Loved for its tangy, salty flavors and its mixture of crunchy and soft textures, the Reuben is a popular, if not entirely healthful, staple of deli restaurants around the United States.
Ingredients
According to Epicurious, the Reuben sandwich made with rye bread, corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing. Traditionally the whole sandwich is placed under a broiler to toast the bread and melt the cheese, but some people prefer to toast it open-faced.
Calories
Two slices of rye bread contain about 140 calories. One slice of Swiss cheese contains about 105 calories, 3 oz. of corned beef contain about 210 calories and 2 tbsp. of Russian dressing contain about 105 calories. This works out to approximately 560 calories, or a little more than a quarter of the USDA recommended daily calorie allowance for the average adult.
Nutrients
A Reuben contains about 40 g of carbohydrates, 28 g of protein and 5 g of fiber.
Considerations
While it is high in protein, a Reuben sandwich contains nearly 2100 mg of sodium -- about a third more than the 1500 mg the American Heart Association recommends for the whole day. In addition, it contains 35 grams of fat -- about a third of the daily amount recommended by Merck's online medical resource.