| You can't help but miss the current | | | | food for a reason, not necessarily |
| trend of healthier menu options at fast | | | | healthy food. In other words, although |
| food restaurants. Is it only used for | | | | fast food restaurants have played a huge |
| marketing, or can you really get a | | | | role in America's obesity problem, they |
| nutritionally rounded meal? Yes you can; | | | | are not the answer to it. You have a |
| food that is fast and healthy can now be | | | | choice. |
| put in the same sentence, but if you | | | | Â- Check online. Most fast food chains |
| take in large amounts, here's what you | | | | declare the nutritional facts about |
| will have to know. | | | | their products on their Web sites. There |
| You have to practice conscious eating. | | | | you'll find fat grams and total |
| You need to be aware of your choices at | | | | calories, plus the presence and quantity |
| any fast food restaurant menu. If you | | | | of trans fatty acids, cholesterol, |
| wisely choose it is a strong possibility | | | | sodium, fiber, sugars, etc. Some Web |
| that you will be able to have a balances | | | | sites allow you to "build a meal," then |
| meal. | | | | display a nutritional breakdown of your |
| Another important thing you will need to | | | | choices. The results may surprise you; |
| know is ask the difference between | | | | and will certainly help educate you. |
| grilled and fried. Fried food, | | | | Â- Some words about cheese. Cheese is |
| especially deep-fried food, is put into | | | | to fast food what wheels are to cars. |
| hot oils covered with fats. Grilled | | | | And why not? It tastes great, especially |
| food, on the other hand, is cooked on an | | | | melted, and a certain amount of dairy in |
| open flame; when you order your grilled | | | | your diet is good for you. But when |
| food be careful not to submerge it in | | | | you're planning your made-to-order, |
| tons of condiments. Spread a healthy | | | | six-inch, Subway sandwich, remember |
| amount over the food and ask for the | | | | this: An ounce of cheese can contain up |
| condiments on the side. Cheese is also a | | | | to 10 grams of fat! |
| huge factor. Cheese tastes good and is a | | | | Â- Conscious eating. Being aware of |
| good source of dairy to add to your | | | | your choices is never more important |
| diet. However, when you are planning a | | | | than when you're ordering from a glitzy |
| to eat something, like a huge sandwich, | | | | fast food menu. "There's a possibility |
| with cheese on it, just remember that an | | | | that if you choose wisely you can get a |
| ounce of cheese can have up to ten grams | | | | balanced meal," says Debby Demory-Luce, |
| of fat in it. | | | | Ph.D., an instructor in nutrition at the |
| Finally, salads are not always what they | | | | Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. |
| seem; people tend to develop them into | | | | But beware - no one can foul up a |
| an unhealthy choice. Ironically, salads | | | | perfectly healthy meal like the |
| have become as popular as French fries | | | | purveyors of fast food. |
| to fast food places. Most salads | | | | Â- Grilled, not fried. All fish and |
| commonly have fresh lettuce and | | | | chicken are not created equal. |
| vegetables which are very healthy to | | | | Deep-fried foods are submerged in hot |
| eat, but when a salad comes loaded with | | | | oils loaded with artery-clogging trans |
| cheese, fried chicken, bacon and is | | | | fats; grilled foods are obviously cooked |
| smothered with a fat and rich dressing, | | | | by open flame. And when you order |
| what's the point? Be careful what you | | | | grilled, don't blow it with a ton of |
| turn your healthy choices into. | | | | butter and mayonnaise. Ask for your |
| Portion control is also a good way to | | | | condiments on the side so you can spread |
| eat healthier at fast food restaurants. | | | | a healthy quantity yourself. |
| A lot of the restaurants will give you | | | | Â- But surely a sandwich is OK? They're |
| more for your money. Nonetheless, even | | | | quick and easy and potentially |
| though you are paying less, does not | | | | wholesome. The trick is to be aware of |
| mean that it is a healthy choice. You | | | | what you're putting on them. Go for lean |
| have to ask yourself what your | | | | meats and skip oil and mayonnaise |
| priorities are in life. You have to ask | | | | additives. Like everyone else, Jared had |
| yourself what is more important to you, | | | | to read the menu and select a Savory |
| eating healthier or spending less money. | | | | Turkey Breast Subway sandwich over |
| Another way fast food restaurants try to | | | | Meatball Marinara. Demory-Luce says a |
| cheat you out of eating healthy is | | | | plain baked potato with a small serving |
| giving you bigger portions. Try to stay | | | | of chili from Wendy's may be a better |
| away from making your meals bigger. | | | | option. "If you're stuck and you have to |
| A good way to follow fast food | | | | eat in a fast food restaurant you can |
| restaurants and their nutritional facts | | | | eat healthy," agrees Lieberman. |
| on their products is reading their web | | | | "McDonald's is the most difficult place |
| sites. You will find fat grams, total | | | | for me to do that; Arby's is the |
| amount of calories, and the amount of | | | | easiest. |
| trans fatty acids, sodium, fiber, sugar | | | | Â- Portion control. It's true that |
| and cholesterol. A lot of the web sites | | | | McDonald's has dropped its super sizes. |
| will have a section where you can create | | | | But fast food is still driven by the |
| your own meal and then have a breakdown | | | | conviction that consumers want value for |
| of your choices. The results will help | | | | money. More often than not, meals remain |
| educate you in what you will be eating. | | | | two to three times the size of |
| Many nutritionists contain a cynical | | | | recommended portions, warns Demory-Luce. |
| perception on fast food restaurants. | | | | "A lot people are eating on the run, |
| Nutritionists have come to realize that | | | | eating in their car or in front of the |
| event though the menus have become | | | | TV, and they're not paying attention to |
| healthier, they have not full taken out | | | | how much they're eating." Mindless |
| the junk food; its considered to be fast | | | | eating doesn't cut it with fast food. |