Why are there so many calories in sandwiches? Like Jimmy Johns and similar?

[Anonymous]

I just don't get it. How can there be almost 950 calories in Jimmy John's turkey tom? I got a regular size, with lettuce and tomato, and it comes with mayo. I heard about Subway being a cake due to way too much sugar in the bread, but not that all the others have it.
Which sandwich shop you recommend that might be a healthier option? I loved eating the turkey tom, but not if I am having almost 1000 calories!

[Anonymous]

OP, the problem is that the “regular size” is anything but. It’s primarily a portion problem. Those sandwiches can easily make two meals if you have half of it at a time, along with some fruit or a salad.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's mostly all in the bread - as in, those chains have higher-calorie breads than you'd find in the supermarket aisle labeled sandwich bread. Plus the mayo, and there you go.

Most ready-made food is quite deceptive.

[Anonymous]

The menu says it’s 650 calories for an 8 inch,not 950. Mayo is 160, but who wants a dry sandwich?

[Anonymous]

Thats the calorie count for a 16" sub... so the number 1 reason is portion

The bread is going to be the majority of the calories, followed by the mayo, the cheese, then the meat

[Anonymous]

That is surprising! Mayo and cheese have soooo many calories it’s kind of mind-blowing. And with bread it’s easy to get a much bigger serving than you would think. Slices at sandwich shops can kind of trick the eye, the same way any difference in a container can make volume deceiving.

I don’t have any recommendations though except maybe eat just half of it? Theoretically if you are just listening to your body you won’t consume more calories than you need...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's mostly all in the bread - as in, those chains have higher-calorie breads than you'd find in the supermarket aisle labeled sandwich bread. Plus the mayo, and there you go.

Most ready-made food is quite deceptive.

Thanks! So, if I bought a baguette from Safeway, and make it myself it would have fewer calories? I will check the calories instore bought baguettes.
But, there I was thinking I am choosing a healthy lunch, and it might not be unhealthy per se, but at 5'4" I don't need 1000 calories for lunch!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is surprising! Mayo and cheese have soooo many calories it’s kind of mind-blowing. And with bread it’s easy to get a much bigger serving than you would think. Slices at sandwich shops can kind of trick the eye, the same way any difference in a container can make volume deceiving.

I don’t have any recommendations though except maybe eat just half of it? Theoretically if you are just listening to your body you won’t consume more calories than you need...

No cheese though! I did not get any cheese. I have a severe dairy allergy. Half of the regular size seems way too little to me! Dh got a subway sandwich, and it was almost 3 times longer and more stuff on it! I can see how that footlong can be well over 1000 calories!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The menu says it’s 650 calories for an 8 inch,not 950. Mayo is 160, but who wants a dry sandwich?

Geez! So my 8 inch had 160 calories in mayo? Something to keep in mind! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the problem is that the “regular size” is anything but. It’s primarily a portion problem. Those sandwiches can easily make two meals if you have half of it at a time, along with some fruit or a salad.

Even the regular size? I am a bit confused about the sizes at JimmyJohns, now I looked it over and a regular sandwich might not have as many calories as the 16 inch one.

[Anonymous]

I am not a diet person by any means, but for sandwiches I like the "skinny" option at Potbelly. They pull the squishy part out of the roll before they toast it. I actually think it tastes better this way--otherwise the bread kind of takes over the sandwich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is surprising! Mayo and cheese have soooo many calories it’s kind of mind-blowing. And with bread it’s easy to get a much bigger serving than you would think. Slices at sandwich shops can kind of trick the eye, the same way any difference in a container can make volume deceiving.

I don’t have any recommendations though except maybe eat just half of it? Theoretically if you are just listening to your body you won’t consume more calories than you need...

No cheese though! I did not get any cheese. I have a severe dairy allergy. Half of the regular size seems way too little to me! Dh got a subway sandwich, and it was almost 3 times longer and more stuff on it! I can see how that footlong can be well over 1000 calories!

DP. I agree half of a regular size is too little food for a meal, but if all your food for a meal is meat and bread and sandwich fixings it’s gonna be a calorie bomb. This is why nutritionists push 5-7 servings of fruit and vegetable. You need to eat 2+ servings with every meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's mostly all in the bread - as in, those chains have higher-calorie breads than you'd find in the supermarket aisle labeled sandwich bread. Plus the mayo, and there you go.

Most ready-made food is quite deceptive.

Thanks! So, if I bought a baguette from Safeway, and make it myself it would have fewer calories? I will check the calories instore bought baguettes.
But, there I was thinking I am choosing a healthy lunch, and it might not be unhealthy per se, but at 5'4" I don't need 1000 calories for lunch!

6" of fresh baguette (I won't go as far to say one from Safeway, but from a bakery) should have around 200-300 calories. So that is going to be fewer than a chain fast food sub shop roll, but still a lot. Its difficult to escape calories in bread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is surprising! Mayo and cheese have soooo many calories it’s kind of mind-blowing. And with bread it’s easy to get a much bigger serving than you would think. Slices at sandwich shops can kind of trick the eye, the same way any difference in a container can make volume deceiving.

I don’t have any recommendations though except maybe eat just half of it? Theoretically if you are just listening to your body you won’t consume more calories than you need...

No cheese though! I did not get any cheese. I have a severe dairy allergy. Half of the regular size seems way too little to me! Dh got a subway sandwich, and it was almost 3 times longer and more stuff on it! I can see how that footlong can be well over 1000 calories!

DP. I agree half of a regular size is too little food for a meal, but if all your food for a meal is meat and bread and sandwich fixings it’s gonna be a calorie bomb. This is why nutritionists push 5-7 servings of fruit and vegetable. You need to eat 2+ servings with every meal.

I was traveling and packed fruit and ate it, so this seemed like a better option than some fast-food hamburger place. It was so tasty to me though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's mostly all in the bread - as in, those chains have higher-calorie breads than you'd find in the supermarket aisle labeled sandwich bread. Plus the mayo, and there you go.

Most ready-made food is quite deceptive.

Thanks! So, if I bought a baguette from Safeway, and make it myself it would have fewer calories? I will check the calories instore bought baguettes.
But, there I was thinking I am choosing a healthy lunch, and it might not be unhealthy per se, but at 5'4" I don't need 1000 calories for lunch!

6" of fresh baguette (I won't go as far to say one from Safeway, but from a bakery) should have around 200-300 calories. So that is going to be fewer than a chain fast food sub shop roll, but still a lot. Its difficult to escape calories in bread

OP here. Though, it might be that the lunch meat has a ton of calories as well. I can't imagine shredded lettuce and a couple of slices of tomatoes have a ton of calories unless they are soaked in oil.