Slim Down with Some Calorie Counting

Life is dangerous. There are hidden calories lurking around every corner.

By CC Staff

Okay, I’m only getting so worked up about calorie counting because I’m on the Body by Glamour Plan, which has promised to help me tone up and slim down in time for swimsuit season. I heart Glamour. It’s like Cosmopolitan, only it doesn’t suck. Fancy that.

Anyway, the folks at Glamour recommend about 1,500 calories a day, so I’m keeping a food log to track just what goes in my mouth. It’s genius really. The log of pain single-handedly prevented me from inhaling a handful of Chips Ahoy earlier today.

But to get to the point…Today I was perusing the online menu for Au Bon Pain to decide what I wanted to get for lunch today and I discovered something shocking, something which filled me with fear and loathing….in my dorm.

Those seemingly healthy sandwiches, the really good ones with all the fresh looking ingredients, a plethora of cheese choices, and that delicious crusty bread….they are like death. Well, I don’t know about death, but if you’re looking to spend about…400-500 calories on your lunch, most of these sandwiches are out of your price range, plus they are filled with fat!

Let’s take a look:

Baja Turkey Sandwich: 910 calories, 47 grams of fat

Prosciutto Mozzarella Sandwich: 880 calories, 49 grams of fat

Turkey and Swiss Sandwich: 850 calories, 41 grams of fat

Turkey Club Sandwich on Focaccia: 830 calories, 41 grams of fat

Tuna Melt: 800 calories, 45 grams of fat

Steak and Gorgonzola on Onion Roll: 780 calories, 39 grams of fat

Caprese Sandwich: 730 calories, 34 grams of fat

Even, gasp, the Classic Grilled Cheese will set you back 700 calories and 32 grams of fat, in addition to 85% of your saturated fat needs for the day and half of your cholesterol. What the hell Au Bon Pain? You’re killing me!

Needless to say, there wasn’t a lot to choose from in the sandwich market. I managed to end up with the Chicken Salsa Wrap (440 calories, 8 grams of fat) and a medium Garden Vegetable Soup (80 calories, 1.5 grams of fat) both of which were tasty and delicious.

So if you’re watching your waistline, you better make sure to check out the nutrition facts of those delicious looking sandwiches before you order. Better yet, order a large soup and salad—the combination usually ends up lower in calories than a sandwich, plus all the volume fills you up. Just avoid fatty dressings and cream based soups.