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