How to Make Healthier Fast Food Choices

Avoiding fast food is nearly impossible, I am sure everyone can agree to this. It is easy to consume your days worth of calories in one fast food meal, but you can drive exit the drive-thru with a much healthier meal. So how do you eat fast food without the enormous amount of calories?

Drinks:

Soda is not a healthy choice, diet or regular, since there is no nutritional value. Soda is filled with sugars, calories, artificial sweeteners and other ingredients that fill you up without giving your body any benefits at all. So one of the first steps to a healthier fast food meal is choosing a drink other than soda such as water, tea, juice (100% fruit juice, not fruit drinks) and low-fat milk.

Fruits and Vegetables:

Just because you are eating fast food doesn’t excuse the fact that you need at least one fruit/vegetable serving with each meal….and NO, french fries do not count as a vegetable. You can load your burger with extra tomatos or get a side of fresh fruit instead of fries or chips. If you are having a sandwhich, load it with lettuce, peppers and cucumbers and opt for a baked potato without the sour cream and cheese). A lot of fast food joints are offering side and entree salads. Adding a salad to your meal is a great way to add vitamins. Make sure that you don’t pile on the bacon, cheese, eggs, bacon, fat-filled dressing and fried toppings (croutons and chicken).

Portion Control:

Instead of super sizing your meal, get the kids size meal. This will cut your calories and fat in half! Ordering kids meals is automatic portion control…you won’t be tempted to overeat. If you don’t want to order a kids meal, then get a large fry and split them with a friend.

Extras:

A tablespoon of mayo is an extra 57 calories and that extra slice of cheese is another 106 calories! Instead of those fattening sauces smothering your burger, choose mustard instead. Leave out the sour cream and three kinds of cheese on your tacos, choose one cheese instead. Go easy on the ranch dressing and the salt as well. All of this can add a whole lot of extra calories that you do not need. Also, don’t be fooled by the healthier sounding meats…breaded chicken or fish can actually be more calories than just your regular burger because they are deep fried. Try grilled versions instead.

Breakfast:

Running through the drive-thru in the morning may be more convienent on your way to work, but can put you in a calorie overload ealry on in the day. Instead of getting the breakfast sandwhichs or english muffins opt for yogurt parfaits, oatmeal, fresh fruit or plain eggs.

Comparisons:

Arby’s:

Bad Choice: Beef n’ Cheddar Sandwhich 440 calories and 21 grams of fat

Better Choice: Junior Roast Beef Sandwhich 270 calories and 12 grams of fat

You save: 170 calories and 12 grams of fat

Burger King:

Bad Choice: Original Whopper 700 calories and 39 grams of fat

Better Choice: Hamburger 310 calories and 12 grams of fat

You save: 390 calories and 27 grams of fat

McDonald’s:

Bad Choice: Big Mac 560 calories and 30 grams of fat

Better Choice: Hamburger 260 calories and 9 grams of fat

You save: 300 calories and 21 grams of fat

Sonic:

Bad Choice: Super Sonic Cheeseburger 839 calories and 55 grams of fat

Better Choice: Jr. Burger 353 calories and 21 grams of fat

You Save: 486 calories and 34 grams of fat

Wendy’s:

Bad Choice: Big Bacon Classic 580 calories and 29 grams of fat

Better Choice:Jr. Burger 280 calories and 9 grams of fat

You save: 300 calories and 20 grams of fat