I was fooled at Arby's!!

mrslondon
mrslondon Posts: 146 Member
edited September 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok so last night I decided I was getting fed up of eating the same thing almost every night (im buying some cookbooks this weekend to venture out past chicken and veggies) so me and the hubby agreed to go out and get something to eat. Obviously my choices are very limited so no fast food. Well we drive by an Arby's and i feel like that would be ok. I order a turkey and swiss on whole wheat with a tiny bit of mayonnaise and lettuce sandwich, i felt all pleased with myself, it was yummy and with the ingredients, i figured it was healthy. Well I look it up when I get home, 700 calories!!!!! WTH!!!! How is that possible???? I look up a homemade sandwich with the same stuff in it, 300 calories. What on earth is in that Arby's sandwich that makes the calories so high? The sodium levels for the sandwich are also through the roof! I thought I was making a good choice so I treated myself to two of those small potato cakes with it, as i worked out hard today and i figured i would be fine on the calorie counting, but once i added the sandwich, i was over. SO MAD!!!! Can anyone explain what went wrong?
«1

Replies

  • iheartmemories
    iheartmemories Posts: 42
    When I go to Arby's, I get a ham and turkey salad, with no dressing and I'm only out 250 calories. Get a salad next time! =)
  • elizabethl27
    elizabethl27 Posts: 52 Member
    What I learned about fast food places is that everything is usually genetically modified or completely processed, making the calories extremely high! That is why you would think that sandwich would only be 300, but it turned out to be 700! I'm sorry but don't worry too much. At least you learned a good lesson :)
  • sophjakesmom
    sophjakesmom Posts: 904 Member
    A lot it is just the size of their sandwiches. if you only had half a sandwich (which is pretty filling) it would only be about 350, much more in line with what you could make at home. If you know that going in, you can always put a half aside before you even start eating and save it for later. I find if I make that decision up front, I am less tempted to plow through the other half. I also try to note my calories in my phone before I get the food. That way if something is deceptively high (like a lot of salads), I can plan accordingly. BTW, I love your quote!
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    It's the bread. It's really thick and it's generally full of sugar.
  • grouch201
    grouch201 Posts: 404 Member
    Not trying to be snippy, but the problem was thinking that fast food can be low calorie. Now there may be some cases where this is possible, but I"d say on the whole, if you're looking for low calories, fast food is not the way to go. It's crazy, but some of the McDonald's Salads have more calories than a Big Mac. Not only is fast food high calorie, it is usually also high fat and mega high on sodium.

    Now, that being said, please don't get too hung up on this experience. Look on it as a lesson learned. I've found that one of the best things you can do is look up what you're going to have BEFORE you go to a restaurant so there are no surprises when you get home and add the calories.
  • crazytxmom
    crazytxmom Posts: 166 Member
    You trusted a fast food restaurant to use real food. I'm not sure WHAT they use. Whatever it is, it's full of fat, sodium and hidden calories so you'll crave more! Consider last night a lesson learned. (And the ones painfully learned are always remembered.)

    Next time, do your nutrition research BEFORE going out. Go ahead & look online now at all the restaurants in your area just to have an idea. Then you can avoid that horrible shock when you get home.

    Best of luck to you.
  • namrettik
    namrettik Posts: 127
    That's how it is with all fast food. I'm still trying to figure out how they pack that many calories into their foods.
  • mommyskis
    mommyskis Posts: 277 Member
    I made myself a cheat sheet of okay choices at all the fast food places I sometimes eat at and keep it in my purse. That way if I'm caught off-guard I know at least one meal I can eat there. Also when in doubt, order a kids' meal.
  • MelissaL582
    MelissaL582 Posts: 1,422 Member
    That's fast food for ya. I try to look up the nutrition facts for restaurants we might want to go to. Your best bet is going to Subway but some of their items like the roasted chicken is high in sodium. You might as well just eat at home, this way you know what's in your food.
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    They market these things as "healthy," when really they're just not fried." They put more meat on the sandwich than we would, and probably more sauce. Their bread is different from what you'd buy yourself too -- you notice how thick the slices are. It's like eating 4 slices of store-bought bread.

    On a side note, the potato cakes ARE a better choice calorie-wise than the fries, as I found out last time I ate there. I don't remember the calorie difference, and it's not a lot, but it's something.

