The New Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Roast Beef & Swiss Sandwich

Today I am going to discuss the new Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Roast Beef and Swiss Sandwich (as seen on Supertaster Daily). This new sandwich is something truly noteworthy.

This product comes in two different varieties, the King’s Hawaiian Roast Beef & Swiss and The King’s Hawaiian Standard Roast Beef. This is a new take on the classic Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich, experimenting with new breads, sauces, and flavors. These are similar to the standard versions, but have a third more Roast Beef per sandwich and is nestled between a pillowy, sweet, King’s Hawaiian Bun.

As for the flavor, there is definitely a familiar taste, but there’s a whole new flavor that accents the sandwich so well. The Roast Beef & Swiss sandwich is one third more roast beef, packed between a pillowy King’s Hawaiian Bun, with Swiss Cheese and Dijon Mustard on top and Dill Pickles on the bottom. All together this combination works extremely well, and I can only describe the experience as breathtaking. If I had to compare it to anything else, it would be like biting into a cloud of deliciousness. However, the Swiss and Dijon flavors do at times overpower the taste of the Roast Beef.

Now then, for nutrition.

Here are the caloric values as stated on the Arby’s Nutrition Calculator Application:

Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Roast Beef & Swiss Sandwich: 600 calories

Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Standard Roast Beef Sandwich : 550 calories

First off, if you’re health conscious I would say to spring for the standard sandwich, but honestly there isn’t all that much of a caloric difference . The Roast Beef & Swiss has such a better flavor to it, it’s almost worth the extra fifty calories that it offers. If you’re trying to cut as many calories as possible, then I would say go with the King’s Hawaiian Standard Sandwich or would even go as far to say that you should probably just settle for a Regular Roast Beef Sandwich. The Regular Roast Beef is only 360 calories, a significant down step from any of the King’s Hawaiian varieties.

If you want to take eating healthy to the next level, I would try and see if you can replace the Roast Beef with Turkey. I’m sure it’s well within the realm of possibility and even though it may cost a little more you’re definitely going to cut calories by switching to white meat. The Dijon Mustard sauce itself isn’t that many calories, so removing that from the sandwich won’t make that much of a difference, the same goes for the pickles.

So, you’re probably going to want to avoid this type of sandwich if you truly are attempting to score under 500 calories per meal. It’s possible to change the formula to make it work, but it’s not going to leave you a lot of wiggle room. While this menu item is delicious, if you are truly seeking something leaner Arby’s has plenty of other alternatives that you can look for. As stated earlier, the turkey would probably be the best way to go. You’re probably going to want to avoid cheese on your sandwich and for a side item I would look for the apple slices. When it comes to drinks, unsweetened iced tea with  sweetener would be a great compliment to the tastes at the Arby’s disposal.

Overall, despite being exquisitely delicious, the Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Roast Beef & Swiss Sandwich is probably not the best choice for someone choosing to cut calories. There are plenty of other delicious menu items at Arby’s to choose from, and I recommend each one. It’s just up to you to decide your priorities. If cutting calories isn’t of concern, then I would highly recommend this sandwich.

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The New McDonalds Egg White Delight McMuffin

Today I am going to discuss the new Egg White Delight McMuffin (as seen on tasted). This new menu item is a new twist on a McDonalds breakfast classic.

The McMuffin now comes in two different varieties, the Original McMuffin and the Egg White Delight McMuffin. This new McMuffin substitutes your standard yellow egg patty with an all egg white version, and the American cheese is swapped with White Cheddar. The things that stay consistent on both are the whole grain English muffin, the Canadian bacon, and the liquid margarine.

As for the flavor, you can definitely tell that there isn’t an egg yolk. This taste is simply the egg white complimented by the dairy of the sandwich (the cheese and margarine). That being said however, the English muffin does tend to overpower it’s contents and I think that the ratio of egg to muffin should be rationed more adequately. This is my opinion however, and I leave the decision up to whomever would like to try this new product.

Now then, for nutrition.

