The Subway dining phenomenon may lead to more consumption

from JoeUser Forums

You have to kind of love the commercials with the formerly very large Jared Fogle out hawking the products and comparing the sandwiches and menus at Subway to McDonalds and other fast food restaurants that serve burgers and the like.  Fogle lost a lot of weight by changing up his diet and eating Subway's sandwiches (and dropping a habit of eating less healthy food such as the food served at McDonalds), though his weight loss also had to do with exercising and other lifestyle changes that helped him shed the pounds and get into much better shape.  He really is to be congratulated given the results he achieved and the period of time he has sustained that weight loss over.

On the other hand... perhaps Fogle needs to remind people a bit better that just because they are eating at Subway, and eating a supposedly healthier meal, doesn't mean that they can fill up on other items on the menus at Subway. And oh, yeah, by the way, apparently a good many people miss the small print part about eating subs from subway that don't include additional condiments like cheese, mayo, and other items that add to the calories and fat that you'd be getting with the sub.  And finally, there's the issue of the bread in the sub roll which people like me refuse to substitute for something with more whole grains and fiber (like the whole wheat) instead opting for the less nutritious and more fattening white bread varieties.

A group of researchers have investigated the Subway 'health halo' effect.  It's in an interesting study that points out what happens when people make assumptions about food that they are eating being good for them.  Instead of maintaining a healthy diet, they wind up adding calories for side items that run up the calorie count and fat gram counts in the diet.  Not good if those people are trying to eat a healthy meal.

More information can be found at the original news article from USA Today that inspired this quick article: Subway's 'health halo' can lead people to consume more calories

diet
7,510 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

The most important part of that linked article is the part that says this:

"Sometimes when you are guestimating the calories in what you think is a healthy dish, you'll be more accurate if you double your best estimate."

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I just hope this thrust toward "healthy" food doesn't end up encroaching on the yummy bad-for-you stuff that I love from fast food restaurants. I don't go to McDonalds to eat yogurt and a salad. Sorry. I can have that at home.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

I just hope this thrust toward "healthy" food doesn't end up encroaching on the yummy bad-for-you stuff that I love from fast food restaurants. I don't go to McDonalds to eat yogurt and a salad. Sorry. I can have that at home.

I'm pretty much right there with you TW.  If I go out for food at McD's (very rarely as I just don't care much for their food anymore) or say Checker's Burgers, or similar, I know what I'm getting and I'm happy to have it and all of the calories and fat it includes.  I don't expect the food at these places is good for me, and I don't expect it to be healthy.  If I want healthy food, I'd eat rabbit food (salads and such), more vegetables and fruits and things like that, and yeah, I'd probably eat them at home where it costs less (usually) to do it.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

I do like subway - but with the extras added on!  So I know I am not getting that Ewell Gibbons type of meal. 

Still, a sub beats a burger almost any day.

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

Still, a sub beats a burger almost any day.

That depends on whether you are counting calories or not

Seriously, if you check the nutrition facts in that article, you find that the sub may have a good bit more calories than does the burger.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

Seriously, if you check the nutrition facts in that article, you find that the sub may have a good bit more calories than does the burger.

I only do that when my doc puts me on those bland diets.  Otherwise, my diet consists of just eating a lot less.  I eat for the flavor, not for the calories.  If I have to diet, I just wont eat.  Works every time.

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't think we should replace the junk food at fast food places, just add good food in besides. Sometimes it's hard not to eat out, and it's nice to have some healthy choices.

I avoid McD's like the plague, though, because "healthy" shouldn't mean "rabbit food"!
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
I avoid McD's because I'm not sure their food doesn't contain plague.

"Warning: May Contain Plague."

I'd much rather eat at Wendy's, because they have a good value menu.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'd much rather eat at Wendy's, because they have a good value menu.


And tasty Chili fingers?
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
I avoid McD's because I'm not sure their food doesn't contain plague.


"McDonald's introduces the new Quarter Pounder with plague. Order an extra value meal with a side order of ricin and a medium strichnine for only $1.00 extra!"
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Not a dramatization - actual ingredients listed.