This is how healthy vegan and vegetarian takeaways actually compare to their meat counterparts

More people than ever are looking to replace meat and dairy products with vegan and vegetarian alternatives.

So it's no surprise that top fast-food chains are quickly adapting menu items to meet the demand.

To kick off 2020, KFC launched its first-ever Vegan Burger, loaded with a bespoke Quorn fillet covered in its secret 11 herbs and spices.

McDonald's also released a new chicken replacement with its Veggie Dippers, made from red pepper, rice, sun-dried tomato pesto and split peas.

And perhaps the most anticipated release so far this year has been Greggs' vegan steak bake, which follows on from the hype of the brand's popular vegan sausage roll last year.

But as more brands develop vegan and vegetarian products to suit changing tastes, you may be surprised to see the ingredients behind them.

WATCH: TGI Fridays launches new vegan watermelon steak

TGI Fridays launch new vegan watermelon steak

When it comes to fast food, food made without meat and animal products isn't always the healthier choice.

In the case of Subway's meatball marina, diners will consume 438 calories in a six inch sub.

But the meatless version has 120 calories more.

It also packs close to an extra 20g of carbohydrates and almost 7g more of sugar.

The same is true of Greggs' new vegan steak bake.

While the original carries 300 calories, there's 80 more in the vegan version.

Burger King's Rebel Whopper bucks this trend, however, with fewer calories than its meat counterpart, as does McDonald's veggie dippers.

Here's how some of the most popular fast-food and take-aways stack up:

SUBWAY

Subway's Meatless Meatball Marinara (Subway/PA Wire)

 

6" Meatless Meatball Marinara: 558 calories, 36.4g protein, 72.1g carbohydrates, 19.3g sugars, 12.3g fat, 4g saturates, 19.5g fibre, 3.6g salt

6" Meatball Marina: 438 calories, 22.5g protein, 54.8g carbohydrates, 13.5g sugars, 16.2g fat, 6.8g saturates, 8.7g fibre, 1.9g salt

KFC

KFC's new vegan burger (KFC)

 

Vegan Burger:  450 calories, 18.8g protein, 52.9g carbohydrates, 4.8g sugars, 19.1g fat, 2.91g salt

Fillet Burger: 475 calories, 29.7g protein, 45.1g carbohydrates, 5.5g sugars, 19.3g fat, 2.02g salt

BURGER KING

A plant-based version of Burger King's Whopper (Burger King/PA Wire)

Vegan Rebel Whopper: 596 calories, 23g protein, 48g carbohydrates, 12g sugars, 33g fat, 8.2g saturates, 2.8g salt

Whopper: 627 calories, 31g protein, 47g carbohydrates, 12g sugars, 34g fat, 9.2g saturates, 2.2g salt

GREGGS

The vegan steak bake (Gloucestershire Live)

Vegan Steak Bake: 380 calories, 9.5 protein, 30g carbohydrates, 1g sugars, 24g fat, 12g saturates, 1.8g salt

Steak Bake: 300 calories, 14g protein, 30g carbohydrates, 0g sugars, 26g fat, 13g saturates, 1.4g salt

Vegan Sausage Roll: 312 calories, 12g protein, 21g carbohydrates, 0.8g sugars, 19g fat, 9.4g saturates, 1.9g salt

Sausage Roll: 328 calories, 9.4g protein, 24g carbohydrates, 0g sugars, 22g fat, 12g saturates, 1.6g salt

MCDONALD'S

McDonald's Veggie Dippers (McDonald's)

Veggie Dippers: 321 calories, 6.6g protein, 41g carbohydrates, 2.3g sugars, 13g fat, 1.3g saturates, 6g fibre, 1.1g salt

Chicken Selects: 359 calories, 25g protein, 20g carbohydrates, 0.3g sugars, 20g fat, 2.2g saturates, 0.2g fibre, 1.8g salt

PAPA JOHN'S

Vegan Sheese & Tomato pizza (Papajohns.co.uk)

Slice of Cheese and Tomato Pizza: 226 calories, 9.5g protein, 29.3 carbohydrates, 2.8g sugar, 7.5g fat, 3.1g saturated fat, 1.7g fibre, 0.4g sodium

Slice of Sheese and Tomato Pizza: 143 calories, 3.7g protein, 20.8g carbohydrates, 2g sugar, 4.7g fat, 2.4g saturates, 1.6g fibre, 0.28g sodium

YO SUSHI

Chicken Teriyaki Burger: 286 calories, 7.1g sugar, 10.1g fat, 1.1g saturates, 1.3g salt

Mushroom Teriyaki Burger: 228 calories, 7.0g sugar, 7.5g fat, 0.4g saturates, 1.3g salt

Chicken Katsu Curry: 522 calories, 2.0g sugar, 18.1g fat, 6.8g saturates, 1.7g salt

Pumpkin Katsu Curry: 434 calories, 1.8g sugar, 12.3g fat, 4.0g saturates, 1.7g salt