Is a Subway footlong worth the money?

[kolleamm]

I'm a college student, and lately I've been buying nothing but Subway footlongs at my school for around $7 - $8 per day.

Is this really cost efficient for the amount of calories/nutrients I get?

If not then what could I possibly cook or buy to save money? I would like to continue eating healthy though, so eating ramen noodles might not be a good idea, since I need protein etc...

Thanks in advance.

 

[jedishrfu]

It would be more cost effective to go to the market, buy your supplies and make your own meals. There is no easy fast and cheap method of eating healthy and well but going to the market is a definite step in the right direction.

 

[kolleamm]

Great thanks! I also think that's a good idea.

 

[zoobyshoe]

It would be more cost effective to go to the market, buy your supplies and make your own meals. There is no easy fast and cheap method of eating healthy and well but going to the market is a definite step in the right direction.

I'm not sure this is true because places like Subway buy their supplies in bulk at much cheaper prices than a consumer can get them at the market. After Subway adds their markup, it could well be that the consumer is paying pretty much the same price for the same amount of "calories and nutrients."

I do not know this for a fact, but if a person kept close track of what they were spending to eat home made Subway type meals, they could determine if it was true.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Subway is bottom feeder sandwiches. There are so many better sub options. Really shocked how many Subways there are and how many people eat there.

 

[Evo]

I'm a college student, and lately I've been buying nothing but Subway footlongs at my school for around $7 - $8 per day.

Is this really cost efficient for the amount of calories/nutrients I get?

If not then what could I possibly cook or buy to save money? I would like to continue eating healthy though, so eating ramen noodles might not be a good idea, since I need protein etc...

Thanks in advance.

Do you have a Walmart near you? They have fantastic sub sandwiches 2-3 times larger than Subway (I hate Subway, they are so stingy) for around $5. If not try Jimmy John's, twice the amount of meat and cheese than Subway. and they will pile on the extra lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers for free, enough to make a side salad, order the extra free vinaigrette if you're going to make a salad.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Jimmy John's

For a national chain, JJ's is pretty good. One thing I don't get about Subway is how terrible their bread is. That is what makes a great sub. Subway bread is nearly almost always dry. If you want it toasted then it's basically a huge cracker. Yuck.

 

[zoobyshoe]

One thing I don't get about Subway is how terrible their bread is.

It's a technological miracle: they have figured out how to incorporate waste sawdust so that it's just below the threshold of perception. All you're left with is the feeling something is not right.

 

[WWGD]

I'm not sure this is true because places like Subway buy their supplies in bulk at much cheaper prices than a consumer can get them at the market. After Subway adds their markup, it could well be that the consumer is paying pretty much the same price for the same amount of "calories and nutrients."

I do not know this for a fact, but if a person kept close track of what they were spending to eat home made Subway type meals, they could determine if it was true.

As long as you don't go to places with waiters where you must leave a tip padding the total by some 15%, I agree, it seems like a close call. Electricity at industrial rates, food bought in bulk, a method that shortens production, etc.. And what about food at home that goes bad?

 

[kolleamm]

The cost of having a worker there make the sandwich for you might still make it more expensive, although I'm still not sure.

 

[zoobyshoe]

As long as you don't go to places with waiters where you must leave a tip padding the total by some 15%, I agree, it seems like a close call. Electricity at industrial rates, food bought in bulk, a method that shortens production, etc.. And what about food at home that goes bad?

Right.

Personally I alternate, but I have to say most of what I buy at the market is fresh fruit, which I eat a lot of, because I love it, and also think it off sets the junk stuff I also eat.

 

[S.G. Janssens]

I have to admit that I like Subway, but find them a bit pricey for what they deliver. If I were still a student I would certainly follow the advice from post #2. Their cookies are quite delicious, but their coffee is way too weak, as usual. Well, at least one does not have to become intimate with the person behind the counter in order to obtain a cup.

 

[jtbell]

(I hate Subway, they are so stingy)

Think of it as portion control, if you're trying to lose weight.

 

[EnumaElish]

I like Subway's iced tea and their cookies. I like that they'd let you substitute apple slices for chips in a combo. I find their bread and ingredients edible but low quality.

 

[kolleamm]

I still think nothing can beat a bag of rice, oats, and chicken breast cost wise.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I still think nothing can beat a bag of rice, oats, and chicken breast cost wise.

That's fine if you are not the worst cook in the world, as I am.

 

[Bystander]

don't get about Subway is how terrible their bread is. That is what makes a great sub. Subway bread is nearly almost always dry.

