Moderation and wise choices may be the key to a healthy fast-food meal. An occasional fast food meal can easily fit into a weight loss or a healthy diet.
For instance, eating small portion sizes help you keep your calorie intake under control. If several meal sizes are available, always pick the smallest one. A hamburger and three beef patties have seventy grams of fat and about 1,000 calories while a children`s size hamburger lets you eat only about 300 calories. You are better off choosing the children’s size hamburger.
You may save about 300 calories if you give up the regular French fries or onion rings portion size, and take smaller portions. Or, instead of French fries, chose a baked potato or a salad with low-fat dressing. Other healthy choices at fast food restaurants include fruits, yogurt, steamed rice, apple or orange slices, baked potato chips, or corn.
Don`t avoid vegetables at fast foods. You may have an entrée salad with chicken, shrimp or garden vegetables with low-fat dressing. This choice may help you save 300 calories per packet. Avoid as much as possible salads with deep-fried shells, cheese, croutons, fried chips, bacon bits, or breaded chicken.
On the other hand, you may have grilled or roasted turkey or chicken breast, lean roast beef, or lean ham. Always ask for reduced-fat mayonnaise for your sandwich. If you`re at a Mexican fast food restaurant, ask for salsa instead of nacho cheese sauce or shredded cheese. Avoid tartar sauce, high-calorie condiments, special dressings, and sour cream.
Pay attention to what you drink, not only what you eat. For example, a large soda has 400 calories. You may take instead diet soda, unsweetened ice tea, mineral water, water, or sparkling water. Shakes and ice creams have more than 1,000 calories so you should skip them.
If you are careful with your choices, fast food may easily fit into your diet.
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