How to Be Healthier - The Best Way, Not Just the Fast Way

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