Subway is supposed to be the healthy alternative to the regular fast food burger and fries. However, new research is proving that many people consume just as much sugar, carbs, sodium and overall calories per meal at Subway as they do at its competitor, McDonald’s.
A group of UCLA scientists sent a crew of close to 100 adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 21 to eat at McDonald’s and Subway restaurants. They collected their receipts to track what they ordered. Using the nutrition information available on each chain’s website, they calculated the nutritional value of what the teens purchased and ate. McDonald’s meals calculated an average 1,038 calories and Subway meals at 955 calories each. At 784 calories, the average Subway sandwich purchase came in even higher than those bought at McDonald’s, which averaged 582 calories.
“We found that there was no statistically significant difference between the two restaurants, and that participants ate too many calories at both,” said public health scholar Dr. Lenard Lesser, who led the study.
UCLA researchers found that at 550 calories, McDonald’s Big Mac is lightweight compared to Subway’s heftiest menu items, like the thousand-calorie foot long Big Philly Cheese steak. The only comparison that wasn’t as shocking is that McDonald’s famous fries added more calories to the meals than Subway sides. But who can resist those hot, tasty fries?
The lesson here is to read labels and make decisions accordingly. Whether it’s McDonald’s or Subway, don’t deprive yourself, just make better decisions on what you choose to eat on the menus according to your daily caloric intake and also watch your sodium and sugar intake daily.
Source: Investor Place
