The meal that made Philadelphia famous

The numbers
Cheese steak
Calories: 900
Fat: 40 grams
Protein: 50 grams
Carbohydrates: 80 grams

Cheese fries
Calories: 870
Fat: 50 grams
Protein: 18 grams
Carbohydrates: 93 grams

Meet the cheese steak, the king of Philadelphia foods -- fried beef, melted Cheese Whiz® and fried onions on a fresh Italian roll. On the side: steak-cut French fries covered in melted cheese.

For this analysis, we visited two South Philadelphia hot spots that contribute to the sandwich's fame. Both steaks were almost identical in ingredients and amounts.

The cheese steak really makes a big hit for calories and fat. Eat one of these and you rack up a whopping 900 calories and 40 grams of fat. Lose the cheese, and the picture's a little better: you save about 155 calories and 12 grams of fat.

The cheese fries pack a wallop, too: 870 calories and 50 grams of fat!

Nutrition aside, if you're visiting Philadelphia, be sure to try a cheese steak, as they're a tasty treat. But there's no question: this meal should not be a staple of a healthy diet!

Note: Be aware that ingredients and cooking methods can vary, so the foods you order may not match these nutritional counts exactly.

Analysis by:
Lauren Hudson, MS, RD
Candace Cantwell, RD
Marianne Petrella, RD and
Olga Antonopoulos.
Last updated: 6/14/2000

 

 

 

Cheesesteak & Cheese Fries | Water Ice | Italian Hoagie | Soft Pretzel