"Uniformity" of franchises for "Subway" and other "small" chains compared to McD's is non-existent --- (McD's is uniformly marginal --- except for the fries) --- you've got to develop a "throw away test meal" for each when moving from one area to another, or even between neighborhoods.

 

[kolleamm]

That's fine if you are not the worst cook in the world, as I am.

Trust me I am the worst cook in the world, the one who is too lazy to cook! :D

 

[jedishrfu]

My favorite was Quiznos hot sandwiches.

You could combine resources with other students and buy larger portions for cheaper prices so you can get the variety you want. You could even share recipes for meals with other students and even make a game of it.

 

[Sophia]

I still think nothing can beat a bag of rice, oats, and chicken breast cost wise.

Exactly. This is what I recommend, too. Learn to cook simple meals. They will probably cost you less then subway. It's not good for you to eat the same thing every day.
I really don't know what the prices in the US are, but for 8€, you can definitely buy rice or potatoes, chicken or pork meat and veggies for a decent meal.
There are tons of recipes for pasta that are more nutritious then ramen and simple and cheap to prepare.
If you don't want to cook, you can have a bun with yoghurt, kefír or cottage cheese. Scrambled eggs. Or at least buy various kinds of frozen food, even when it's not very nutritious or tasty, but at least you will get some variety.

 

[Pepper Mint]

Trust me I am the worst cook in the world, the one who is too lazy to cook! :D

When I was a student living away from home, I put all washed green peas, carrots , sliced bamboo shoot, minced garlic, a little salt or other seasoning ingredients into the washed rice in a rice cooker, then cooked it. I also boiled some broccoli, fried then sliced an egg and bought some ready made salmon eggs then served all in one dish with some sweet soy sauce.

 

[JorisL]

Exactly. This is what I recommend, too. Learn to cook simple meals. They will probably cost you less then subway. It's not good for you to eat the same thing every day.

I don't know prices at subway over here but I'm positive homecooking is waayyyyyyyyy cheaper, my guess would be a footlong for €6.
I reckon 4 homemade footlongs with ham, cheese and veggies cost around €6 + leftover ham, cheese and veggies making for at least another salad.

Homemade is often much cheaper and depending on what you make just as fast.
My staple is to stir-fry vegetables with some chicken or whatever you like and rice or noodles.
Pasta is great as well (homemade sauce is the best!).

One extremely simple meal I enjoy is greek pasta with chicken and tarragon sauce.
When your water for the pasta is boiling start frying chicken (salt + pepper).
When the chicken is browned, add thick cream to the pan and reduce it to whatever thickness you like.
Near the end add dried tarragon to taste (a lot is great :D) and taste whether it needs additional salt/pepper.

This should be ready in ~20 minutes (the time it takes to boil the pasta) and it won't get much easier.
You could add boiled broccoli or cauliflower which goes great with it (same time extra pot :D).

Overall I used to prepare meals for at most €4/serving when I lived in a dorm room. Often costing less than €1 while very balanced.

 

[WWGD]

Some other tricks:
1)Cereal: to help fill you up. Throw in some yogurt (buy in bulk), berries for health.

2) Instant rice (wont go bad, already cooked, just need to microwave --less labor) a whole cooked chicken from the supermarket, which can last up to three days and around 3 meals. You can then throw in a can of beans, some tuna, or some eggs (before microwaving the rice, so it becomes cooked there).

 

[Mondayman]

You can buy a whole cooked chicken, Caesar salad and tortilla wraps and make chicken Caesar salad wraps for relatively cheap here. It's about $14-15, but it's quick, tasty, and you get about 4 or 5 wraps. Good for dinner and lunch the next day.

 

[Nidum]

No college catering services any more ? We had an excellent assortment of different eating facilities on campus .

Top class one was The Refectory which offered a range of quite good quality full meals and a panoramic view of the Mumbles Bay .

 

[WWGD]

Another tip I heard the other day. Cooking in Winter may help save on heating, the opposite for Summer. I will also drop a vaguely related tip: showering at night in Winter so that pores close up while you sleep . Closed pores will reduce exposure to cold. Showering in the morning in Summer will give you open pores when you go out, so your body can better deal with the heat by sweating it out.

EDIT: For a bit of the high/sweet life: you can buy a large pastry , preferably the dry type ( no milk/cream ), since it stays fresh longer. Buy also instant coffee or tea bags. Then you can cut a piece of the pastry each day and take it with you, this way you do not have to cough up around $3 for a store-bought one. You can eat it with a cup of your instant tea/coffee.

