Traditional pastry desserts are a favorite during the holidays – but they are often loaded with sweet fruits, fat and sugar.
An audit of 31 popular types of 'mince pies' by MailOnline- GazetaExpress reports – has discovered that one brand of these sweets contains more calories than two McDonald's hamburgers.
Aldi's 'Ultimate All Butter Mince Pie' may top taste tests – but it's also the most calorie-dense on the market.
This 110g dessert, made with Cognac-flavored ingredients, contains a whopping 469 calories – while a McDonald's hamburger has 248 calories.
To put it in context, the average woman is advised to consume around 2,000 calories per day to maintain a healthy weight, while 2,500 are recommended for men.
This means that a mince pie from Aldi consumes a quarter of the recommended daily allowance for a woman and a fifth for a man.
These sweets also contain 42g of sugar – the equivalent of 10 teaspoons, over 10g more than a Mars Bar.
Adults are advised not to consume more than 30g of added sugar per day – around seven teaspoons – to protect teeth and avoid weight gain.
The audit also looked at the nutritional content of mince pies available at Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, Cook, Marks & Spencer.
In second place for the most calories is Cook's Mince Pie Crumble Tarts, made with Bramley apples, citrus peel and rum-infused ingredients.
Each 115g dessert contains 465 calories, 32.7g sugar and 9.5g saturated fat.
Government guidelines recommend that men consume no more than 30g of saturated fat a day and women no more than 20g – meaning that eating just two or three mince pies could reach this limit.
Too much saturated fat can raise cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, warns the NHS.
Mr Kipling's All Butter Mince Pies are also among the highest calorie with 311 calories per dessert, as are the Free From Milk & Gluten Free Mince Pies sold at Waitrose with 314 calories.
At Marks & Spencer, their 'Best Ever Mince Pies' contain 349 calories, while Sainsbury's mince pies contain 243 calories.
In contrast, Aldi's Specially Selected Millionaire's Crumble Mince Pies – made with caramel and covered in chocolate crumble – are among the lowest-calorie options.
Each 48g dessert contains 179 calories – approximately the same as two chocolate digestive biscuits.
However, it still contains 18 g of sugar and 3.9 g of saturated fat.
Consuming more calories than you burn leads to weight gain over time. Statistically, six in ten adults and four in ten children are overweight or obese.
Being overweight increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke, as well as mental health problems.
Rob Hobson, nutritionist and author of the book Unprocess Your Family Life, told MailOnline:
"Continued consumption of sweet foods like these can lead to dramatic blood sugar swings and weight gain, which can be difficult to manage in the new year."
To enjoy mince pies without overdoing it with calories and sugar, he suggests:
“Go for smaller portions or options without additives like powdered sugar, crumbles, or extra toppings, which often add unnecessary sweetness and calories. Thinner-crust pastries may be better choices.”
Kim Pearson, a nutritionist specializing in weight loss, added:
"If you want to treat yourself to a mince pie, it's better to eat it after a balanced meal than on an empty stomach."
"The fiber, protein, and healthy fats from your meal can help slow the absorption of sugar and minimize blood sugar spikes."/Express newspaper/