Why You Should Think Twice About Getting Arby's Roast Turkey Ranch And Bacon

Arby's is best known for its massive roast beef sandwiches. The restaurant chain got its start in 1964 when brothers Leroy and Forrest Raffel opened up their first shop in Ohio. According to Funding Universe, the two brothers, who already worked in the food business, realized that the fast food industry was rapidly growing and they wanted to get in on the ground level.

While many other fast food joints were serving burgers, Leroy and Forrest differed from the rest by serving roast beef sandwiches. It got them noticed by consumers quickly, and since that first shop opened, Arby's has expanded to include plenty of options and over 3,000 locations (via Scrape Hero). Now, the Arby's menu offers a wide array of choices like chicken, sliders, wraps, and gyros.

Arby's might have set itself apart with its initial food offering, but when it comes to nutrition, it has a similar reputation to other fast food restaurants. Because of this, those looking to order the Roast Turkey Ranch and Bacon sandwich might want to think twice.

This sandwich might appear to be a healthier choice when compared to classic Arby's roast beef. It's made with roast turkey, bacon, and ranch, of course, but it's served with add-ons that would seemingly make it healthy, such as red onion and lettuce. Plus, the sandwich comes on honey wheat bread, so it must be good for you, right?

Unfortunately, that's not quite the case. While the veggies on the sandwich do provide some nutrition, as a whole, it's loaded with calories and sodium. According to the posted nutrition facts on the restaurant's website, one Roast Turkey Ranch and Bacon sandwich contains 810 calories. It provides a staggering 35 grams of fat and 79 grams of carbohydrates.

You might also want to consider the amount of sodium in the sandwich. With 2,420 milligrams, it packs more than an entire day's worth of salt into one fast food menu item. Those looking for some healthier Arby's menu options might want to check out their crispy chicken salad or roast turkey and Swiss wrap.

Though Arby's Roast Turkey Ranch and Bacon sandwich is not the healthiest menu item, it's not the worst. There are some items you'll want to avoid if you find yourself pulling up to the drive-thru window — especially the options that contain roast beef.

Arby's Half-Pound Beef 'n Cheddar sandwich is not a healthy menu choice. The sandwich clocks in at 39 grams of fat and 2,530 milligrams of sodium, per the Arby's website, which is more than the recommended daily amount, according to the American Heart Association. Steer clear of the classic and double beef options of this cheddar sandwich as well, since both have similar nutrition facts.

For those watching their salt intake, don't order the French Dip sandwich. It contains 2,550 milligrams of sodium — even higher in salt content than any of the previously mentioned sandwiches.

Finally, the Smokehouse Brisket sandwich, which comes in at less sodium than the others, but contains 33 grams of fat and 600 calories. Thankfully, those looking for something a bit healthier do have at least one solid option, plus another honorable mention.

You don't have to lose all hope of finding something healthy on the Arby's menu — as long as you're in the mood for a salad. The Arby's Roast Chicken Salad is its healthiest choice and Today deems it one of the better fast food salads out there. Roast chicken is the star of this dish, complete with bacon, cheese, and tomatoes over lettuce with buttermilk ranch dressing. It comes in at only 250 calories and 14 grams of fat, both of which are much lower than any of the sandwich options. Plus, with 690 milligrams of sodium, it contains substantially less salt than some Arby's sandwiches. As an added bonus, consumers will also get 25 grams of protein.

Coming in second place of the healthiest Arby's option is the Roast Turkey Gyro. Its calorie count is low, at just 470, but it still contains 20 grams of fat and 1,530 milligrams of sodium, both of which aren't low enough to be considered super healthy. This gyro makes it clear that a salad is ultimately the best choice, but for those looking for something handheld, the gyro provides a good balance of vegetables and protein.