How much damage can a little mayo do?

Posted on Sep 17th 2008 1:12PM by Martha Edwards

When it comes to healthy lunches, packing your own is one of the best ways to make sure you're not overdoing it on calories and fat. And what is synonymous with a brown bag lunch? A sandwich. But nutritionally speaking, not all sandwiches are created equal, even homemade ones.

According to eDiets, just one tablespoon of mayo will add 100 calories and 10 g of fat to your sandwich -- that's enough calories to add six pounds to your waistline each year!

Want a better choice that adds just a much flavor? Mustard is your best bet at a mere 10 calories per tablespoon. If you just can't stand your sandwich without mayo? Light mayo has about half the fat and calories.

Source

2 Comment

Tags: calories, condiments, dairy, fat, mayo, mayonnaise, mustard, pounds, weight

Around the Web

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Baron 9-17-2008 @ 1:31PM

Interesting numbers, must be a different brand:
http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/usda/mayonnaise?portionid=30416&portionamount=1.000

1 tablespoon = approx 14 grams * 200 sandwiches = 2800 converted into lbs = approx 6.17 lbs. So essentially, you are gaining exactly the amount you eat? You wouldn't burn a single bit of that off?

samuel Walker 9-17-2008 @ 7:04PM

Surely it also worth bearing in mind that properly made mayonaise is not much more than olive oil and eggs. So while the fat content is high, if it is your main source of fat in the day, it's fat that is also high in anti-oxidants and trans-fat free as well as a good source of fat soluble vitamins and Omega 3 and 6.

Of course if you're easting the Kraft variety, then obviously you're getting the high fat content, without much of the benefit.