Fast Food Nutrition Facts
While most nutritionists will tell you to avoid fast food at all costs, this isn’t a realistic guideline for most of us. With our busy schedules and fast paced lives, sometimes running to the drive through is the only thing we can do. So, if this is the case, what can you do to minimize the damage of eating at a fast food restaurant? Plenty, it seems. Fast food can be a part of your life – if you know what you’re getting into beforehand.
Know Before You Go
Just as with any meal, you might want to take some time learning about what the meal contains before you eat it. Many fast food restaurants are posting their nutritional facts in their restaurants as well as on their websites, so there’s little mystery to what you’re putting in your mouth. Take some time to print out the nutritional guidelines for your favorite restaurants to see what your favorite meals are adding up to. You might want to highlight the foods that are particularly good for your current diet as this will help you quickly choose the best items the next time you’re running through the drive thru. Make copies of these lists and put them in your cars and on your refrigerator for easy reference.
What to Avoid
But there are some basic things to keep in mind when you are heading to the drive thru or into a fast food restaurant. Certain foods are simply going to contain the most fats and calories, so you will want to avoid these on most trips.
These foods include:
• Any sandwich with twice the meat or triple the meat
• Sandwiches with special sauces (though you can scrape these sauces off)
• Sandwiches with extra cheese
• Salads that contain cheese and fatty meats
• Sausage sandwiches
• Taco shells
• Anything with sour cream
While eating these foods in moderation can offset their caloric impact on your life, it’s best to stick with foods that start out being healthier than these high fat and high calorie options.
What to Eat
The good news is that fast food restaurants are realizing that customers want healthy options for their lunch or dinner (or breakfast). That said, you can find many low calories and low fat options that will help you keep your diet on track when your time is limited.
Eat foods like:
• Broiled or grilled chicken or lean meat
• Salads with low fat dressings
• Chilis and soups
• Fruits and fruit cups
• Soft tacos without cheese or sour cream
• Plain hamburgers
• Diet sodas and waters
• Plain yogurts
If you ask the cashier what the low fat options are, you may be surprised to get a detailed answer. Simply let the drive thru person know that you are looking for a healthy option and they should be able to direct you to something delicious.
Making Each Meal Slimmer
When you are having troubles finding healthier fare on your local drive thru board, you might want to consider these tips for cutting fat an calories without having to munch on salads:
• Drain the grease off the burger or blot it with a napkin – same goes for pizza or soups
• Ask for the cheese or sauce to be left off
• Have your dressing on the side
• Eat only half of your meal
• Remove the bun or only eat half of it
• Don’t eat the cone of the ice cream cone
While these sound like minor tricks, they all add up to fewer calories in your body without sacrificing good taste.
Should You Avoid Fast Food?
But the real question is whether you should simply avoid fast food altogether. If you can manage the portions you have and find healthier choices, you might be able to eat fast food on a regular basis with little impact on your health. If you can not take the time to count calories and make better choices, it might be a good idea to avoid fast food altogether – or at least limit the number of times you head to the drive thru each week or month.
Most nutritionists will tell you to avoid fast food, but if you are smart about your order, you can still get a nutritious meal on the go.
Related Information:
Burger King Nutrition Revealed
What Is The Best Diet To Lose Weight Fast And Keep It Off?
