Thinly sliced roast beef is the main ingredient in a French dip sandwich.
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According to legend, the French dip sandwich was developed in the early 1900s by Philippe Mathieu, a Southern California restaurant owner who accidentally dropped a French roll intended for a roast beef sandwich into a pan of hot meat juices, then served the "dipped" sandwich to a police officer who recommended the entree to his friends. The modern French dip sandwich typically consists of thinly sliced roast beef served with or without cheese on a crusty roll and accompanied by a small dish of au jus, or seasoned beef stock, for dipping. French dip sandwiches can be extremely high in sodium and fat. To include them in a healthy, balanced diet, eat them only occasionally and in moderation.
A plain, commercially available French dip sandwich may contain 481 calories, with more than half of these calories coming from fat. One popular fast food French dip sandwich has 33 grams of total fat and 25 grams of saturated fat. For a healthy adult following a 2,000-calorie diet, this amount of saturated fat is more than the 15 grams recommended as the daily limit. A French dip sandwich also contains approximately 60 milligrams of cholesterol, or 20 percent of the total cholesterol an adult should have each day.
A typical French dip sandwich provides about 18 grams of protein. For a woman between 19 and 70 years old, this amount is 39 percent of her daily protein requirement; for a man of the same age, it is 32 percent. French dip sandwiches that contain cheese, the most popular being Swiss or provolone, will contain slightly more protein. A basic fast food French dip sandwich with Swiss cheese has about 21 grams of protein.
French dip sandwiches are rich in starch, but not in simple sugars or dietary fiber. A single sandwich may contain 50 grams of total carbohydrates, with only 2 grams contributed by sugars and 1 gram from dietary fiber. To increase the fiber in a French dip sandwich, ask for yours to be served on whole-wheat bread, or prepare your own at home with homemade or store-bought whole-grain rolls, buns or bread.
Dangerously High in Sodium
Commercial French dip sandwiches provide essential minerals such as iron and calcium but also contain a high concentration of sodium, with a single serving supplying more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that healthy adults should not consume more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day. The CDC also advises that the elderly, African-Americans and people who have hypertension, kidney disease or diabetes should not consume more than 1,500 milligrams daily. To keep your sodium intake in control, prepare your own French dip sandwiches at home with low-sodium bread and no added salt to either the meat or the au jus.
Good Source of B Vitamins
The roast beef in a French dip sandwich is a good source of a number of B vitamins, including niacin, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, thiamin and pantothenic acid. These nutrients play a vital role in energy metabolism and in the production of red blood cells. French dip sandwiches are also high in vitamin A, which is required for proper cell reproduction, immune system health and the synthesis of the rhodopsin needed for your eyes to absorb light.
FAQs
High in Fat
How many carbs are in a french dip sandwich? ›
What is the nutrition Arby's french dip sandwich? ›
Classic French Dip & Au Jus Sandwich Bby Arby's (1 serving) contains 51g total carbs, 49g net carbs, 22g fat, 34g protein, and 540 calories.
What is a french dip sandwich made of? ›
French dip, a sandwich traditionally consisting of sliced roast beef (though pork, ham, turkey, and lamb are sometimes used), served on French bread, and eaten au jus (“with juice,” referring to the flavourful drippings of the meat left over from roasting).
How much sodium is in McAlister's french dip sandwich? ›
french dip 12"
| Calories | Total Fat | Sodium |
|---|
| 1310 | 59 | 5430 |
1 sandwich of french dip sandwich, without cheese or sides (Elephant Bar Restaurant) contains 510 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 36% carbs, 31% fat, and 34% protein. This is a good source of protein (75% of your Daily Value).
How healthy is a French dip sandwich? ›
Good Source of B Vitamins
These nutrients play a vital role in energy metabolism and in the production of red blood cells. French dip sandwiches are also high in vitamin A, which is required for proper cell reproduction, immune system health and the synthesis of the rhodopsin needed for your eyes to absorb light.
Is a peanut butter sandwich high in carbs? ›
Peanut Butter Sandwich (1 sandwich) contains 37.9g total carbs, 34.7g net carbs, 16.9g fat, 12.2g protein, and 342 calories.
What is the most nutritious sandwich at Arby's? ›
Most Nutritious Option
Arby's classic roast beef sandwich is the most nutritious main menu item. Accompanied by a healthy beverage and a side salad, it can make for a smart meal choice.
What is the highest calorie sandwich at Arby's? ›
Arby's: Triple Decker Sandwich
At 1,030 calories, it's the highest on the menu, and that's because of everything on it: oven-roasted turkey breast, pit-smoked ham, roast beef, pepper bacon, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, mayo, spicy brown mustard, onion, tomato, and lettuce, all on toasted honey wheat bread.
Roast beef. Swiss. Sub roll. French au jus sauce.
Is a Italian beef sandwich the same as a French Dip? ›
The main difference between a French Dip and Italian Beef lies in the type of bread and the seasoning. French Dip sandwiches are typically served on a French roll or baguette and are dipped in au jus, while Italian Beef sandwiches are served on an Italian roll and are often seasoned with Italian herbs and spices.
What is au jus made of? ›
Au jus recipes in the United States often use soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, white or brown sugar, garlic, beets, carrots, onions, or other ingredients to make something more like a gravy. The American jus is sometimes prepared separately, rather than being produced naturally by the food being cooked.
How many calories are in a French dip sandwich from Arby's? ›
Arby's French Dip & Swiss Sandwich with Au Jus, Classic (1 each) contains 50.7g total carbs, 49.2g net carbs, 21.5g fat, 34g protein, and 541 calories.
How many calories are in a homemade French dip sandwich? ›
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 548 | Calories |
|---|
| 23g | Fat |
| 41g | Carbs |
| 45g | Protein |
A majority of the Jersey Mike's regular-sized subs clock in at over 1,000 mg of sodium.
Does cheese have less calories than butter? ›
Butter on the other side is a good source of minerals as its rich in Calcium, Phosphorous and Potassium and contains smaller amounts of Zinc, Sodium, Magnesium and more… Cheese contains less kilocalorie per 100g than butter.
How many calories are in a Reuben sandwich? ›
Reuben Sandwich (corned Beef Sandwich With Sauerkraut And Cheese), With Spread (1 sandwich) contains 33.2g total carbs, 29.1g net carbs, 27.4g fat, 20.7g protein, and 463 calories.
How many calories in a French dip sandwich with Swiss cheese? ›
Arby's
| Nutrition Facts |
|---|
| For a Serving Size of 1 sandwich (327g) |
| How many calories are in Classic French Dip & Swiss? Amount of calories in Classic French Dip & Swiss: Calories 540 | Calories from Fat 198 (36.7%) |
| % Daily Value * |
19 more rowsFrench fries contain a significant number of carbohydrates. These molecules provide energy to your body, but too many carbohydrates can cause high glucose levels and lead to type 2 diabetes. This food also contains a large portion of fat, including 4.24 g of monounsaturated fats and 1.66 g of saturated fats.
Prairie Farms Dairy Dips French Onion (2 tbsp) contains 1g total carbs, 1g net carbs, 5g fat, 1g protein, and 50 calories.
How many carbs are in peanut dipping sauce? ›
Peanut Sauce (1 tablespoon) contains 1.7g total carbs, 1.3g net carbs, 3.6g fat, 1.8g protein, and 43 calories.
How many carbs are in crusty French bread? ›
Marketside Crusty French Baguette (0.17 loaf) contains 33g total carbs, 32g net carbs, 0g fat, 5g protein, and 160 calories.
