So, every so often, I go to Subway. I don't like Subway sandwiches, and don't even really regard them as subs. I was a Subway "sandwich artist" during my high school days, and I forever smelled of bread and pickles. My fingernails were green, and I had to wash my Subway polos in a separate, Subway-only load. The smell in any Subway store isn't exactly the smell of real bread baking, and I'm convinced they've patented a Subway Baking Bread™ smell they pump out onto the street so you know whenever there's a shop within a five-mile radius. All that said, I enjoyed the six-inch veggie sandwich I got last night.
Also when I walked in, I noticed a sign that's pasted above. I hate how Subway's become synonymous with health, but in all fairness, this is the most useful sign I've ever seen in a restaurant. My image is hard to read, but the sign is broken into three columns that guide customers on what to eat if they're watching their calorie, fat, or sodium intake. The first section tells you what kind of sandwiches to start with, then the chart guides you through the veggies you should choose, and finally the condiments and other additions you should avoid (cheese and bacon are included in all of those).
I'm frequently griping about how chain restaurants and food companies almost purposefully seem to obscure their nutrition information, so that even if it's labeled clearly, people don't know what to make of it. Signs like this that place food in some sort of context are useful. Getting companies who are trying to exploit the healthful food niche to do it too would be even more so.
-- Monica Potts
