pasta. 380 Calories.
Oct 27, 2021

How many calories is in one jam Doughnut? ›

Nutritional Information
Typical valuesPer 100gPer portion (76g)
Energy kJ1352kJ1029kJ
Energy kcal322kcal245kcal
Fat11g8.1g
of which Saturates4.6g3.5g
11 more rows

How many carbs are in a Greggs Iced Ring doughnut? ›

Greggs Sweet Treats Iced Ring Doughnut (1 serving) contains 35g total carbs, 35g net carbs, 7.5g fat, 4.2g protein, and 226 calories.

Are greggs donuts baked or fried? ›

Greggs, the bakery, vegan sausage roll moneymaker, and noted provider of hot items, says it will do its bit for public health with a new product the likes of which has never been seen before: a baked good so fiendish that Piers Morgan will again be forced to denounce the chain online. A ring doughnut.

Is it okay to eat a donut every day? ›

Anything can be bad for you if you over indulge. Eating one doughnut is not necessarily bad but if you eat one every day or eat one in combination with other high sugar/fat/ carb foods is when it becomes a slippery slope, especially when you are trying to lose weight.

Do donuts raise cholesterol? ›

Baked goods and sweets

Cookies, cakes and doughnuts usually contain butter or shortening, making them high in saturated fat and cholesterol. They also tend to be full of sugar, which can lead to high levels of blood triglycerides, an unhealthy blood fat (lipid) that can be a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

Is a banana better than a donut? ›

Why is that difference important? Eat a banana and you'll get a good hit of fiber and potassium, as well as other key vitamins and minerals. A donut contains what we call “empty calories”—there's not much in the way of nutritional value.

Should I eat a donut if I'm trying to lose weight? ›

So back to the original question, “Can you eat doughnuts and lose weight?” Well, YES. Provided you can account for your daily macronutrient and micronutrient requirements, there's absolutely no reason why you can't enjoy your doughnuts in moderation.

Do donuts cause belly fat? ›

If you give in too often, they can bulk up your belly. Better Bet: Stop at one. A glazed doughnut has 260 calories. The whole box packs 3,120 calories.

How many calories in a plain ring donut? ›

Table of Nutritional Information
Typical ValuesPer 100gPer doughnut
Energy380kcal173kcal
Fat18.6g8.5g
Saturates8.9g4.0g
Mono-unsaturates7.5g3.4g
8 more rows

How many calories in a circle donut? ›

Circle K
Circle KCheesy Pepper Jack Tornado 1 tornado (85g) Nutrition Facts 220 caloriesLog food
Circle KGlazed Yeast Ring Donut 1 donut (64g) Nutrition Facts 260 caloriesLog food
Circle KMaple Iced Creme Stick Donut 1 donut (104g) Nutrition Facts 440 caloriesLog food
46 more rows

How many calories in a ice ring donut? ›

Table of Nutritional Information
Typical Valuesper 100gper doughnut
Energy366kcal201kcal
Fat15.9g8.7g
Saturates7.2g4.0g
Mono-unsaturates5.9g3.2g
8 more rows

How many calories is one Krispy Kreme donut? ›

190 Cal. Craving something sweet and satisfying? You'll never go wrong with a Krispy Kreme® Original Glazed® Doughnut. This melt-in-your-mouth doughnut is topped with Krispy Kreme's® signature Original Glaze™ and pairs perfectly with a McCafé® Premium Roast Coffee.

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