 

[Seth1533]

I'm a college student, and lately I've been buying nothing but Subway footlongs at my school for around $7 - $8 per day.

Is this really cost efficient for the amount of calories/nutrients I get?

If not then what could I possibly cook or buy to save money? I would like to continue eating healthy though, so eating ramen noodles might not be a good idea, since I need protein etc...

Thanks in advance.

At subway: the food is fresh, you don't have to make an extra trip, and it's made for you. The nuisance may be that you wait 5 min/day in line. Perhaps you can argue that food poisoning is more of a risk at subway. You could also get tired of the food. Looking at things outside of costs for homemade, you have to physically go and shop, take 20-40 minutes out of your day to shop, risk an accident while driving,and spend time preparing your meal while creating more dishes to be washed. Also, you may have to pack your food for the day before going to school. However, you do have more of a range of food by buying your own and cooking.

For costs at subway, let's assume you buy 1 sandwich per day from subway (5 days a week). That's $35-$40/week. $140-$180/month. For homemade costs 5 days a week (1 meal/day): In order to have fresh food, you will have to buy lettuce, tomatoes, bread, and meats, etc each week. Let's say $25/wk & $100/month for those items. After initially buying things that you only need to buy once a month like mayo, mustard, etc, you will spend roughly $10/month for 1 trip/month items. You will also use gas:let's assume that trip costs $2.00 in gas. That's $8/month. You also have to cook your food and clean dishes let's assume power bill is $6/month more.

TOTAL costs for subway (5 meals/wk 20 meals/month): $35-$40/wk = $140-180/month
TOTAL costs for homemade meals to replace subway meals (5 meals/wk 20 meals/month): $124/month
CONVENIENCE FACTOR subway = a lot better than homemade meals

Conclusion: Subway costs more and may get old, but is way less of a nuisance and the food is better (my opinion)
Solutions: In order to make grocery shopping less costly, buy all 15-21 meals per week at the grocery store and spend time finding coupons. You would also have an easier time buying in bulk and not wasting food bought at the store which would lower amount needed/month and save money. This would also create more time spent preparing and planning you shopping and cooking.

This was actually fun, good question. Hope this helps. It helped me at least!

 

[kolleamm]

At subway: the food is fresh, you don't have to make an extra trip, and it's made for you. The nuisance may be that you wait 5 min/day in line. Perhaps you can argue that food poisoning is more of a risk at subway. You could also get tired of the food. Looking at things outside of costs for homemade, you have to physically go and shop, take 20-40 minutes out of your day to shop, risk an accident while driving,and spend time preparing your meal while creating more dishes to be washed. Also, you may have to pack your food for the day before going to school. However, you do have more of a range of food by buying your own and cooking.

For costs at subway, let's assume you buy 1 sandwich per day from subway (5 days a week). That's $35-$40/week. $140-$180/month. For homemade costs 5 days a week (1 meal/day): In order to have fresh food, you will have to buy lettuce, tomatoes, bread, and meats, etc each week. Let's say $25/wk & $100/month for those items. After initially buying things that you only need to buy once a month like mayo, mustard, etc, you will spend roughly $10/month for 1 trip/month items. You will also use gas:let's assume that trip costs $2.00 in gas. That's $8/month. You also have to cook your food and clean dishes let's assume power bill is $6/month more.

TOTAL costs for subway (5 meals/wk 20 meals/month): $35-$40/wk = $140-180/month
TOTAL costs for homemade meals to replace subway meals (5 meals/wk 20 meals/month): $124/month
CONVENIENCE FACTOR subway = a lot better than homemade meals

Conclusion: Subway costs more and may get old, but is way less of a nuisance and the food is better (my opinion)
Solutions: In order to make grocery shopping less costly, buy all 15-21 meals per week at the grocery store and spend time finding coupons. You would also have an easier time buying in bulk and not wasting food bought at the store which would lower amount needed/month and save money. This would also create more time spent preparing and planning you shopping and cooking.

This was actually fun, good question. Hope this helps. It helped me at least!

That was a really good answer! You laid everything out very nicely, thank you so much!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

The food is definitely not fresh. Ask anyone who works there and go to a farmers market to see fresh. The meats are pumped full of chemicals.

 

[S.G. Janssens]

The meats are pumped full of chemicals.

Do you think the chemicals are fresh, at least?

 

[Seth1533]

The food is definitely not fresh. Ask anyone who works there and go to a farmers market to see fresh. The meats are pumped full of chemicals.

