For many people, Subway equates with nutritious fast food.
In a recent unscientific poll, 8 of 10 ETSU students responded that Subway first came to mind when asked to name what they associated with eating healthy on the go.
These days, everyone’s heard of Subway icon Jared Fogle and his success using the Subway diet and getting out of those huge tent-like trousers he holds up in the commercials.
While it’s true that Subway’s menu offers numerous low-fat options, it also has many choices teeming with fat.
What’s the big deal?
Subway isn’t healthy unless one orders appropriately, choosing lean meat, white or wheat bread, no cheese and no mayonnaise.
According to the restaurant’s web site, the franchise serves approximately 1,900 sandwiches a minute, and employees can attest that a majority of those sandwiches aren’t the ones on the low-fat menu.
One of Subway’s currently featured subs – and perhaps most popular – is the chicken bacon ranch sandwich. This tasty delight accounts for some 540 calories, one-fourth of what most people need a day, and that’s not counting the calories from beverages, chips or cookies that often accompany the sandwich order.
Sophomore Seth Neumann said he never really thinks about which sandwich he orders, just generally considers Subway healthy. “I usually just order what looks good,” he said.
For many customers, a hot meatball sub on Italian herb and cheese bread looks good, and with a whopping 560 calories for a six-inch, it should.
So are Subway’s ads misleading?
Is Jared lying?
Assistant professor in communication Andy Lynch said no. He does, however, admit that advertisers choose what to emphasize. Subway ads stress “eat fresh” and easy weight loss by incorporating their sandwiches into one’s diet.
“Subway is the equivalent of the magic weight-loss pill,” Lynch said.
He noted that America wants things fast and that the Subway diet is yet another product for convenience. Advertisers are merely capitalizing on society’s desire for a quick fix, fast.
There is something on the menu at every fast food restaurant that health-conscious eaters can choose, including Subway’s. But it takes reading the fine print and choosing carefully.
When stopping by Subway, opt for a salad with low-fat dressing instead of a 12-inch cheese steak sub with 720 calories.
Jared will be proud of you.

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