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Take the case of two Subway sandwiches. The Atkins-Friendly Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap has 40 grams fewer carbohydrates than its Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki sandwich, but packs an extra 100 calories and 7.5 grams of saturated fat. Those extra calories represent about a pound over the course of a month, Beranbaum said.

Compared to the sandwich, the wrap contains more proteins and/or fats, which the body digest more slowly than it digests carbohydrates.

If the wrap keeps the consumer satiated longer and helps him skip his afternoon candy bar (over 200 calories), then that will more than compensate for the wrap's extra 100 calories. Not only could he avoid gaining that extra pound, he might actually lose two by consuming fewer total calories.

But, who knows if the new wrap is really any good. Subway already had a low-carb option: to buy a salad version of their sandwiches. A plastic box replaces the bread, and you might even get some extra vegetables.