Here is the caloric value as stated on the McDonalds Meal Builder Application:

McDonalds Original McMuffin: 300 calories

McDonalds Egg White Delight McMuffin: 250 calories

Thanks to the swap of the cheese and the egg whites, you can save yourself 50 calories. This may not seem like a lot in the long run, but every little bit counts. This 50 calorie deficit might be just enough to put you within your 1500 calorie per day limitation.

If you want to take eating healthy to the next level, take your egg white McMuffin and remove the Canadian Bacon. This will save you 20 more calories and may even allow for you to spring for a side item. If you are going to choose things to compliment this sandwich, as opposed to a fried hash brown and sugary orange juice, I would highly recommend a side of apple slices and a bottle of water. Not only will it help you in your effort to feel full, but it will leave you feeling great afterward.

Overall, despite not being revolutionary, the McDonalds Egg White Delight Mcmuffin is a step in the right direction. It isn’t necessarily healthy for you, but is a healthier choice than most. If you were to eat at McDonald’s for breakfast, this would be my recommendation. Either this or oatmeal would be adequate choices. This product could very well help you stay under 1,500 calories a day.

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The New KFC Original Recipe Boneless Chicken

Today I am going to discuss the new KFC Original Recipe Boneless Chicken (as seen on Daym Drops). This new menu is something vaguely familiar with a new twist.

This product comes in two different varieties, the White Meat (Breast) and Dark Meat (Thigh). This is a new take because until now, the only form of breast and thigh that were offered were  on the bone. These are similar to chicken strips, but have a distorted ratio of batter to chicken. When you usually get a chicken strip, there is more batter than there is meat, the opposite applies here.

As for the flavor, there is definitely a familiar taste. This taste can (and probably should be) accented with side items or sauces, but overall it is the same great taste that many have come to love (despite the recent disappearance of many KFC’s in the Baltimore Area). All it is is the same original recipe chicken, without the bones.

Now then, for nutrition.

Here are the caloric values as stated on the KFC Nutrition Calculator App:

Original Recipe Boneless (White Meat): 200 calories

Original Recipe Boneless (Dark Meat): 250 calories

First off, if you’re health conscious spring for the white meat . White meat has less fat in it and as a result, fewer calories. You’re going to have a larger piece of meat for far fewer calories and probably won’t even know the difference. If you do prefer dark meat, it’s not necessarily a bad choice, white meat is just the better choice of the two calorie-wise.

If you want to take eating healthy to the next level, take your original recipe boneless and try to peel off the breading/skin. This is where all of the fat and calories lie. If you peel this off and simply eat the meat you’ll be doing yourself a favor. That doesn’t mean you have to eat it bland, feel free to add your favorite dipping sauce to accent it.

Here are the values for the different sauces KFC has:

• Sweet & Sour Sauce: 45 calories
• Honey BBQ Sauce: 40 calories
• Creamy Ranch Sauce: 140 calories
• Honey Mustard Sauce: 120 calories
• Creamy Buffalo: 70 calories

So, you’re probably going to want to avoid the ranch or honey mustard if you are watching your calorie intake. Mustard in itself is awesome for you, it’s just when you add the honey to it that things become a grey area. If I were to suggest one, I would probably go with one piece of original recipe boneless breast, peel the breading/skin off, and tack on a side of green beans (25 calories) and some Honey BBQ Sauce. This would give you a nice meal to hold you over until your next one, while still contributing some nutrition and flavor. If done properly, you can definitely work this into your 1,500 calorie a day meal plan and not feel guilty about it.

Overall, despite not being vastly different, the KFC original recipe boneless is interesting in that it hasn’t been done quite like this until now. I would recommend it, and feel free to take some of the steps above to improve its nutritional value.

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The New Wendy’s Asiago Ranch Grilled Chicken Flatbread

Today I am going to discuss the new Wendy’s Asiago Ranch Grilled Chicken Flatbread (as seen on Regg Reviews). This new flatbread is a nice splash of diversity in the increasingly similar Wendy’s Menu.

This product comes in two different varieties, the Asiago Ranch (Multigrain Flatbread, Grilled Chicken, Bacon, Asiago Cheese, Tomatoes, Spring Vegetables, and Ranch Sauce) or the Honey Mustard (Multigrain Flatbread, Grilled Chicken, Tomatoes, Spring Vegetables, and Honey Mustard Sauce). As seen in the ingredients the Asiago Ranch has a lot more ingredients on it, so I decided to try that one.

