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All Wrapped Up

Are you all wrapped up in the latest food fad?

The latest craze is the wrap--everything is wrapped in tortillas, tacos, pitas and pastry shells. But how healthful are these new sandwiches? Wraps can provide a quick meal, but often provide the calories of two. Wraps can have from four hundred to fifteen hundred calories, depending on the size and the filling--so before you jump on the bandwagon, check out the wrap.

Ask how large the wrap is--many are more than one pound in weight--enough for two meals. Check out the fillings: have they been sautéed, which increase calories, and what is the dressing or marinade? Wraps can also provide a whopping amount of sodium, some as high as thirty five hundred milligrams--more than the recommended daily intake.

Make your own wrap to control calories, fat, sodium and size. Load wraps with fresh veggies, a moderate amount of lean meat and use sauces or dressings sparingly. If you're eating out, ask a few questions before you wrap up your order. Get the wrap the way you want. And if all else fails, split one with a friend or have lunch for two days.

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