I had different perspective- I guess not clear. I'm from the south and there are farmers markets in each small town around me so I get your point. If I go to it and the store and buy everything I need to eat a sub sandwich that day, yes it will be fresh for the most part. What about the next day or week? Either my food is really old and tastes bad, I have to throw it away and waste it, or I go and buy more which isn't cost effective. The times I've had subway I don't think it was really that old. I liked the taste anyways.

 

[Seth1533]

The food is definitely not fresh. Ask anyone who works there and go to a farmers market to see fresh. The meats are pumped full of chemicals.

Oh and the chemical part I'll skip over, but are animals given steriods? Like cattle, pig, and chicken?

 

[ZapperZ]

2) Instant rice (wont go bad, already cooked, just need to microwave --less labor) a whole cooked chicken from the supermarket, which can last up to three days and around 3 meals. You can then throw in a can of beans, some tuna, or some eggs (before microwaving the rice, so it becomes cooked there).

Unless one is Asian like me. Using instant rice is sufficient cause to get your Asian card revoked and your reputation ruined till the day you die. And even then, at your eulogy, they will whisper "He once used instant rice while he was alive" as they shake their heads.

Zz.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

What about the next day or week?

Most people in the world visit the food market every single day.

Oh and the chemical part I'll skip over, but are animals given steriods? Like cattle, pig, and chicken?

Nitrates and other preservatives.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/at-subway-customers-really-arent-eating-as-fresh-as-they-think/

 

[Seth1533]

Most people in the world visit the food market every single day.Nitrates and other preservatives.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/at-subway-customers-really-arent-eating-as-fresh-as-they-think/

Thanks for the article. Well, no steroids in factory farmed chicken I suppose? It's always a tough one to get an accurate answer on.

 

[davenn]

Unless one is Asian like me. Using instant rice is sufficient cause to get your Asian card revoked and your reputation ruined till the day you die. And even then, at your eulogy, they will whisper "He once used instant rice while he was alive" as they shake their heads.

Zz.

hahahaha indeed ... my Filipina wife agrees with that completely

TOTAL costs for subway (5 meals/wk 20 meals/month): $35-$40/wk = $140-180/month
TOTAL costs for homemade meals to replace subway meals (5 meals/wk 20 meals/month): $124/month
CONVENIENCE FACTOR subway = a lot better than homemade meals

ohhh eekkkk there wouldn't be many that could eat that 5 days a week. I do buy most of my lunches. Maybe only once a week, occasionally twice a week would there be meals from home, usually where enough of the evening meal was made to do a lunch or two for the two of us.

I would have subway for lunch once a week, with variations of various other meals from other takeaway outlets. I mix it up a lot and I still get bored with the same ol stuff month after month
Comparing subway cost with other takeaway meal types. It's pretty good value for money for what you get. A ft long sub is AU$7.95 ( US$6.05 today's exchange rate)
The only thing that beats it would be the Chinese takeaway I get ... one of 3 variations Mongolian lamb, curry chicken or sweet and sour pork, all come with fried rice and are only AU$5.80 for any of those choices. Any of my other lunch meals cost me much more than that varying from ~ AU11 to $20

I MUST point out, in general, I tend to have a larger lunch and a smaller evening meal. Nothing worse than going to bed on a full tummy, not having had any chance to wear off any of the calories Dave

 

[jim hardy]

I highly recommend this documentary film
http://www.pbs.org/show/in-defense-of-food/

"Silence of the Yams"

 

[Evo]

Comparing subway cost with other takeaway meal types. It's pretty good value for money for what you get. A ft long sub is AU$7.95 ( US$6.05 today's exchange rate)

Oh you poor thing, you don't have Jimmy John's there. That's like living in a country that has a McDonald's and you think that's the best hamburger American's can get. There are other great sub shops here, but Jimmy John's will deliver a single sandwich and they are around the corner and can get me a sandwich in 9 minutes.

 

[WWGD]

Kind of late for the question, but, is anyone dancing in September?

Always surprised me to see around 700 people on the stage but only 5 of them singing. Cool song; I heard a recent version with December instead of September.

 

[phamtuanktdt]

Subway buy their supplies in bulk at much cheaper prices than a consumer can get them at the market.

 

[Evo]

Subway buy their supplies in bulk at much cheaper prices than a consumer can get them at the market.

And then they mark them way up to where they can cost twice what you could buy the same ingredients at the market yourself. Subway is very skimpy on their portions, I don't know anyone that eats there, we have much better sub shops here.

