McDonald’s vs Leon: How burgers and fries compare to lunches from the middle-class favourite that boasts of its ‘healthier’ fast food?

If you’re faced with the choice between a McDonald’s cheeseburger or a Falafel Super Salad for lunch, picking which one is the healthier option seems like a no brainer.

However, the difference in calories between a snack from the world’s biggest burger chain and middle-class favourite LEON is a lot less than you might think.

LEON markets itself as a ‘good’ fast food option, offering nutritious meals ‘for everyone to eat well and live well’, and its stores, which are designed to suit each site despite being a chain, certainly feel more upmarket than queuing for a Big Mac.

But while popping in for a Salmon Smörgås-Box or Porridge of the Gods might feel more virtuous than grabbing an Egg McMuffin, the calorie count tells a different story.

Last week it was revealed that a Smoked Caesar Club Sandwich from posh bakery Gail’s contains 1,000 calories whereas a chicken sandwich from rival Greggs is a mere 349 calories.

Similarly, many of the options available at LEON actually contain more calories than McDonald’s despite the more upmarket image.

For example, a breakfast egg and bacon muffin at McDonald’s is 336 calories – but LEON’s version has 431.

Closer to lunch, you may find yourself wanting a Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken Wrap from McDonald’s, which would add up to 453 kcals – quite a bit less than the 619 kcals in LEON’s Crunchy Korean Chicken Wrap.

And for those craving a sweet treat, a Berry Muffin from McDonald’s proves to be the less calorific version, at 298 kcals, while LEON’s Blueberry, Lemon & Poppy Seed Muffin has 541.

There are even differences when it comes to coffee. A regular latte from McDonald’s – made with a double shot of Arabica bean espresso and ‘organic, semi-skimmed milk from UK dairies’ is 145 kcals, but LEON’s, which is also made with coffee, water, and ‘organic milk’, comes out at 195 kcals.

However, speaking to the Daily Mail, health coach Steve Bennett warned that lower calories do not a healthier meal make.

‘Calories tell you how much energy a food releases when burned in a laboratory machine,’ he explained.

‘They tell you nothing about how your body actually processes that food. A calorie of fibre, a calorie of protein and a calorie of refined sugar all register the same on a label, but trigger completely different hormonal responses inside your body.’

He added that sugar content plays a part too.

‘Here’s the science that matters: your entire bloodstream is designed to carry just one teaspoon of sugar at any time,’ Steve continued.

‘When food rapidly converts to sugar (as refined carbohydrates do), your body floods with insulin to manage the emergency. Insulin’s primary job is to store that excess sugar as body fat. While insulin is elevated, burning stored body fat is virtually impossible.

‘So when LEON’s chicken burger comes in at 432 calories versus McDonald’s at 371 calories, those extra 61 calories from chargrilled chicken thigh, real salad and sourdough are doing fundamentally different things inside your body compared to a crispy coated, processed chicken patty in a refined bun.

‘The fries comparison is telling too. McDonald’s small fries at 237 calories versus LEON’s baked fries at 242 calories are almost identical on calories, but the cooking method and processing matter enormously for how your body handles them.

‘The real question consumers should be asking is not “how many calories?” but “what will this food do to my insulin levels?” That single shift in thinking is what separates the 1% who achieve lasting weight loss from the 99% who keep failing on calorie-controlled diets.’

Here, the Daily Mail has compared the calorie content of the cheap fast food brand to its ‘healthier’ alternative – but can you guess which ones come out on top?

1. Breakfast bacon muffins 

McDonald’s Bacon & Egg McMuffin: 336 kcals

LEON Bacon & Egg Muffin: 431 kcals

McDonald’s breakfast bun comes with ‘delicious bacon with a free range egg, a slice of cheese and one of our toasted English muffins’ – promising to be ‘delicious every time’.

Packing a bit more greens however, LEON’s version comes with ‘bacon, egg, spinach & LEON Ketchup on a lightly toasted, soft sourdough muffin’.

