--- title: Dunkin Donuts Says It's Sandwiches Are 'Snacks' Not Lunch description: The chain says it is getting into the snacking industry, but a bacon chicken sandwich is not a snack canonical: https://time.com/2857279/dunkin-donuts-says-its-600-calorie-sandwiches-are-snacks-not-meals/ author: Alexandra Sifferlin article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-06-11T14:43:01.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-21T08:20:59.006Z article:section: Health og:title: Dunkin' Donuts Says Its 600-Calorie Sandwiches Are 'Snacks' og:description: The chain says it is getting into the snacking industry, but a bacon chicken sandwich is not a snack og:url: https://time.com/2857279/dunkin-donuts-says-its-600-calorie-sandwiches-are-snacks-not-meals/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9271de80afb6596c/69869714d0b6f25a05304ce5/ap647436427274.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Dunkin Donuts-Snacks og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Dunkin' Donuts Says Its 600-Calorie Sandwiches Are 'Snacks' twitter:description: The chain says it is getting into the snacking industry, but a bacon chicken sandwich is not a snack twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9271de80afb6596c/69869714d0b6f25a05304ce5/ap647436427274.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Dunkin' Donuts Says Its 600-Calorie Sandwiches Are "Snacks" Not Meals > Sponsored content. 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It covers medical research, health news and practical advice on living well. #### Where can I get reliable health news by email? Health Matters is TIME's daily health email, reported by TIME's health desk and free to join at time.com/newsletters. It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free daily newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Jun 11, 2014 2:43 PM UTC  This product image provided by Dunkin' Donuts shows the chain's Grilled Chicken Flatbread, left, and bakery sandwich line. This product image provided by Dunkin' Donuts shows the chain's Grilled Chicken Flatbread, left, and bakery sandwich line. Jim Scherer—AP by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Jun 11, 2014 2:43 PM UTC In an [interview](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US%5FDUNKIN%5FDONUTS%5FSNACKS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) with the Associated Press, Dunkin’ Donuts CEO Nigel Travis says the chain’s sandwiches are snacks, not lunch. “We’re not moving into lunch. We’re in snacking. We never talk about lunch,” said Travis in an interview with the AP. So, apparently that bacon ranch chicken sandwich is just a little pick-me-up to get us through the day? Dunkin’ Donuts’ sandwich options can [range](http://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/menu/nutrition/nutrition%5Fcatalog.html?nutrition%5Fcatalog%5Fhidden=0&nutrition%5Fcatalog%5FneedType=All&nutrition%5Fcatalog%5FselPage=1&nutrition%5Fcatalog%5FperPage=100) from around 360 calories for a grilled chicken flatbread sandwich to 660 calories for the bacon ranch chicken sandwich. Breakfast sandwiches start at 150 calories, but most are closer to 500 calories or more. Ask any nutritionists and they’ll tell you a snack should be a handful of almonds or a banana—something in the 100-200 calorie range that contains protein, fiber, natural sugar or a little fat to keep you satiated. The Mayo Clinic, for instance, recommends [snacks be around 100 calories](http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/weight-loss/in-depth/healthy-diet/art-20046267) and they suggest things like baby carrots, low-fat yogurt, and nuts. The [USDA suggests similar things](http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers/healthy-habits/snack-ideas.html), like veggies with hummus, apple slices, and pumpkin seeds. Dunkin’ Donuts appears to be jumping on the trend of fast food restaurants getting into serving more snacks, reports the AP, and it’s true that many diets recommend “grazing” or “snacking” as a better way to stay satisfied throughout the day. But when nutritionists recommend regular light meals over three squares, they aren’t talking about fried chicken with bacon between two slices of white bread. 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