 

As for the flavor, the true value of this sandwich is definitely in the extras that you add onto it, and not in the chicken itself. The chicken is recognizably there, but totally outdone by the ranch, bacon, and cheese. The flatbread itself does have a nice sweet taste to it that sort of pulls it all together. Overall, it tastes pretty good and is something I’d recommend if you’re looking solely for flavor. It’s definitely something new and exciting in the fast food world.

 

Now then, for nutrition.

Here are the caloric values as stated on the Wendy’s Nutrition Calculator App:

Asiago Ranch Flatbread: 530 calories

Honey Mustard Flatbread: 370 calories

The Honey Mustard variety has less of the fatty ingredients that you’ll find in the Ranch version and as a result is much fewer calories. I would definitely recommend going for the Honey Mustard variety, because as I’ll say time and time again: mustard is the best condiment choice for someone trying to eat healthier. Also, be careful…because mustard stains clothes.

If you want to take eating healthy to the next level, order the Honey Mustard Variety, but ask for no sauce on the sandwich. This way you’ll evade the Bacon, Cheese, Ranch, and Honey mustard that would add potential calories to your meal. Just by removing the Honey Mustard sauce, you take 100 calories off of the sandwich, taking it from 370 calories to 270 calories.  Order a sauce-less Honey Mustard variety with Apple Slices and a Water and you’re looking at a 310 calorie meal that will satisfy both your taste buds and your daily caloric limit (aiming for 1500 calories per day).

All in all, for the new Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Flatbreads, there is a lot of potential. They taste great and when ordered correctly can be an awesome choice in your meal plan. I would highly recommend trying one. Also, feel free to experiment with their nutrition calculator (as mentioned above). It’s a great way to find out where things that you enjoy stand on a nutritional scale.

 

The New McWrap, from McDonald’s

Today I am going to discuss the new McDonald’s Chicken McWrap (as seen on Supertaster Daily). The McWrap is in essence a larger version of the McDonald’s Snack Wrap. As for packaging, the concept was neat having an apple pie-esque container with a tab pull to get to the product itself.

The only ingredient difference besides portion size is that the McWrap comes in different flavors than the snack wraps (Ranch, Sweet Chili, and Bacon) and has cucumbers alongside spring greens in the interior.

You still have the ability to choose between either crispy or grilled chicken for each making there a total of six separate possibilities. I went and decided to try one for myself and  decided to go with the Crispy Chicken and Bacon variety.

Overall, the appeal just wasn’t quite there for me. All it is, as stated before is a larger version of a Snack Wrap that does a more adequate job of satiating your appetite. When choosing your type of chicken, grilled chicken is definitely the way to go if you’re watching your calorie intake. As always, grilled chicken is a healthier alternative because it isn’t fried with oil like the crispy variety and this shows in its calorie values.

The grilled chicken McWraps all weigh in at about 400 calories as opposed to their Crispy cousins that come in at about 600 calories respectively.

If you are a fan of eating healthy, then you should probably go with the Sweet Chili variety. These weigh in at approximately 520 calories (Crispy) and 330 calories (Grilled) and are choice of the weary eye. This is compared to the Ranch (590 calories Crispy, 430 calories Grilled), and the Bacon variety (600 calories Crispy, 440 calories Grilled).

With the Sweet Chili Flavor, you lose the mayonnaise based ranch sauce and the greasy bacon which although they may not taste quite as good, they are much better for you. That’s not to say that they taste bad either. In retrospect, were I to order this item again I would definitely replace my order with the Grilled Sweet Chili variety.

Overall, as for flavor… it is borderline, having a vague sense of familiarity. If you’re looking for something to appeal to the senses whilst still delivering nutritional value, I would probably look elsewhere on the McDonald’s menu.

That being said, to each his own and I recommend trying it if there is any speculation or curiosity toward the product. All in all it isn’t a bad product and my recommendations would probably side with the Grilled Sweet Chili variety if I were to choose one because it is  the best of the six options for you.