2. Breakfast Sausage muffins

McDonald’s Sausage & Egg McMuffin: 424 kcals

LEON Sausage & Egg Muffin: 454 kcals

McDonald’s offers ‘a pork sausage patty, lightly seasoned with herbs, a free range egg and a slice of cheese, in a hot, toasted English muffin’ – whereas LEON’s ingredients list features ‘British Cumberland sausage, egg, and LEON Ketchup in a lightly toasted sourdough muffin’.

3. Latte

McDonald’s Regular Latte: 145 kcals

LEON Latte: 195 kcals

Both ingredient lists seem to line up on this one, with McDonald’s listing ‘a double shot of Arabica bean espresso mixed with organic, semi-skimmed milk from UK dairies, steamed to perfection’. LEON, meanwhile, says it uses espresso and organic milk.

4. Fried chicken wraps

McDonald’s Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken Wrap: 453 kcals

LEON Crunchy Korean Chicken Wrap: 619 kcals

McDonald’s wrap promises ‘crispy chicken breast with a sweet chilli sauce, cool mayo, lettuce and cucumber in a soft, toasted tortilla wrap’. Meanwhile, LEON uses ‘their very own crispy chicken nuggets with spicy & crunchy kimchi slaw, and a kick of LEON Korean Mayo’.

5. Chicken burger

McDonald’s McChicken Sandwich: 371 kcals

LEON Chargrilled Chicken Burger: 432 kcals

The budget fast food brand’s classic chicken burger features ‘crispy coated chicken with lettuce and sandwich sauce, in a soft, sesame-topped bun’.

A grilled alternative from LEON includes ‘chicken thigh, creamy tarragon mayo, fresh tomato relish, crisp salad leaves, and pickled gherkins which unite in a golden sourdough bun’.

6. Vegan burger

McDonald’s McPlant Burger: 426 kcals

LEON LOVe Burger: 630 kcals

McDonald’s version of this vegan burger is made with ‘a juicy plant-based patty co-developed with Beyond Meat featuring vegan sandwich sauce, ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and a vegan alternative to cheese in a sesame seed bun’.

Meanwhile, LEON promises ‘no ordinary vegan burger’.

The website boasts: ‘Our seriously succulent plant patty is topped with our LOVe Burger sauce, fresh tomato relish, salad leaves, tangy pickles, and a slice of mature cheddar vegan cheeze. It’s love at first bite.’

7. Berry muffin

McDonald’s Mixed Berry Muffin: 298 kcals

LEON Blueberry, Lemon & Poppy Seed Muffin: 541 kcals

McDonald’s berry muffin is filled with a sweet raspberry jam and sprinkled with a crunchy granola topping. Meanwhile, LEON’s also includes lemon and poppy seed, ‘topped with a sweet ’n’ crunchy brown sugar crumble’.

8. Brownie

McDonald’s Chocolate Brownie: 278 kcals

LEON Better Brownie: 334 kcals

McDonald’s ‘rich chocolate brownie’ is made with plain chocolate and features milk chocolate chunks. LEON’s, meanwhile, is gluten-free and created using ‘dark chocolate (70% cocoa), coffee, almonds and orange zest’.

9. Fries

McDonald’s small fries (80 grams): 237 kcals

McDonald’s medium fries (114 grams): 337 kcals

LEON Baked Fries (approx 100 grams): 242 kcals

Both eateries are known for their fries. McDonald’s potato side is ‘fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside’. The brand says their fries are also cut from whole potatoes. LEON’s, meanwhile, are baked and criss-cut.

10. Kids’ chicken nugget meals

McDonald’s Happy Meal: Chicken McNuggets (4 pieces): 333 kcals

LEON GFC – Crispy Chicken Nuggets & Baked Fries: 523 kcals

McDonald’s children’s meal also includes carrot sticks and organic milk. LEON’s chicken thigh nuggets, meanwhile, are accompanied by its baked fries, cherry tomatoes and fresh peas.