Munchy box

A munchy box or munchie box is an inexpensive fast-food product sold from takeaway restaurants, primarily in the West of Scotland and Glasgow in particular, but also in the East from Aberdeen to St Boswells. They are also now sold by many takeaways across the UK. It consists of an assortment of fast foods served in a large pizza box.

Munchy box
A munchy box: clockwise from the top: pizza, french fries, pakora (vegetable (left) and chicken (right)), a tub of sauce, salad, and doner meat
TypeFast food
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Region or stateScotland
Main ingredientsKebab meat, fried chicken, pizza, chicken tikka, samosas, onion rings, chow mein noodles, pakora, naan bread, garlic bread, coleslaw

Ingredients and nutrition

The contents of a munchy box vary but may typically include kebab meat, fried chicken, pizza, chicken tikka, samosas, onion rings, chow mein noodles, pakora, naan bread, garlic bread, coleslaw, other fast foods and sauces such as curry sauce. There is sometimes a salad item and, invariably, chips or fried rice. The energy content of sample munchy boxes has been reported as between 1224 and 5000 calories while their salt content was estimated to be more than double the 6g daily recommended maximum for an adult. While it is not clear whether a munchy box is actually intended to be consumed as a meal for one, there has been concern at the health implications if it is consumed in this way.[1]

There have been reports of healthier options of munchy boxes. The healthy option composed of tortillas, cherry tomatoes, a salad, boiled eggs, sliced gammons, raw red onions, nachos, chicken mayo, a sprinkling of cheese and other healthy foods. Sushi is sometimes included in the healthier option.[2]

Criticism

The combination of very large portions and a low price has made the munchy box popular; however, its contents, consisting mostly of deep fried or fatty foods, have led to health concerns among some Scottish politicians and health campaigners, particularly if consumed by children. Glasgow City Council has undertaken nutritional analysis of munchy boxes on sale in the west of Scotland with the intention of encouraging restaurants to include healthier ingredients and reduce portion sizes.[3]

It has been suggested that such criticism perversely serves to boost the popularity of unhealthy foods, such as the munchy box and the deep-fried Mars bar, causing their consumption to become an act of rebellion against modern trends towards healthier eating.[4]

See also

References
  1. 6 September 2018. "I Destroyed My Insides by Eating a 5,000-Calorie Box Full of Fried Food". Vice (magazine). Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  2. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/14506429.seaside-cafe-goes-viral-with-healthy-munchie-box/
  3. "Heart attack in a lunchbox – is this your child's school snack?". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  4. Hayward, Tim (4 February 2010). "Heart-stopping moments". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
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