Once the fearsome reputation of single-handedly introduced the obesity epidemic in this country, blockage of the arteries in their wake, fast-food restaurants have opened their eyes to what (some of) the public will and quite successful attempts to change their menus to offer healthier choices. I'll take you through a few of these restaurants offer some healthy (read: lower fat, lower calorie, and hopefully less sodium) choices, some less-than-smart ones, and reveal a few surprises.
Arby 's: their regular roast beef sandwich has 350 calories and 16 grams of fat. That's a nice light meal, similar to a frozen ' diet ' dinner, especially when you consider the 950 mg sodium.The French Dip sandwich has only 440 calories, 18 grams of fat, and (oops) 1680 milligrams of sodium. and for those of you who are shooting for about 2,000 calories per day, feel free to add an order of 2 potato cakes for only 250 extra calories to get around a meal that comes in under 700 calories.
Now for the not-so-good choices that may be quite surprising: the market fresh roast beef and Swiss contains 810 calories, 42 grams of fat and 1780 milligrams of sodium. The roast chicken caesar, 820 calories and 38 grams of fat with 2160 milligrams sodium (that is all the sodium content that has a healthy diet in a whole day).
My surprise for this restaurant falls under the category of "not-so-good": the French dressing honey has 290 calories per package!
Burger King: good ideas include the BK broiler chickens without mayo, which only 390 calories and 8 grams of fat (albeit 1010 mg sodium) and the whopper junior without mayo, only 330 calories and 14 grams of fat, and only 470 mg sodium. A small order of French fries just 230 calories can nicely around a meal for a total of nearly 600 calories.
Not-so-good ideas where you thought you could have done well include the chicken Club, which in on 740 calories, 44 grams of fat (almost your daily allowance!) and 1530 miligrams sodium; and the big fish of BK with 710 calories, 38 grams of fat and 1200 mg sodium. You might expect is not a smart choice is the Whopper with cheese, and that is 780 calories, 47 grams of fat and 1390 milligrams of sodium.
A few surprises here are a good choice--the BBQ sauce that just 20 calories per package (a nice substitute for when you wisely the mayo from your camera roll left) and a not-so-good choice, the great frozen Coke, a purely beverage 460 calories to your meal without having to even satisfy your appetite (gulp!)
McDonald 's: this restaurant has formed into a nutrition professionals to give much healthy meal options. Their salads (chef, garden and grilled chicken caesar) all have less than 150 calories.However, if you add you get croutons another 50 calories, and if you're at all dressing than the fat free herb dressing (only 50 calories) you will get more calories from the dressing (ranging from 130 to 170 per packet) than of the salad. A chicken mcgrill without the mayo comes in at only 340 calories and 7 grams of fat, and a quarter Pounder only 430 calories, but 21 grams of fat. a little advertised choice in this restaurant is sliced apples--a fantastic option designed for children instead of French fries. You might have a hamburger (280 calories) and a salad with the fat free dressing, one side of a dessert apples and even on this site for under 500 calories! Their vanilla reduced fat ice cream offers only 150 calories.
I can't finish without mentioning the subject of the Taco Bell, both because of its popularity and also the large low-calorie menu items can be found here. beef or chicken tacos (including the soft ones) average only 200 calories per piece and the gorditas (with the exception of those with "crunch" in the name) 360 calories or less.Watch out for salads which Bowl with an edible;the bowl has more than 400 calories and 30 grams of fat!
Just a side note about the sodium content in most of these foods;It is partly for flavor, but also to avoid eating dry out as soon as the cooked and sitting under global warming lights added. it is very difficult to find a low sodium option at a fast food restaurant.But most people without high blood pressure, kidney or heart problems will be easily able to flush the sodium content from their bodies when they have a couple of glasses of water after meals drink.Up to 1,000 milligrams should at a meal not something to worry about.
And now, here's a great bit of ammunition to start your healthy eating plan; every fast-food restaurant will gladly hand over their nutritional information so you can see for yourself. most sites give access to this information online; some of them give out in their restaurant; sometimes it is even on their tray placemats! so take a look at what you and your choices for your next order compare.
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