Firehouse Subs introduces low-calorie menu

Firehouse Subs has made the biggest change to its menu in nearly 20 years with the introduction of a new line of low-calorie items.

The “Hearty & Flavorful, Under 500 Calories menu” is comprised of six new sandwiches and four salads, all with fewer than 500 calories. The menu has been rolled out at all of the Jacksonville, Fla.-based chain’s 748 locations in 41 states, and its 10 units in Puerto Rico.

The new sandwiches, which founders Chris and Robin Sorensen spent more than a year developing, contain the same amount of meat as the chain’s other sandwiches.  Shrinking the bun size and using lighter cheeses and light mayonnaise cut calories, the company said.

The new items fit into two growing menu trends of offering lower calorie items and focusing on protein.

The new sandwiches are:

• Sriracha Beef: Roast beef, Monterey Jack cheese, Sriracha sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and light mayonnaise, served on a light wheat roll, $5.69

• Hook & Ladder Light: Smoked turkey breast, Virginia honey ham, Monterey Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, deli mustard and light mayonnaise, served on a light wheat roll, $5.69

• Turkey Salsa Verde: Smoked turkey breast, Monterey Jack cheese, salsa verde, lettuce, tomato, onion and light mayonnaise, served on a light wheat roll, $5.69

• Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper Grilled Chicken: Grilled chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper Sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and light mayonnaise, served on a light wheat roll, $5.99

• Turkey & Cranberry: Smoked turkey breast, Monterey Jack cheese, cranberry spread, lettuce, tomato, onion and light mayonnaise, served on a light wheat roll, $5.69.

• Momma’s Homemade Chicken Salad: Chicken salad, pecans, Swiss cheese, tomato and light mayonnaise, served on a light wheat roll, $5.99.

The new salads replace Firehouse Subs’ Chief Salad, similar to a chef’s salad but with a firehouse-themed name. The new salads are:

• Firehouse Salad: Romaine lettuce, tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, mozzarella cheese, pepperoncini, Kalamata olives and light Italian dressing, $5.49

• Italian with Grilled Chicken: The Firehouse Salad, plus salami and grilled chicken, $7.49

• Hook & Ladder Salad: The Firehouse Salad with smoked turkey breast and Virginia honey ham, $7.49

• Momma’s Homemade Chicken Salad: The Firehouse Salad with a scoop of chicken salad with pecans, $7.49.

Firehouse Subs has been on a growth spurt in recent years. It operated or franchised 569 units in the United States at the end of 2012, and 712 units at the end of 2013.

Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].
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