How healthy is that sandwich?

by -TheBestMoms

Sandwiches are common in the fast-food landscape. It’s common knowledge that fast food is not always the best bet for your family but there are times when it comes in handy. When my then 3 year old was hospitalized and going through recovery from open heart surgery, we lived off of fast food and cafeteria food (which was a lot like the fast food). I’d love to pretend that was the only time I did the ‘unthinkable’ and let my family eat fast food out of shear necessity, but we all know it isn’t true. On average my family eats out two meals per week, sometimes less, but that’s because I get to work from my home office, and so I have the time to cook. A lot. Like a whole, whole lot.


The average American family eats out 4-5 times per week according to the San Diego Regional 5 a Day Campaign. The thing is, it isn’t the eating away from home that’s the problem, it’s what we’re eating away from home. Many times we pick what we like and we tell ourselves it can’t be that bad because, “There’s only a couple of ingredients in it” or, “It’s chicken-and chicken is healthy” or “It’s better for me than a burger”.

Wrong. On so many levels.

According to webmd.com, there are some sandwiches that are fooling all of us. Even if you aren’t on a diet or closely watching what you eat, some of their caloric findings may surprise you! For instance…according to their research, Schlotzsky’s Original Style Turkey Sandwich packs a calorie punch with 831 calories, 35 g fat, 14 g saturated fat, and 2,529 mg sodium – and it’s turkey! Like tuna? Well webmd found that Quiznos offers a loaded Tuna Melt Deli Sub with cheese and mayo at 1,220 calories, 94 g fat, 19 g saturated fat-and go for the big one if you’re looking to scarf down 1,740 calories in sandwich form. For comparison, that is more calories than 2 extra large 12oz t-bone steaks and a Loaded Baked Potato together.


Webmd’s review of fast food/deli sandwiches is pretty enlightening-although, to be honest, we found that we disagreed on the McDonald’s ‘healthy alternative’ to their Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich (620 calories, 29 g fat, 7 g saturated fat, and 1200 mg of sodium according to McDonalds). If your first thought was to go for the Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich, one of their small Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken wraps (250 calories, 8 g fat, 3.5 g saturated fat, and 650 mg according to McDonalds) isn’t going to sustain you for very long-even McDonalds refers to it as a ‘snack’. Instead, we suggest the Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich. It has 350 calories, 9 g of fat, 2 g saturated fat and 820 mg sodium-and that’s with the mayonnaise!

To read more about what sandwiches your family may want to avoid and see some healthier alternatives according to webmd’s findings, click here. Bon Appétit!