Jimmy John’s is a popular sandwich chain with locations across the United States. One of their signature sandwiches is the Beach Club, which is loaded with deli meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments. For those watching their calorie intake, the Beach Club may seem like an indulgent choice compared to lighter options like the JJ Gargantuan or the Vito. So just how many calories are in a Jimmy John’s Beach Club sandwich?
Beach Club Ingredients
The Beach Club sandwich contains the following ingredients, according to the Jimmy John’s website:
- Shaved turkey breast
- Provolone cheese
- Avocado spread
- Cucumbers
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Mayo
- Jimmy Mustard
- 9-grain wheat bread or 7-grain bread (customer’s choice)
The combination of deli meat, cheese, avocado spread, vegetables, and condiments makes this a higher calorie sandwich choice at Jimmy John’s. Now let’s look at the calorie counts for each ingredient.
Calories in Beach Club Ingredients
Here is a breakdown of the calories found in each Beach Club ingredient, according to the Jimmy John’s nutritional information:
| Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|
| 2 slices 9-grain wheat bread | 260 |
| 2 slices 7-grain bread | 240 |
| 2 oz shaved turkey breast | 70 |
| 1 slice provolone cheese | 80 |
| 1 tbsp avocado spread | 50 |
| 2 cucumber slices | 5 |
| 1 tbsp alfalfa sprouts | 5 |
| 1 leaf lettuce | 5 |
| 2 tomato slices | 10 |
| 1 tbsp mayo | 100 |
| 1 tsp Jimmy mustard | 0 |
As you can see, the bulk of the calories come from the bread and dairy ingredients like cheese and mayo. The vegetables and turkey contribute minimal calories.
Total Calories in a Jimmy John’s Beach Club
Now let’s tally up the total calories based on the ingredient calorie counts:
- Bread (9-grain): 260 calories
- Turkey: 70 calories
- Cheese: 80 calories
- Avocado spread: 50 calories
- Veggies: 25 calories
- Mayo: 100 calories
- Mustard: 0 calories
That brings the total calories in a standard Jimmy John’s Beach Club on 9-grain bread to approximately 585 calories.
If you opt for the 7-grain bread instead, the calorie count is slightly lower at around 565 calories.
Here is a recap of the total calories:
| Bread Choice | Total Calories |
|---|---|
| 9-grain wheat bread | 585 calories |
| 7-grain bread | 565 calories |
As you can see, while the 7-grain bread saves you 20 calories, the Beach Club is still a higher calorie sandwich choice either way.
Beach Club Calories Compared to Other Jimmy John’s Sandwiches
To put the Beach Club’s 585-565 calories into perspective, let’s compare it to some other popular Jimmy John’s sandwiches:
| Sandwich | Calories |
|---|---|
| JJ Gargantuan (8 inch) | 415 |
| Vito (8 inch) | 400 |
| Turkey Tom | 340 |
| Italian Night Club | 590 |
| Country Club | 550 |
| Beach Club (9-grain bread) | 585 |
| Beach Club (7-grain bread) | 565 |
The Beach Club has 120-170 more calories than lighter sandwiches like the Gargantuan and Vito. It has comparable calories to the higher end Italian Night Club and Country Club.
So while the Beach Club isn’t the lowest calorie sandwich at Jimmy John’s, it doesn’t quite fall into the ultra-indulgent category either. Choosing 7-grain bread brings the calorie count close to the 550 range, which is reasonable for a loaded sandwich.
Tips for Lightening Up the Beach Club
If you want to shave off more calories from the Beach Club, there are a few modifications you can request:
- Ask for an 8 inch sandwich instead of the 16 inch – cuts calories in half
- Skip the cheese – saves about 80 calories
- Go light on the mayo or ask for mustard instead – saves about 90-100 calories
- Sub mixed greens for bread – saves about 200 calories
- Skip the avocado spread – saves 50 calories
Making a couple of these swaps can bring a Beach Club down into the 300-400 calorie range. Just keep in mind that modifications may change the flavor and experience of the sandwich.
Nutritional Benefits of Beach Club Ingredients
While the Beach Club is higher in calories than some other Jimmy John’s sandwiches, it does provide nutritional value from its fresh ingredients. Here are some of the benefits of what’s inside:
- Turkey – Excellent source of protein. Also provides vitamins B6 and B12.
- Provolone – Good source of calcium and protein.
- Avocado – Healthy fats, fiber, vitamins C, E, K, B6, and folate.
- Multigrain bread – More protein, fiber and micronutrients than white bread.
- Veggies – Nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, folate.
While the calorie count may be higher than other sandwiches, the Beach Club delivers a hefty dose of nutrition from quality whole food ingredients.
Conclusion
A Jimmy John’s Beach Club sandwich contains around 585 calories when made with 9-grain bread, or 565 calories when made with 7-grain bread. This makes it one of the higher calorie options compared to lighter sandwiches like the JJ Gargantuan and Vito. However, with some simple modifications like skipping the cheese and limiting the mayo, you can bring the calories down substantially. While it’s not the lowest calorie choice, the Beach Club still provides good nutrition from fresh ingredients like turkey, avocado, vegetables, and multigrain bread. As long as you account for the calories, it can be part of an overall balanced diet.
