Grilled cheese sandwiches are a childhood comfort food that lasts well into adulthood, but you may find the combination of bread and cheese alone to be a bit plain. Adding bacon to your grilled cheese sandwich will provide added flavor but will increase the protein content. Grilled cheese with bacon sandwiches are also high in calories, so if you're dieting, this may not be an ideal choice for you.
Calories
A grilled cheese with bacon sandwich comprised of two 17 gram slices of bacon, two 19 gram slices of American cheese and two 25 gram slices of white bread would contain 412 calories. That amount of calories constitutes nearly 21 percent of the total daily suggested intake of 2,000. It would take 42 minutes of jogging or 27 minutes of rollerblading to burn 412 calories.
Fat
Grilled cheese with bacon sandwiches are calorie-dense because the ingredients are high in fat. One such sandwich would contain 23 grams of total fat, with 11 grams of saturated fat. The American Heart Association suggests consuming 50 to 70 grams of total fat and less than 16 grams of saturated fat each day, so this sandwich would make it difficult to adhere to a low-fat diet.
Carbohydrates
Bread is a major source of carbohydrates, so sandwiches tend to be rich in this nutrient. A grilled cheese with bacon sandwich would contain 28 grams of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are your body's main source of energy.
Fiber
While grilled cheese with bacon sandwiches are rich in carbohydrates, they are low in fiber, with just 2 grams per sandwich. Fiber helps promote satiety and stable blood sugar levels, and it may help you control your cholesterol levels as well.
Protein
Grilled cheese with bacon sandwiches are rich in protein, with 22 grams of protein provided by two slices of white bread, two slices of American cheese and two slices of bacon. Protein is vital for your overall health, as your body uses it to build and repair tissues and cells.
Cholesterol
Grilled cheese with bacon sandwiches are somewhat high in cholesterol, with 70 milligrams of cholesterol. That amounts to 23 percent of the 300 milligrams daily limit suggested by the American Heart Association. Consuming too much cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.
Sodium
A grilled cheese with bacon sandwich would also be high in sodium. Using two slices of American cheese, two slices of bacon and two slices of bread would produce a sandwich containing 1,220 milligrams. That amount is 53 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,300 milligrams. Eating a diet consistently high in sodium may increase your risk of high blood pressure.
References
- LIVESTRONG.COM MyPlate; Calories in Thick Sliced Bacon (Publix)
- LIVESTRONG.COM MyPlate: Calories in White Bread (Sara Lee)
- LIVESTRONG.com MyPlate: Calories in Singles American Cheese Slices (Kraft)
- Mayo Clinic; Exercise for Weight Loss: Calories Burned in 1 Hour; December 2009
- American Heart Association; Knowing Your Fats; September 2010
- Colorado State University Extension; Dietary Fiber; J. Anderson, S. Perryman, L.Young and S. Prior; December 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Sodium: How to Tame Your Salt Habit Now; March 2011
Member Comments