Healthy Fast-food Choices
December 1, 2008
How we so easily forget our diet
We all do it. We are having a hectic day at work and we only have a thirty-minute window to eat. We haven’t brought something sensible from home so we can STICK to our diets. We choose to go the fast-food route. Well, the fast-food route is a lot of times also the fast route to a big butt. So what do we do? We need to take our time, and order carefully.
When choosing a sandwich
When you are picking out a standard “burger and fries” joint meal, make sure you go with the “burger” meal if you have that option, as opposed to the “fried chicken sandwich” meal. Choosing to eat that tasty, deep-fried-in-God-knows-what-kind-of-grease could cost you to the tune of at LEAST four hundred more calories, and a significant amount of fat! Also, when you are picking out that sandwich, leave off the cheese. Cheese is a source of saturated fat, and it’s bad enough that you have to settle for a burger.
Condiments
If you are looking to add some flavor, stick to ketchup and mustard ONLY (or even barbecue sauce if they have it). These are much lower in fat than mayonnaise. If you absolutely can’t stand it and your taste buds won’t allow you to skip the mayo, then remember moderation is the key! Remember, mayonnaise comes in low-fat varieties, so if you have the choice, choose that one. If you feel up to it, put a pickle on it. Pickles have no calories. Just leave them alone if you are watching your salt, because pickles are high in sodium.
Add a Veggie or Two
If you are ordering a burger, add an extra onion or a pile of lettuce. Nutrition is the key!! What your body lacks in nutrition, it makes up for in weird cravings, so add vegetables to your diet whenever it is possible.
Substitute
Let’s not forget about substituting for healthier sides, this will make a huge difference in your total caloric count. For instance, at Wendy’s I know for sure, you can change out those really fattening fries and get a side salad or broccoli and cheese. Fries are horrible! The skin is removed of these potatoes (there goes the rich “vegetable” nutrition) and they are deep-fried in (once again) God-knows-what kind of grease. So if you can subtract the fries and add a veggie (one that isn’t deep-fried), than for the sake of your health, your dress-size, and your cholesterol and sodium, please do!!
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