Is Pesto Healthier Than Mayonnaise?

Short answer
In terms of nutrients, yes, pesto is much better for you than mayonnaise. In terms of fat and calorie content, though, pesto is either better or worse for you, depending on whether you're comparing it to full-fat or low-fat mayo.

Long answer
There’s such a wide range of mayonnaises on the market that it’s impossible to say definitively which is healthier. When you compare our pesto to classic Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, there is no doubt that ours is lower in fat and calories, higher in nutrients, and, we think, a lot tastier too!

Calories
Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise contains over 700 calories per 100g, while our sauces generally clock in around half of that. So, 1-0 to pesto.

Fat
Hellmann’s mayo contains almost 80% fat, of which around 6% is saturated. Pestos generally contain half of both. 2-0.

Protein
Protein in pesto varies wildly, but almost always it will beat Hellmann’s meagre 1%. 3-0.

Salt
Naturally, salt content differs from pesto to pesto, but if it clocks in at around 1.5%, then it’s a draw with Hellmann’s. 4-1.

Low-fat mayonnaise
Hellmann’s Lighter Than Light mayonnaise contains just 68 calories per 100g and clocks in at less than 3% fat. On that basis, if you are following a low-fat or low-calorie diet, then this beats pesto hands-down.

The downside is that you'll have to be happy eating titanium dioxide, potassium sorbate, and calcium disodium.

I think we'll stick with pesto, thanks.