Can you spot which meal is healthier? Dietitian shares two versions of a simple lunch

When you’re making a salad at home for lunch, it can be easy to throw in all manner of ingredients thinking what you’re adding is healthy.

But one dietitian has illustrated how the calories in your meals can vary by huge amounts without you even noticing.

Paula Norris, from Brisbane, posted on Instagram, where she explained how something that looks the same – or at least very similar – can in fact vary by as many as 300 calories.

‘Spot the difference between these two dishes,’ Paula said. 

‘I have always been a hungry human. So here’s an example of what I do so that I don’t go overboard on the calories whilst still getting plenty of food.’

Paula added that the meal on the left contains a staggering 900 calories, while the one on the left boasts just 600 calories.

The differences between the meals include varying amounts of chicken breast, black beans, rice, avocado and pumpkin seeds.

‘On the left, there is 200 grams of chicken breast cooked in two teaspoons of oil, one cup of rice, half a carrot, half a cup of lettuce, one cucumber, six cherry tomatoes, half an avocado and two teaspoons of pumpkin seeds,’ Paula said.

On the right, there is just 100 grams of chicken breast cooked in one teaspoon of oil, 100 grams of black beans, 1/2 cup of rice, one carrot, one cup of lettuce, two cucumbers, eight cherry tomatoes, a quarter of an avocado and one teaspoon of pumpkin seeds.

Paula added: ‘Of course, the one on the left is also okay, especially if you have higher calorie requirements’.   

Commenters who saw the post were shocked by how much a meal can vary in calories.

‘Both dishes have the same volume of stuff – amazing,’ one woman said. 

‘This is so helpful, thank you so much,’ another added.

And this isn’t the first comparison post the dietitian has made, either. 

Even with things like salad and burrito bowls she Paula has shown how adding a little more of something and a little less of something else can make a big difference.

‘Mexican chicken or burrito bowls came as a regular item in lots of your household when I asked a few days back,’ Paula captioned a recent post.

‘Again – while the ingredients are all healthy (except maybe for the mayo), this is to show how a lower or higher calorie version can be prepped by playing with the portions of ingredients. The volume of the meals are similar.’

To find out more about Paula Norris, please click here.