Nutrition for Weight Loss Sandwich Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits Condiments and Bread Choices Increase Calories in a Sandwich By Malia Frey facebook twitter linkedin Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer, and fitness nutrition specialist. Learn about our editorial process Malia Frey Reviewed by Reviewed by Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN on October 09, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin instagram Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist. Learn about our Review Board Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN Updated on October 09, 2020 Print Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Nutrition Facts How to Cut Sandwich Calories Highest Calorie Choices Do you pack yourself a sandwich for lunch every day? Bringing a homemade lunch to work with you is one of the easiest ways to lose weight when you're on the job. But toppings like mayonnaise, creamy dressings, and cheese can change the nutrition and the calories, fat, and sodium in a sandwich. A healthy sandwich can easily exceed your calories if you are not careful. It's easy to cut calories from your sandwich if you are armed with smart nutrition information and a few savvy tips. Nutrition Facts The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for one sandwich (155g) with ham, cheese, and spread (mayonnaise). Calories: 361 Fat: 16.7 Sodium: 1320mg Carbohydrates: 32.5g Fiber: 2.3g Sugars: 5.13g Protein: 19.3g A typical sandwich you make at home includes bread (for one large, thick slice of whole wheat, toasted (39 grams), add 119 calories), one or two of your favorite condiments, and lunch meat. You may even add a few veggies for crunch and flavor. If you make that sandwich at home you can control the ingredients, cut calories, and boost nutrition. But what if you pick one up at the market? It's harder to control sandwich calories when you buy them pre-made. The nutritional value and calorie counts can vary significantly. The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Condiments for Topping Your Sandwich Typical Sandwich Calories Turkey sandwich calories can range from 160 to nearly 500 calories depending on the amount of meat you add and the condiment choices. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich calories range from about 350 to 500 depending on how much peanut butter you use. A single serving of peanut butter is just two tablespoons. (Hint: you can make a healthier peanut butter and jelly sandwich). Peanut butter sandwich calories are more reasonable as long as you control the amount of peanut butter you use. A PB sandwich on white bread usually ranges from 200-300 calories. Nutella sandwich calories are similar to peanut butter sandwich calories, ranging from about 300 to 500. A single serving of Nutella is about two tablespoons and it provides 200 calories. Ham sandwich calories are generally (more) diet-friendly when you omit the cheese. You can make one for under 200 calories, but if you add butter—as many people do—and enjoy it on a french baguette your sandwich will top 400 calories or more. Subway sandwich calories vary significantly from 230 to nearly 1000 calories. It's smart to compare Subway nutrition facts to find the healthiest choice if you like to eat there. Egg salad sandwich calories are sky-high due to the fact that the filling is full of fat. Egg salad alone can add 350 calories. Add bread and you might have a sandwich that tops 500 calories. Chicken salad sandwich calories are comparable to egg salad calories, ranging from about 400 to 600 calories, or more. Egg and cheese sandwich calories usually range from about 250-over 400 calories. These popular breakfast sandwiches often come on a croissant or a biscuit and that can drive the calories higher. You can find a healthier breakfast sandwich by checking ingredients and calorie counts online before you dine in. So how do you keep your sandwich from derailing your diet? Use this guide to cut calories from your sandwich. How to Cut Sandwich Calories With just a few tweaks and healthy swaps, you can create a nutritious and healthy sandwich that is lower in calories but still full of flavor and lasting satisfaction. Choose Low-Calorie Sandwich Bread Delicious, thick, crusty bread, bagels, baguettes, croissants, and hearty rolls can be full of fat and calories. These choices might also boost your starchy carb intake for the day. Instead, choose a whole grain bread or bread alternative that has additional nutrient benefits such as healthy fats or fiber. If you are eating a heartier bread, consider making an open-faced sandwich and keeping your portion to one slice. (All calorie values following are confirmed from the US Department of Agriculture FoodData Central database or the MyFitnessPal app.) Arnold Bakery Light - 100% Whole Wheat Bread: 60 calories per slice Nature's Own Wheat Bread: 110 calories for two slices Pepperidge Farm Light Style Bread: 45 calories per slice Joseph's Flax, Oat Bran, and Whole Wheat Flour Pita Bread: 60 calories per pita La Tortilla