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Is Subway Better Than McDonald's?

Subway has for years claimed that they are the "healthy" fats food choice.

Their targets are specifically set on McDonald's, the one chain that still stands in their way.

Here's how their combo meals compare side-by-side against a Big Mac meal.

Subway's meal comes out at 265 calories, while the Big Mac meal hits a gluttonous 1230 calories.

But there's more to it than that...

Subway

The Subway low-calorie edge is always based on no cheese and no condiments (e.g. mayo).

But they don't ask you if you want cheese - they ask you "which kind of cheese?"

And who orders a sub with no sauce?

What exactly is in the chicken breast fillet? Sometimes it tastes more like a piece of tire rubber.

Subway call it a "Boneless roasted chicken breast patty". Patty? That would indicate there is something else in there in addition to chicken meat.

McDonald's

McDonald's seem to suffer from a multiple personality disorder.

They tirelessly campaign about their healthiness - their salads, and their healthy options - even persuading athletes to appear in ads.

Then they turn around and roll out the "Angus Third Pounder" - a big beef burger that weighs in at 720 to 860 calories (depending on options) - and that's without any drinks or sides.

The Verdict

Let's face it: both outlets are massive businesses dedicated to increasing their bottom-line.

Overeat any of their fare - and you will no doubt increase your bottom-line (so to speak).

At risk of sounding like a pimply-faced fanboy - I think that Subway offer the better options - but you still need to choose carefully.

Subway tends to focus on their "eat fresh" mantra - while McDonald's tries to follow every fad at once - hoping to reach every corner of the market.

To be honest, once you've seen the documentary McLibel - you will never view McDonald's Corporation™ in the same light again.

Subway Hint:

Try ordering a wrap (less refined carbs) instead of a normal Sub - most Subway outlets are happy to put anything into a wrap.

McDonald's Hint:

Avoid salads with the word "crispy" in them. Look for "grilled" instead. The crispy options have lots of salt and fat.

Which fast food do you think is better? Subway or McDonald's?

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77 Comments

Tess

These companies are going to provide what the consumer wants and most aren't eating healthy on a regular basis. There business is to make money not make choices for our health. It is up to the individual to read the fine print and make good choices, or avoid eating there. As always, the choice is ours. At least now, they are making the attempt to give us healthy choices.

Mr.T

I disagree- They give us the ILLUSION of having healthy choices instead of actual ones. Take the example of them giving calories for the sub without cheese or sauce! In my opinion, its totally dishonest to require customers to sift through fine print in order to find all the little caveats and loopholes of an initially attractive claim.
Especially for something like takeout, where customers are usually pressed for time and aren't going to stop and fact check the corporations advertisements.

Connor Lardelli Newton

no one has to eat it, it is your own choice to eat mc'donalds and subway, if you dont like their amounts of fat and sugars than dont eat their food, because all your doing is having a sook about it and eating it anyway. Subway and mc donalds both are tastey but are not telling you you have to buy it so you get fat, that is your own personal choice and this is where you are blaming subway and mc donallds for making you not like it "SPECTRA" i love subway too XD but i have to strongly dissagree with everyone who is dissing these great fastfood resturants as they are their for the peoples choice. thankyou for reading this and i hope that you bloody sooks will grow a pair and just stop it with the whole mc donalds/Subway franchise!

RFR

Had to talk about it, huh?.... I want a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, NOW! ;-)

mario

I agree that subway is a much better choice. You can order their sandwiches or wraps with mustard and load up on all of the toppings (not cheese!) and have a great, healthy lunch. Hey...it worked for Jared, right? :)

mario

well
if i have a subway nearby then i go to subway
its always your choice where you go to eat

MArthA

yhu should just shut up! both places are delicious(:

Dr.J

We are big fans of Subway! (Doctor's Associates Inc :-)
We get the Veggi Sub, then modify it with stuff at home, like grilled salmon! Mrs J does get a bit wild with her bread choices, however :-) Seriously, I think Subway does provide a few responsible choices, if the customer picks them. Of course they have lot's of poor choices on the menu. If they didn't, the company wouldn't be able to stay open :-(

Cindy Loo

re: McLibel. Without going into great detail, there is more here than even was addressed in this suit. McDonalds playlands in the 60's 70's....outside, metal merry go rounds.....

