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HEALTH
Eat Right
3 ways to make healthier fast-food picks
Grabbing a bite on the go? We’ve got crazy-easy tips for making a better decision when you pull up to the drive-thru. Dieticians and the authors of Fueling the Teen Machine: What It Takes to Make Good Choices for Yourself Every Day Ellen Shanley and Colleen Thompson share their secrets for ordering the smart way.
Don’t get suckered in to “good” deals.
Yes, it might be cheaper if you order the super-sized fries, but why save moolah while wrecking your bod? “Fast-food restaurants hook you in by promising a lot more food for just a little more money,” points out Shanley. “So be discriminating. Are you really that hungry? Or just get smaller versions of the items you want.”
Beware of chicken’s health halo.
Chicken and fish seem like healthier options than burgers, but fast food restaurants looove to bread and fry these once good-for-ya meats. Shanley and Thompson suggest asking if the sandwich you want is grilled or fried and decide from there. Remember: most joints keep their nutrition info handy, so don’t be afraid to study up before you order.
Swap those fries for something green.
Most restaurants have veggies on the menu—so order them. A crisp salad can be a solid complement to your sandwich, if you order right. “Know what kind of salad you’re ordering, though,” cautions Thompson. “Salads can actually be full of calories, especially if they have heavy dressings or added items such as chicken strips, croutons, nuts, etc. In fact, just two ounces of ranch dressing—about one typical packet—contains twenty grams of fat. That’s as much as is in a quarter-pounder. Go for the ‘lite’ or reduced-fat dressings, or use less of the heavier ones. And choose a salad that’s heavier on the veggies than on the extras.”
Don’t get suckered in to “good” deals.
Yes, it might be cheaper if you order the super-sized fries, but why save moolah while wrecking your bod? “Fast-food restaurants hook you in by promising a lot more food for just a little more money,” points out Shanley. “So be discriminating. Are you really that hungry? Or just get smaller versions of the items you want.”
Beware of chicken’s health halo.
Chicken and fish seem like healthier options than burgers, but fast food restaurants looove to bread and fry these once good-for-ya meats. Shanley and Thompson suggest asking if the sandwich you want is grilled or fried and decide from there. Remember: most joints keep their nutrition info handy, so don’t be afraid to study up before you order.
Swap those fries for something green.
Most restaurants have veggies on the menu—so order them. A crisp salad can be a solid complement to your sandwich, if you order right. “Know what kind of salad you’re ordering, though,” cautions Thompson. “Salads can actually be full of calories, especially if they have heavy dressings or added items such as chicken strips, croutons, nuts, etc. In fact, just two ounces of ranch dressing—about one typical packet—contains twenty grams of fat. That’s as much as is in a quarter-pounder. Go for the ‘lite’ or reduced-fat dressings, or use less of the heavier ones. And choose a salad that’s heavier on the veggies than on the extras.”
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