Subway hit the fast food market in a big way. For a seemingly already saturated market it broke new ground and forged a link between fast food and the humble sandwich, literally reforming the market – and the battleground – in its wake.
It occurred at a time when awareness of the issues surrounding diet and obesity reached new heights and perfectly catered to those concerns. From this platform, subway was perfectly poised to take on the big guys. And take on it did.
What really annoys me is how their wonderful mantra, “Eat Fresh”, can be used so effectively (and savagely) against the likes of Maccas and Hungry Jacks, when in many ways their fare is no more fresh or healthy than that of the burger barons.
How I pity the fools paying up to ten dollars (for a sandwich, mind you!) believing that, like Jared, they might loose a squillion kilos.
In conjuction with their extensive selection of subs at under 6 grams of fat, the ad campaign leaves many people thinking that they are eating much more healthily than they really are.
First of all, how many obese people can really be satisfied after a six inch sub? Not many. Especially when you consider how prone they are to skimping on the salad fillings. Sometimes I am forced to instruct my “sandwich artist” two or three times to bump up my ration of lettuce, so they understand that I came to get my sandwich the way I like it.
Then when it comes to tomato and other fillings, the message has gotten across that double actually means double.
But I digress. Just assuming that you get the perfect amount of each salad component to your sub, there are a myriad of hidden fats and calories in these subs which are ignored. I would bet a good deal that the majority of sub-goers are getting a much less healthy meal than they believe.
Take the standard chicken fillet which is so popular. For at footlong its 29.6 grams of fat and 786 calories. The healthy option, the oven roasted one (that looks like a petrified dog turd) has 11 grams and 630 calories.
But there’s much more to it than that. Then comes the bread. Yes, even the humble old bread has been turned into a barren wasteland of fats, oils and cheap flavouring. Another 10 grams of fat and 500 calories for Italian Herbs and cheese.
Then chose your sauce. And this is where it is really frustrating, because of the range of sauces on offer, very few have nutritional information available. And I’m sure the average amount people receive on their subs is more than the “standard” 21mL serve. But I like Southwest, so add another 83 calories and 8.1 grams of fat.
So, the total serve (before adding soft drinks and cookies) is (at the very minimum) 47.7 grams of fat and 1369 calories.
What about 2 McChicken burgers in stead? At 360 calories and 16 grams of fat each that makes 32 grams of fat and 720 calories.
The standard consumption for 1 day for a healthy adult male is about 2500-3000 calories and 70-80 grams of fat. So our “healthy” sub has consumed over half our daily intake of fat and calories.
So would you still prefer a sub? The salad is fresher? Go knows how much sulphur and other preservatives and anti-oxidants are added to that lettuce, but it still goes just as brown as the McChicken lettuce. The pre-cut stuff in big bags straight from the central franchise warehouse. Yummy.
It occurred at a time when awareness of the issues surrounding diet and obesity reached new heights and perfectly catered to those concerns. From this platform, subway was perfectly poised to take on the big guys. And take on it did.
What really annoys me is how their wonderful mantra, “Eat Fresh”, can be used so effectively (and savagely) against the likes of Maccas and Hungry Jacks, when in many ways their fare is no more fresh or healthy than that of the burger barons.
How I pity the fools paying up to ten dollars (for a sandwich, mind you!) believing that, like Jared, they might loose a squillion kilos.In conjuction with their extensive selection of subs at under 6 grams of fat, the ad campaign leaves many people thinking that they are eating much more healthily than they really are.
First of all, how many obese people can really be satisfied after a six inch sub? Not many. Especially when you consider how prone they are to skimping on the salad fillings. Sometimes I am forced to instruct my “sandwich artist” two or three times to bump up my ration of lettuce, so they understand that I came to get my sandwich the way I like it.
Then when it comes to tomato and other fillings, the message has gotten across that double actually means double.
But I digress. Just assuming that you get the perfect amount of each salad component to your sub, there are a myriad of hidden fats and calories in these subs which are ignored. I would bet a good deal that the majority of sub-goers are getting a much less healthy meal than they believe.
Take the standard chicken fillet which is so popular. For at footlong its 29.6 grams of fat and 786 calories. The healthy option, the oven roasted one (that looks like a petrified dog turd) has 11 grams and 630 calories.
But there’s much more to it than that. Then comes the bread. Yes, even the humble old bread has been turned into a barren wasteland of fats, oils and cheap flavouring. Another 10 grams of fat and 500 calories for Italian Herbs and cheese.
Then chose your sauce. And this is where it is really frustrating, because of the range of sauces on offer, very few have nutritional information available. And I’m sure the average amount people receive on their subs is more than the “standard” 21mL serve. But I like Southwest, so add another 83 calories and 8.1 grams of fat.
So, the total serve (before adding soft drinks and cookies) is (at the very minimum) 47.7 grams of fat and 1369 calories.
What about 2 McChicken burgers in stead? At 360 calories and 16 grams of fat each that makes 32 grams of fat and 720 calories.
The standard consumption for 1 day for a healthy adult male is about 2500-3000 calories and 70-80 grams of fat. So our “healthy” sub has consumed over half our daily intake of fat and calories.
So would you still prefer a sub? The salad is fresher? Go knows how much sulphur and other preservatives and anti-oxidants are added to that lettuce, but it still goes just as brown as the McChicken lettuce. The pre-cut stuff in big bags straight from the central franchise warehouse. Yummy.
So you'll excuse me if I stay with my McChickens.
Well, that’s about enough of this rant.
What do you think?
Well, that’s about enough of this rant.
What do you think?
4 comments:
brilliant RE...obviously subway and i go way back, to the almost 3 years i earned my keep through the norwood store...these days as a rep on the road i eat there all the time...your post was not only witty and succinct but also delightfully informative.
from now on, i only eat yiros. they're pretty healthy arent they?
What do i think?
The burgers are better at hungry jacks
KFC can get fucked
way to be funny
Brilliant, heart felt piece.
An inspiration to the blog.
Most improved blogger of August, RE, you get my vote.
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