    Don't beat yourself up over this. It happens to the best of us, and one meal isn't going to kill you. Next time if you're planning to go out, try to look at the nutritional info on the restaurant's website so you can make more informed choices. All the chains have nutritional info for all their menu items on their websites (although sometimes it's hard to find).
  • PepsiGal
    PepsiGal Posts: 85 Member
    I know how that's frustrating as hell! Even seemingly "safe" sandwiches can be high in calories and sodium. Even Panera Bread has sandwiches weighing in near 1,000 calories. Your best bet at Arby's would be the Roast Beef Jr. sandwich (200 calories) and a small side salad. Don't be too hard on yourself! Just learn and move on! You're already working hard on your journey!
  • sweetNsassy2584
    sweetNsassy2584 Posts: 515 Member
    I used to get that sandwich all the time. The last time I got it I was eating it here at work and checked the nutrition info. I about fell off my chair. So I ate half and just ate the turkey off of the other half. Its probably way high in calories because of the size of the bread, mayo is very high in calories, and the cheese. If i treat myself to arbys i get the chicken sandwich or french dip and swiss, if i'm okay on my sodium for that day. Both are way better options but the dip has tons of sodium because of the au ju. I try not eat out. If I do I go to subway. Most salads are worse then a hamburger. Its crazy! I've become obsessed with looking up nutrition facts on everything..
  • 1983Miller
    1983Miller Posts: 89 Member
    The amount of bread, there is extra meat too might attribute to that. If you made it at home the bread is a slice versus a bun. Yeah eating out really is hard, but don't sweat it, sometimes it is good to fool the body with other foods once in a while, plus I bet you made you husband happy!
  • nelsonja15
    nelsonja15 Posts: 4
    Oh my, yes they can be deceiving. Here's a little insight from a girl who used to work at Arby's in highschool (long time ago). The wheat bread that you think is healthy is pumped with sugar. The turkey has been roasting in it's own fat juices for at least a couple hours. And I'm betting that they put a butter-substitute liquid on the buns when they ran it through the bun toaster (but you probably didn't even taste it). Also - if it was a market fresh sandwich, those bread slices are huge!

    So yes, I can believe that it would be 700 calories. Sorry yuu had to learn the hard way! I feel like it's always the "hey this looks healthy" items at fast food restaurants are usually anything but healthy.
  • kappyblu
    kappyblu Posts: 654 Member
    Don't beat yourself up. Consider it a lesson learned. Another eye-opening step on your journey. You can consider it a blessing in disguise, because now you know. Get a little book from calorieking.com. Carry it around with you (purse, car) and it has all this nutrition information from tons of restaurants and foods in the grocery store. Or if you can use the MFP app, that would also be helpful. Most restaurants have nutrition information posted on their websites. One of the things I've learned on this journey is that I never order anything at a restaurant without knowing how many calories are in it. I try to plan what I am going to order ahead of time.

    It's got to be the cheese and the bread loading up those calories. I looked it up and the difference without the cheese and bread is about 550 calories. Yikes!!! It looks like none of their market fresh sandwiches are healthy! Dang, I used to love those! Sheesh...that's why I'm here, though. Sorry that happened. But at least you know now. Knowledge is power, my friend.
    :smile:
  • Laceylala
    Laceylala Posts: 3,094 Member
    At FF places you have to be REALLY careful when they have their sandwiches like that for sales. 99% of the time, they are more in calories than their fries and a burger ever thought of being.

