How many calories in fish and chips?

Ever wondered how many calories are in your fish and chips takeaway? Find out here, plus healthy fish and chip recipes to make at home.
Published 18 August, 2023

How many calories in fish and chips?

Depending on whether you order from your local takeaway, buy at your local supermarket or enjoy in a pub or restaurant, calories in fish and chips can vary widely.

It also depends on serving size, whether you get skinny fries, chunky chips or sweet potato fries, and how much oil is used.

To give you a rough idea:

  • Young's (chip shop): 145 calories per 100g
  • Fish & chips meal from the M&S Gastropub collection: 175 calories per 100g
  • Brewers Fayre fish & chips meal with garden peas: 1174 calories per serving


Why we don't count calories (and why we DO track Points®)

We encourage WeightWatchers® members to track Points® rather than count calories. Why? Quite simply, we don't believe calories are the best measure to help you lose weight. 

Calories only tell part of the story. For example, 100 calories worth of cookies doesn’t have the same nutritional value as 100 calories of turkey, tofu or veggies. Therefore, calorie counting without looking at other nutrients may not result in a healthy eating pattern, which is crucial for both weight loss and reducing the risk of disease.

Points give you what a calorie calculator can’t. Here's an example:

A sandwich (Warburton Thins with 30g wafer thin ham, salad and 1 tablespoon of reduced fat mayo) plus a 120g pot of 0% fat Greek-style yoghurt is around 240 calories.

A sugar doughnut is also around 240 calories.

However, the sandwich and yogurt are 5 Points, while the doughnut has a Points value of 10.* As you can see, it's possible for two meals to contain the same number of calories, but have a very different Points value. 


How do Points work?

Our Points system simplifies complex nutritional science by giving each food and drink a Points value: one easy-to-use number based on four components.

Calories form the baseline, sugar and saturated fat drive the number up, and protein brings it down.

It’s all based on the latest nutritional science, and gently guides you towards a healthier pattern of eating with more lean protein, fruits and veggies, and less unhealthy sugar and fats.

A healthier fish & chips recipe from WW

This WW recipe contains 356 calories per serving (462g). However, as a WW member you'd track the Points value which is 7.