What 2,000 calories looks like at our favourite restaurants from Nando’s to McDonald’s… and beware these ‘healthy’ meals

WE'VE spent months miserably stuffing takeaways into the microwave, but now Brits are finally enjoying dining out again at our favourite restaurant chains.

However, despite the introduction of 'eat out to help out' vouchers that could slash our bills, Boris Johnson's new war on obesity has been a reality check for many.

As part of his new policy, calorie counts will have to be printed on restaurant menus, so you can tell how much of your recommended daily intake is in each meal before you tuck in - and some of them will shock you.

For example, a bacon cheese burger and chips at Five Guys takes you way over the 2,000 daily calories recommended for women - while men have slightly more leeway, with a recommended daily calorie count of 2,500.

Many meals are hitting the mark before you’ve even added a drink.

A glass of wine will add 214 calories to your total, while a milkshake in Five Guys would add another 870 calories.

Surprisingly, some of the ‘healthier’ options on the menus are highly calorific - like the chicken and grain salad at Nandos which comes in at a whopping 990 calories.

Here, we show you what 2,000 calories looks like at some of the UK's most popular restaurant chains.

McDonald's: Big Mac's no big deal

Popping out for a Big Mac was high on lots of agendas as soon as the golden arches opened their doors last month.

While the burger itself will only eat up a quarter of your daily calories, the sides soon whack up the count.

Big Mac: 508 cals

Medium fries: 337 cals

Mozzarella dippers: 256 cals

Mixed berry muffin: 298 cals

Banana milkshake: 386 cals

Sour cream and chive dip: 140 cals

Total: 1,925 cals

The healthy alternative

Spicy veggie wrap: 364 cals

Nando's: beware the 'healthy' salad

The home of the Peri-Peri chicken has become one of the most popular go-to chow stops in the country in recent years.

The chicken is healthy enough but Peri-Peri salted chips pile on the count. And if the veggie or salad option is your choice, you might be surprised by the calorie count.

1/2 chicken, Perinaise hot: 468 cals

3 chicken thighs, Perinaise hot: 324 cals

Large Peri-Peri salted chips: 747 cals

Regular coleslaw: 168 cals

Barely baked brownie: 387

Total: 2,094 cals

The healthy alternative:

Ancient grains, Peri chicken and tomato salad: 990 calories

Feta, avocado and grain wrap: 890 calories

Hummus with Peri Peri drizzle: 1216 calories

KFC: the sides add up

Finger-lickin' good it may be, but it's not hard to get to the 2,000 mark with a tasty takeaway from Colonel Sanders.

Just some popcorn chicken and three sides could have you bursting at the seams.

Large popcorn chicken: 465 cals

Large fries: 345 cals

Large coleslaw: 320 cals

Onion rings: 400 cals

Salted caramel Krushem: 375 cals

Total: 1,905 cals

The healthy alternative:

Fillet salad: 370 cals

Veggie rice box: 365 cals

Greggs: sausage adds the rolls

We are a nation of pastry lovers and the largest bakery chain in Britain has been attracting queues in every high street for over 20 years.

Its pies, pasties and sausage rolls have become iconic, but may not be the best choice if working on the waistline.

3 sausage rolls: 318 cals each

2 caramel custard doughnuts: 325 cals each

Large Mocha coffee: 300 cals

Total: 1,904 cals

The healthy alternative:

Pasta, feta and tomato: 378 cals

Pizza Express: dodge the dough

Who doesn't love a pizza on a family night out?

But the calorific content of Pizza Express's tasty treats range from the Leggera range, which are under 600, to some that are double that.

Then there are those irresistible dough balls with garlic butter...

Dough balls: 396 cals

Pizza pollo ad astra: 1145 cals

Tiramasu: 412 cals

Total - 1,953 cals

The healthy alternative:

Pollo salad with dressing and dough sticks: 954 cals

Chicken Caesar salad (no dough sticks): 636 cals

Domino's: one pizza and out

If you're sticking to the government guidelines, it's best not to hog your Domino's - especially if it's a large one.

The takeaway kings do have a lighter range - the Delight pizzas - which are usually between 500 and 600 calories.

Otherwise, make sure you share.

Large American hot pizza: 2,080 cals

The healthy alternative:

Medium vegan pizza: 1,333 cals

Small Delight (low-cal range) veggie: 590 cals

Subway: baking bad

The smell of freshly baked bread and a choice of fillings and dressings gets the juices flowing in Subway.

But a footlong sandwich may not be a good idea if you're planning to eat anything else though the course of a day.

Footlong chicken and bacon ranch melt: 1060 cals

Sweet onion teriyaki salad: 409 cals

Chocolate chip cookie: 210 cals

Large Coke: 144 cals

Total: 1,823 cals

The healthy alternative:

Tuna nicoise salad - 308 cals

Five Guys: skimp on toppings

The high street restaurant chain is known for its juicy burgers but be careful what you pile on the top.

The cheese and bacon adds another 150 calories and mayo an additional 100. And you might not want to go large on those chips.

Bacon cheeseburger: 920 cals

Large fries: 1,314 cals

Total: 2,234 cals

Healthy alternative

Cheese veggie sandwich - 510 cals

Fish and chips: fry another day

The chippy is the most traditional takeaway of them all and Brits have been chomping on battered cod in paper for over 150 years.

But while fish is a healthy part of a balanced diet, the humble fish supper adds a lot of extra fat and carbohydrates, making it a highly calorific treat.

Cod in batter (medium): 444 cals

Medium chips: 950 cals

Mushy peas: 100 cals

Saveloy: 235 cals

Can of Coke: 139 cals

Total - 1,868 cals

Wetherspoons: the big breakfast

They say you should breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper.

With Wetherspoons famed for its full English breakfast, it certainly frontloads the calories in your day.

But add a couple of drinks, and you've reached your calorie limit before noon.

Large breakfast: 1420 cals

3 pints lager: 180 cals each

Total - 1,940 cals

Healthy alternatives

Large veggie breakfast: 1357 cals

Moma porridge with honey and banana: 447 cals