How Many Calories Are There In A Cheese Steak?

Is there anything better than a meat filled, cheesy, tangy steak sub?

How Many Calories Are There In A Cheese Steak?

I think not. You may have guessed that these delicious sandwiches may not be the healthiest lunch items you could opt for, and you’re not wrong. 

Filled with all of the tastiest ingredients you could imagine, including beef, cheese, and fried onions, it is unfortunately a fairly calorie dense meal.

Whether you’re on a diet, or just want to find out more about the nutrition behind some of your favorite sandwiches, we’ve got you covered.

To find out more about the nutritional value of cheesesteak subs, along with some other popular sandwiches, keep reading, as we take a look below. 

What Exactly Is A Philadelphia Cheesesteak? 

If by some strange incident, you’ve never tried a Philly cheesesteak before, let us tell you exactly what it consists of. 

Developed in the early portion of the 20th century, the cheesesteak combined fried beef, onions, and beef in a small loaf of bread.

They have since become incredibly popular, served in food carts in cities everywhere, as well as some high end restaurants. 

How Many Calories Are In A Philadelphia Cheesesteak? 

Right, let’s get down to it. Just how many calories are in your beloved Philadelphia cheesesteak.

The answer of course varies depending on where it is served.

Because some places might add on more meat or cheese, or use a higher calorie roll, it can be difficult to determine this exactly. 

Penn Medicine, the official health system of the University of Pennsylvania, traveled to two different South Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurants to find out more about the calorie content of this sandwich

What they discovered when they analyzed the food in the restaurant, is that the average Philadelphia cheese steak contains approximately 900 calories.

This is quite a high number, especially considering that it accounts for nearly half of the daily average caloric intake for women. 

As well as this, the sandwich contained a whopping 40 grams of fat, 50 grams of protein, and 80 grams of carbohydrates, which isn’t great if you’re trying to cut down on your carb intake. 

If you want to go for a slightly less calorie packed option, you could get a 7 inch Philly cheesesteak sandwich instead, which contains around 476 calories, which is less than half.

It also has less fat, coming in at around 26 grams, along with 25 grams of protein, and 35 grams of carbohydrate. 

Is Eating A Philadelphia Cheesesteak Bad For Your Health? 

Eating calorie packed sandwiches such as the Philadelphia cheesesteak certainly isn’t good for your health, but if you’re only eating this once in a while, then it’s probably okay. 

It is, however, concerning the amount of calories this sub contains.

Weight gain can lead to a whole host of different conditions, so you should take care to research the nutrition of the foods you’re consuming. 

A Philadelphia cheesesteak contains mostly ribeye, which is known for being a high calorie portion of beef.

How Many Calories Are There In A Cheese Steak?

It has a lot of fat, including trans fats which are linked to heart disease and high cholesterol.

If you want to keep an eye on the amount of calories you’re eating, the best option is to ask for less meat in your sandwich, as this is the real culprit in a Philadelphia cheesesteak. 

Another thing which contributes to the fat content in the sandwich is the way in which the cheesesteak is cooked.

This is because lots of oil is added to the pan to give it that signature crispy texture.

Adults should look to only consume less than 66 grams of fat, and 22 grams of saturated fat per day when following a 2000 calorie diet. 

Watch Out For That Salt

Another thing that can potentially make a Philadelphia cheesesteak bad for your health is the sodium content they contain.

A larger cheesesteak will typically contain around 1900 mg of sodium, which makes up for almont 80 percent of your recommended intake for the entire day. 

Take care with the amount of sodium you’re consuming, as it can lead to elevated blood pressure.

Some risk factors of this include stroke and heart attacks. 

What Are Some Other High Calorie Sandwiches? 

If you want to be on the lookout for some high calorie sandwiches commonly sold at food stands and in restaurants, take a look below to find out more about them. 

Quiznos Classic Italian Sub

This sandwich may not appear all that bad on the surface, but it’s actually packed with calories, coming at 1400 per serving.

This is mainly due to the dried meats and mozzarella cheese contained inside. 

Subway Chicken Bacon And Ranch Melt

Again, this one may not look that unhealthy because of the salad items, but it actually has a whopping 1190 calories.

This is mainly due to the bacon and Monterey cheddar cheese. The bread used is also pretty calorie dense. 

Arby’s Triple Decker Sandwich

You can probably guess that this sandwich is packing a lot of calories simply from its size.

This one is the highest calorie sandwich that you can order at Arby’s, arriving in at 1030 calories per serving.

It has lots of meat content, with roast beef, turkey, and ham, along with cheddar cheese and mayonnaise. 

Final Thoughts

Although there’s nothing wrong with consuming a higher calorie sandwich now and then, you should be careful not to let it become a habit.

The cheddar cheese, rib eye beef, and bread all contribute toward the high calorie content of  Philadelphia cheesesteak.

It is important to always be aware of the nutritional value of the food that we’re consuming, so that we can make healthy and informed choices.

Jenna Priestly