Factory Low Carb, High Fiber Tortillas: 50 calories per tortilla If you prefer a more natural approach, try making a sandwich with no bread at all. Wrap your healthy sandwich filling in bibb lettuce or make a sandwich using a peeled and seeded cucumber as the shell. And there are other options such as cauliflower wraps, brown rice wraps, homemade chickpea wraps, sweet potato, or flax wraps. Choose Leaner Sandwich Fillings Once you've chosen your healthy bread, you'll build your sandwich around a meat or meat-free filling. Get creative and combine different choices to find new flavors. However, be wary of meat or fish spreads that sound healthy. Many brands of salmon spread, for example, contain protein and healthy nutrients, but the fish is often combined with cream cheese so the spread is very high in calories. Calorie counts of popular sandwich fillings vary. Keep in mind that you should aim to limit the consumption of deli meat as it has been linked to certain cancers. Thinly sliced deli ham (from Tops): 60 calories per serving Thinly sliced deli turkey (from Tops): 60 calories per serving Thinly sliced deli roast beef (from Great Value): 30 calories per serving (three slices) Thinly sliced deli-style rotisserie chicken breast (from Tops): 60 calories per two-ounce serving Grilled eggplant, three slices: 30 calories (grilled without oil) Grilled portobello mushroom, one cup (homemade): 42 calories (grilled without oil) If you are watching your sodium intake, look for healthier low-sodium lunch meats at your local market. Sodium in Lunch Meats: Brands With Less Salt Load Up on Nutrient-Rich Veggie Toppings Pack your sandwich with as many naturally fat-free and low-fat toppings (such as vegetables) as possible. Make yourself a goal to have at least 2 vegetable servings per sandwich. These nutrient-rich veggies add spice, flavor, and crunch to your sandwich so it tastes more filling and decadent. Banana peppers Green peppers sliced thin Cucumber Tomato Jalapeno peppers sliced thin Shredded cabbage Plain or grilled onions Sun-dried tomatoes Basil leaves Alfalfa or bean sprouts Iceberg lettuce, spinach, bibb lettuce, or greens of your choice Choose Low-Calorie Condiments The spread that you choose for your sandwich takes up the least space in your low-calorie sandwich but can provide the most fat. If you add plenty of toppings from the list above then you may not want to add any spread at all. Yellow mustard (1 tsp. Wegman's): 0 calories Dijon mustard: 5 calories Ketchup (1 tablespoon, Simply Heinz): 15 calories Relish (Vlasic Squeezable Homestyle): 15 calories Avocado or guacamole (Wholy Guacamole, 2 tablespoons): 50 calories Barbecue sauce (Dinosaur, 2 tablespoons): 25 calories Olive tapenade (Trader Joe's): 40 calories Avocado (1 medium): 1600 calories Jelly (apple, 1 tablespoon): 50 calories Salad dressing (Wishbone, 2 tablespoons): 90 calories Pesto (25 g): 80 calories Tahini (Sabra, 1 colher): 90 calories Aioli (chimichuri aioli, 1 tablespoon): 60 calories Butter (Land O'Lakes, 1 tablespoon): 100 calories Olive oil (organic, 1 tablespoon): 120 calories Highest Calorie Choices So what are the worst sandwich choices for your diet? Usually, the sandwiches you buy in convenience stores or order at restaurants are highest in fat and calories. Deli sandwiches can also derail your diet. A 10-inch classic Philly Cheesesteak from Wawa, for example, provides about 790 calories and 29 grams of fat. Most of the time, restaurant, and deli sandwiches are oversized and include the condiments that are highest in fat and calories. If you order a sandwich when you're on the go, cut it in half. Share one half of the sandwich with a friend or wrap it up and take it home for a later meal. A Word From Verywell When you're first getting started, cutting sandwich calories might seem complicated and unfamiliar. But once you get the hang of it, crafting a delicious lunchtime meal is fun. Fill your refrigerator with as many healthy choices as possible. Then get creative and see what you come up with. The time you invest in packing a healthy lunch can make your workday more satisfying and your long-term health goals a reality. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get it free! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central. Ham and cheese sandwich, with lettuce and spread. FDC ID: 338652. Food Code: 27520320. FDC Published: 4/1/2019. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service 2020 https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/338652/nutrients US Department of Agriculutre, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central. Bread, whole wheat, toasted. FDC ID: 339613. Food Code:51300120. FDC Published: 4/1/2019. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service 2020 https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/339029/nutrients Zhao Z, Feng Q, Yin Z, et al. Red and processed meat consumption and colorectal cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2017;8(47):83306-83314. Published 2017 Sep 6. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.20667