This article presents information on the nutrition facts and calorie content of a grilled cheese sandwich, one of the most popular food items in the world. Scroll down to know how to reduce calories and increase the nutritional value of the sandwich. Read on if you are calorie conscious….
Grilled cheese sandwich has been one of the most sought after food items, in all parts of the world, irrespective of different cultures and climates. Just putting a slab of cheese in between two bread slices is the simplest way of preparing a sandwich. You can make the sandwich more delectable by heating it until the bread turns golden brown and the cheese melts down. You can use a fry pan or sandwich toaster to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Calories in a grilled cheese sandwich may vary according to the ingredients.
You can add various ingredients to enhance the taste and nutritional value of the sandwich. Adding tomatoes, onions, lettuce, boiled potato, cucumber, herbs, egg, chicken, etc., increases the fiber content and nutritional value of the food item. Condiments help enhance the taste of the sandwich.
A grilled cheese sandwich can keep you satiated for a longer period of time. You can apply butter or mayonnaise to bread surfaces. Similarly, you can use butter or oil while heating the bread slices in a pan. Grilled cheese sandwich calories would thus vary according to the ingredients, their quantities and the method of preparation.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Calories
As more and more people are becoming calorie conscious, an increasing demand for low calorie sandwiches has been noticed. Various types of bread are available in market. You are supposed to choose a whole grain bread or a multi-grain bread which is healthier than white bread. A whole wheat bread is rich in fiber and it helps improve your digestive health. Calories in whole wheat bread are easy to burn and so it is recommended in a weight loss diet. Calories in the sandwich may vary according to the thickness of the bread.
Since the main ingredient of the sandwich is cheese, calories in grilled cheese sandwich would depend upon the type of cheese you choose. If you want to reduce fat and calories in your diet, you should choose a low fat version of cheese. Cottage cheese or feta cheese are good examples of low fat, low calorie cheese.
- 100g of cottage cheese contains 103 calories.
- 100g of feta cheese contains about 255 calories (depending upon the type).
- 1 slice of multi-grain wheat bread contains 70 calories.
- 1 slice of toasted wheat bread (crust removed) contains 30 calories.
- 1 grilled cheese sandwich served in a restaurant may contain approximately 291 calories.
- 1 homemade grilled cheese sandwich – with wheat bread contains about 200 calories, – with sprouted wheat bread and 2 cheese slices contains about 420 calories, – with turkey on white bread contains about 375 calories, – with 1 tsp butter contains about 250 calories.
- 1 grilled chicken, bacon and tomato club sandwich, with cheese, lettuce and mayonnaise contains about 590 calories.
- 1 sandwich prepared with white bread, 3 slices of cheese and butter may contain about 450 calories.
Knowing the calorie content of various types of sandwiches is not enough; you need to know the nutritional value of a sandwich before including it in your daily diet.
Nutrition Facts of Grilled Cheese Sandwich
A grilled cheese sandwich which offers about 290 calories, contains about 16g fat, 28g carbohydrates and 9g protein. It contains about 6g saturated fat, 3g polyunsaturated fat and 6g monounsaturated fat. It comes with about 4g sugars and 1.2g dietary fiber. It contains 22mg cholesterol and 764 mg sodium.
It provides calcium and iron and it also contains 129mg potassium. This food is a good source of carbohydrates which offer you energy. You can increase the amount of protein by including lean meat. Vegetables and meat can provide a good amount of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
If you want to improve your overall health, you need to include all types of foods in your diet so that you get all the nutrients that are essential for proper functioning of the body. So try different varieties of low calorie grilled sandwiches and enjoy a healthy meal!