 

[WWGD]

Subway buy their supplies in bulk at much cheaper prices than a consumer can get them at the market.

But that is just one factor. They must pay for wages, insurance, rent, etc.

 

[Sophia]

I had different perspective- I guess not clear. I'm from the south and there are farmers markets in each small town around me so I get your point. If I go to it and the store and buy everything I need to eat a sub sandwich that day, yes it will be fresh for the most part. What about the next day or week? Either my food is really old and tastes bad, I have to throw it away and waste it, or I go and buy more which isn't cost effective. The times I've had subway I don't think it was really that old. I liked the taste anyways.

oh, would you really throw away veggies and meat the next day after you buy them?

 

[Sophia]

Yet another option are meals at a restaurant. I don't know the English term for it, but they are called "daily menu" here. It's cheaper then regular restaurant meals because they cook in bulk each day. You usually have 2 or 3 options (that change every day) and many working people eat them for lunch. It includes both soup and second meal, usually you can choose between meat and vegetarian. I order almost every day and it costs 3.5€. I suppose it would be more expensive in the US, probably more expensive then the subway, but you wouldn't have to spend time shopping and cooking.

 

[davenn]

Oh you poor thing, you don't have Jimmy John's there. That's like living in a country that has a McDonald's and you think that's the best hamburger American's can get. There are other great sub shops here, but Jimmy John's will deliver a single sandwich and they are around the corner and can get me a sandwich in 9 minutes.

hahaha
Haven't heard of Jimmy Johns not even on my trips to the USA. I'm not really a huge "sub" fan and to be honest, in the 10+ years I have been going to Subway I have always gotten the same type ... I just don't really like any of the other fillers they have ... that's just my taste buds

That's like living in a country that has a McDonald's and you think that's the best hamburger American's can get

Since you mentioned Maccas, they are an example in the opposite. They are very far from value for money quite expensive.
None of the chain store outlets make overly good burgers but pretty much all of them are better than those from Maccas.
The best burgers come from the single outlet takeaway shops.
I really like a good burger and go out of my way to find a places that makes one that has content the way I like it
The average cost of a "burger with the lot" is around AU$6.50Dave

 

[davenn]

Yet another option are meals at a restaurant. I don't know the English term for it, but they are called "daily menu" here. It's cheaper then regular restaurant meals because they cook in bulk each day. You usually have 2 or 3 options (that change every day) and many working people eat them for lunch. It includes both soup and second meal, usually you can choose between meat and vegetarian. I order almost every day and it costs 3.5€. I suppose it would be more expensive in the US, probably more expensive then the subway, but you wouldn't have to spend time shopping and cooking.

Pub lunches and Chinese restaurants are very good at doing that sort of thing here in Oz and much more than 2 or 3 options.

Dave

 

[Bystander]

I don't know the English term for it, but they are called "daily menu" here. It's cheaper then regular restaurant meals because they cook in bulk each day.

"Blue plate special."

 

[Sophia]

Since you mentioned Maccas, they are an example in the opposite. They are very far from value for money quite expensive.

And they usually make me even more hungry! Don't know if that's only because of high glycemic index or they really add hunger-causing chemicals in them.
MacDonald's is expensive and it's more a fashion thing (wooow, I eat at MacDonald's look how cool and modern I am!) than actual place to eat decently.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Pub lunches and Chinese restaurants are very good at doing that sort of thing here in Oz and much more than 2 or 3 options.

There's a Chinese restaurant I found here that, for $6.00 gives you more food than you should eat in a whole day. It's a buffet, so a person could go there daily for a long time and still have variety of ingredients. It's out of my way, though: takes a half hour to get there by car.

 

[WWGD]

Yet another option are meals at a restaurant. I don't know the English term for it, but they are called "daily menu" here. It's cheaper then regular restaurant meals because they cook in bulk each day. You usually have 2 or 3 options (that change every day) and many working people eat them for lunch. It includes both soup and second meal, usually you can choose between meat and vegetarian. I order almost every day and it costs 3.5€. I suppose it would be more expensive in the US, probably more expensive then the subway, but you wouldn't have to spend time shopping and cooking.

They are called lunch specials ( only one place I know has dinner specials). They cost from $7 to $8.50.

EDIT: There are also breakfast specials. I had one today: two eggs over easy (meaning the yellow part remains soft and liquid after cooking and the egg is fried), bacon, potatos and toast, together with coffee, all for $6.48 including tax.