Do you think the wrap is a healthy alternative to traditional sandwiches and subs? You aren't alone. Many people think it's a healthful choice because they are eating thin flat breads, grilled vegetables and lean meats instead of the thick slices of bread and layers of cold cuts found in deli sandwiches.

But think again. Any benefit you may be receiving by switching from sandwiches to wraps may be canceled out by the sheer amount you are eating. Along with big flavors, Americans like a big wrap.

A recent article in the TUFTS UNIVERSITY HEALTH & NUTRITION letter finds the weight, fat and calorie content of wraps offered by several leading food chains are enormously high. Some of the wraps studied by Tufts weighed over a pound, and had as much as 1400 calories and 65 to 72 grams of fat.

That's a lot. Clearly you're better off sharing one of these wraps with a friend. On the other hand, Lori Lyn Narlock, coauthor along with Mary Corpening Barber and Sara Corpening of WRAPS--50 RECIPES FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ARRAY OF HANDHELD MEALS, says that since most wraps include a starch, a vegetable and a protein, they should be considered a well-balanced meal, not a side dish or a snack. If, that is, you eat a reasonable amount.

For the nutrition-minded cook, one of the advantages of making wraps at home is that they let you control nutritional value. When you eat out, remember that less may be more and save half of your wrap for another meal.