So many children injured that the gov't placed an order on them, "tell us every time a child is injured or face a $1mill fine".

what does Ronald do?

Moves them inside and covers in rubber, thus manipulating the 'outside metal play structure' wording of the order--and are NOT now reporting injuries.

My daughter, pushed off the slide by two unaccompanied minors (rules say minors must have an adult, but Ronald doesn't monitor!!) she broke her arm, spent 7 days in the hospital hooked toa morphine pump, 5 surgeries, 6 months of rehab and one year to determine if her arm was growing. $50K+ in medical bills.

Letter from Ronald's insurance "we are happy to pay for UP TO $500 in reasonable medical expenses"

This from a for profit play area, established to lure kids in!

LONG story short....no lawyer would touch it. Until I found about about the order 2 years later, then we settled as they didn't want a fuss about the matter.

They suck. Their food sucks. Their marketing lies suck. And they are the biggest cause of Obesity.

Do this, buy a happy meal and just leave it in the bag on a shelf somewhere in your home. Come back 1 year later and open it. See for yourself if there is any mold, mildew, decay or breakdown of FOOD.

Then, ask yourself, is it Happy? is it a meal? Should you or anyone you love consume it? Then, think of their complete lack of corporate responsibility when someone is injured on their property.

And just ask...should you give them your money.

Kate Krenshaw, M.D.

Sorry, but if you had been the accompanying guardian that your daughter needed, your daughter wouldn't have been injured.

McDonald's doesn't cause obesity - stupid people who make the wrong choices do.

Lose Weight With Me

Though I don't eat at either place often at all, I do agree with Mario about ordering a wrap, avoiding cheese and using mustard instead of mayo.

George

Cindy Loo... quit whining about a choice that you made.

If your daughter fell in a ditch and broke her leg would you expect Mother Earth to pay out for the medical bills? Don't complain about things you have control over. Don't blame people for things that aren't their fault.

Genn

We don't go to McD's. It's just to gross.

We do enjoy going to Subway and having their wraps. They even use a 6 in. wholewheat bread for my son's sandwichs as all of the deli buns are white flour.

I love the 6" turkey breast and ham, toasted with cheese and onions, add all those yummy veggies and a touch of mustard and it's delightful. It's also about 400 calories which is totally acceptable for me. And so delicious.

William

OK, the tick at subway is...

6", turkey, no cheese, all the veggies you can eat, then only non fat sauces and non of the "no-fat" like choose mustad and a little BBQ sauce or hot sauce.

McDonalds is the Chicken McGrill, no mayo with side salad and diet or water. Both pretty good carbs and protein, low fat.

Other than that, there isn't much good food at either. Quantitiy is an issue with the salads and all the dressings are over the top.

I never order cheese at subway and I never have mayo or other dressing. It only take a little self control and tastes just fine without.

Steven

do you like eating 3000mg+ of sodium in subway 12in. sandwiches and the NON-whole wheat bread?

If anyone here still eats at McDonalds and thinks they are on a diet, you have some major problems.

buxi

hi, i made a no vegetables Diet blog :) the only diet i can make.
Cheers from Portugal!

Cindy Loo

hey George, I didn't take her there, didn't know she was going. It was a slumber party, so bite me, ok.

Claire S.

Both options are not great. The earlier poster was right, Subway has a ton of sodium, and all their meats are heavily processed. They're not "fresh"! What is fresh about a roasted chicken "patty"? Ugh!
Jared may have had success there, but I think filling up on lunch meats and excess carbs is a good way to not feel satisified.
Try making your own meals with fresh ingredients. I guarantee they will taste better.

lynn

cindy loo....i would have sued the adult who brought the kids and failed to supervise them.

Spectra

I love Subway! I usually get the turkey breast or the teriyaki chicken. They will make any 6" sub into a salad for you (I think it costs a bit extra, but it cuts down the calories and carbs by a LOT). And you don't have to get cheese on it: just say "no cheese" when they ask you what kind of cheese you want. How difficult is that?? I usually get mustard as a condiment (I hate mayo) and I love that they have baggies of apples as a side. Subway is one restaurant that truly does offer choices...you can indulge your unhealthy side, if that's what you want to do. Just order your food with tons of cheese and mayo and other crap. Or you can be healthy and skip all the cheese and mayo and chips. This is why my husband and I can both eat there and really enjoy it.

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