We are all pressed for time on some days and fast food is almost unavoidable when it comes to price and speedy service. The problem is that fast food has grown in portion sizes along with calories. When eating out try to add a fruit or vegetable to your meal and avoid the French fries. Load your burger with extra lettuce and tomatoes and have a side of fresh fruit. Most fast food chains now offer nutritious side and entrée salads, so make sure to check the menu when you arrive. Many now offer apple slices, baby carrots and more.
Portion control is a real issue at fast food chains and they offer super size for a few cents more. Don’t get caught up in value meals and try ordering child-sized meals instead. You will consume about half the fat as the full-sized version. Instead of ordering that Big Mac, select a regular hamburger and you will save 300 calories and 21 grams of fat. The Original Whopper contains 700 calories and 39 grams of fat, but the hamburger has only 310 calories and 12 grams of fat. That is a huge difference if you are counting calories and trying to lose weight.
All the little extras that are added to your burger can pack on the calories and fat as well. A tablespoon of mayonnaise contains 57 calories and a slice of cheese contains 106. Instead of having all the extra sauces, try adding just mustard to your burgers and sandwiches. Stay away from the sour cream and cheeses on tacos and add a low calorie salsa to enhance flavor. Be leery of healthier sounding meals, such as chicken or fish sandwiches that have equal to or more calories than burgers. Look for grilled versions of you favorite sandwiches or a low-cal veggie burger. On your next visit to a fast food restaurant, make sure you concentrate on portion control and try to stay away from anything that is fried to make healthier food choices.
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