    BUT....look on the good side...you now know what you are getting into at FF places.
  • jessicalefebvre
    jessicalefebvre Posts: 7 Member
    I work in a nice sit down restaurant and just recently looked at some of the calorie counts on some things you would think would be good choices for people on a diet...a plain hamburger on our menu has 929 calories and 55 grams of fat, our turkey burger (no cheese or mayo has 700 calories and 40 grams of fat...it's crazy! When need a change I usually go to Burger King and get a whopper junior with no mayo, I think that it has somewhere around 260 calories
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    ive got a pretty nifty app on my phone that lists tons of resturants and fast food places,thier menus and nutritional info.its really cool and helps me make the best decision no matter where im at
  • barberella
    barberella Posts: 199
    If anything, at least it only took you ONE time to learn. I have heard people boast and brag about the choices they make at fast food places and believe they are making the right decisions when they have absolutely no clue just how bad that "food" is for you. And yes, the salads at McDonald's are horribly bad, and a lot more calories than you think a salad would be. Very decieving. THe best thing to do is to avoid fast food all together because you can never trust it. And if you ever have noticed, there's just a certain taste and smell to fast food that we just don't get at home...and I don't mean just the greasy smell, but the smell of overprocessed and modified food products. None of it is good, and the sooner you stop going to those places, the sooner you won't miss it. And you won't miss the guilt of have eating there and believing their sales pitches!
  • mkwood10
    mkwood10 Posts: 428
    The 700 calories for a market fresh doesn't surprise me - those sandwiches are HUGE!!! My usual restaurant thing is to cut the sandwich in half before I even start; then set that 2nd half aside so I'm not tempted. If I order a salad anywhere, I order dressing on the side and drizzle a bit on as I eat; never dump the whole dressing packet or bowl on. Another good trick is to order some type of vinagarette dressing instead of creamy; try raspberry vinagarette or balsamic vineagar - both are yummy!! I gave up on caesar dressings - can't find one that tastes even halfway decent that's not loaded with sodium and fat!
  • rlmarti4
    rlmarti4 Posts: 17 Member
    I have these books called Eat This, Not That for when I go out. Turns out they add sugar or honey to make the wheat bread taste better. They compared the Market Fresh Roast Turkey and Swiss(710 calories, 30 grams of fat/8 sat, 1,680 mg sodium) with the Arby's Melt (298 calories, 12 grams of fat/4sat, 922 mg sodium).
  • neelia
    neelia Posts: 750 Member
    Check out "Food, Inc." on Netflix or at Blockbuster. That will give you your answer. =)
  • neelia
    neelia Posts: 750 Member
    Check out "Food, Inc." on Netflix or at Blockbuster. That will give you your answer. =)
  • ivyjbres
    ivyjbres Posts: 612 Member
    Also, most restaurants use what's called "super premium" products like mayo. It uses the highest fat containing ingredients, and is higher fat than you'll ever find in a grocery store. (That's why it tastes better. Lets face it, if it didn't, you wouldn't pay for it.) Mayo, ketchup, basically anything that isn't a vegetable, think of it as at least twice as many calories as what you have at home. Same with bread, anything fried. But lets not focus on negative, you did probably make the best choice available going for the turkey. Just keep in mind, when you go out, you're really eating twice what you think you are.
  • EDesq
    EDesq Posts: 1,527 Member
    Eating On They "Fly!" I am known to say that food does NOT sneak up on anyone, you made a conscious choice. Anytime we buy something from "out" to eat you must know that to "taste good", the tastes that most Americans have come to "love" and expect there will be a LOT of hidden FAT and SALT and /or Sugar; these 3 Items are the ADDICTION Trio! What's a "little mayo" and how much fat is in THEIR Brand, how much cheese, how dense was the bread (example chabatta and other rustic breads are dense and make great sandwiches, and loaded with salt as well as cheese and deli meats), what was the fat ratio in the turkey. My theme...trust Nothing not made at home, so when I go out to eat, I make my choices BEFORE hand and I am prepared to see the high price (calories and salt) and have either adjusted my caloric budget prior to eating or scheduled to reduce my calorie and sodium intake after-wards. This stuff doesn't sneak up on us, it's about preparation, because for Me it is a matter of LIFE!!!
  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member
    I watched something once that said some of the worst calorie items at Arbys were the sandwhichs cause the bread is horrible. You would have been better off with the roast beef and some fries!

    Fast food will always get you in the end thats for sure, just try to avoid it when ever possible.

    Side note: my husband works for the railroad and they get a stipend each day for lunch since they are lways at different places so they tend to eat fast food alot. well the company gave him a book that has all the national chain resturants in it and nutrition facts for all the menu items. It pretty cool. We keep it in the car so when we are on the go we have some knowledge to make good choices.
  • DKWaggoner
    DKWaggoner Posts: 185
    Arbys is fast food! I try to stay away from anything with a drive up window :wink:
  • MeliciousMelis
    MeliciousMelis Posts: 458 Member
    Chalk it up to a lesson learned, and move on. Best thing you can do for yourself in the future- keep a cheat sheet or do some homework before you head out.

    Above all, keep at it and don't let this sidetrack you- if anything, you're smarter for it and won't make the same mistake again. Silver lining!! :)
  • Ahzuri
    Ahzuri Posts: 272 Member
    Check out "Food, Inc." on Netflix or at Blockbuster. That will give you your answer. =)

    That is a fabulous documentary! I watched it a few months back with my husband and it changed the way I look at things a lot.

    I've been tricked by food too, I'm sure it happens to us all. When I was first starting out here my hubby (who is rail thin, can eat all day but is trying to gain weight) went out to lunch with his sister so he brought me some lunch while I was at work. Well he got a chicken meal with a baked sweet potato and a side salad thinking it was probably ok. I ate it and added in the calories when I got home and I **** you not it was well over 1000 calories. I was soooo shocked but its one of those lessons you learn, I still look at some of the things in our house and I'm like "Really 300 calories for THIS? I think not!"
  • Oompa_Loompa
    Oompa_Loompa Posts: 1,099 Member
    I totally agree with everyone on here about fast food salads still not being the best BUT I will say that the salads at mcdonalds(ones with grilled chicken not crispy) are actually the lowest in calories I have found. They have a grilled southern salad which is really good and if you use the whole packet of dressing it comes to like 450 calories i think. BUt if you only use half(which is really all you need) you cut that down 50 calories. It's def not something to eat like everyday but once in a while I think it would be okay. Im not sure about the sodium but im sure its super high.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories