arby'sDespite the fact that marketing fast food items as "fresh" and "wholesome" is like putting lipstick on a pig (or, uh, cow?), Arby's is bursting onto the scene with new premium sandwiches as part of the roll-out of their new menu.

Headlining Arby's new "good mood food" line is an Angus Three Cheese & Bacon sandwich served hot on an Amoroso roll with melted Cheddar and Swiss cheese, peppered bacon, and Parmesan peppered ranch dressing.

According to the commercials accompanying the new menu (see below), the sandwich is targeted to "Balance Seekers, who want and need to eat fast food because of their busy lifestyles, but do not want to feel guilty about eating it."

Let's see how the Angus Three Cheese & Bacon measures up against that description, shall we?

Well, for starters, the sandwich is made with beef that is 94 percent lean top round ... and, uh, that's about where the good mood ends.

The nutrition information for the Angus Three Cheese & Bacon sandwich tells quite a different story. With 660 calories, 33 grams of fat, and 1,810 mg of sodium, the sandwich may in fact cause a good mood -- but then a blood sugar crash immediately following. If you're counting, that's more than half of your Daily Value of fat -- and that's just for lunch! Without fries! Not quite "food you can feel good about eating." Who cares if it's "premium" when there's a heart attack coming down the pipe?

Now, that's not to say the other premium sandwiches in development are just as bad for you. In fact, the whole grain wrap -- served cold with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon, garlic, herbs, and feta -- and the cold deli sub -- Angus beef with marinated banana peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and onion -- sound like healthier options. Hey, at least there's veggies?

Other new menu items include thick Steakhouse Onion Rings; a Market Fresh Chopped Side Salad with two types of lettuce, Cheddar cheese, and tomato; Outside-In Cinnamon Bites; and Jamocha Oreo Shake. No doubt they will be every bit as "wholesome" as the cheese and bacon sandwich.

Are you going to try the new Arby's sandwich?

Image via Arby's