guardianactual
MuscleChemistry Registered Member
No matter how often we try to avoid it every once in a while we have to eat at fast food restaurants. Sure they aren’t our first choice but sometimes due to traveling or other reasons we don’t have the option to go somewhere healthier. The good news is that there are easy ways to stay on track even when you have to eat out at fast food.
Avoid Heavy Sauces
This is where a lot of the calories are in many of your meals – including salads! If something comes with a sauce ask them to leave it off or put it on the side. You are usually safe for substituting the sauce for mustard or another low calorie condiment if you still need something to add taste.
Try Finding Grilled Chicken
At most fast food restaurants they have at least one non-fried item. Most of the time I will ask for a grilled chicken sandwich and eat it without the bun. You can still each all the veggies that are added, but by taking off the bun you take the calories down. Grilled is always the best option.
Watching Out for Salads
Salads are great, but you still need to be careful what is put on those salads before you order it. A lot of times you will find that they load the salads with unhealthy things that up the calories. Sometimes these can be customized, sometimes they can’t, but it is always important to at least ask and see what they do. You are also always safer having them put the dressing on the side and see what other substitutions they have for dressings.
Check the Nutrition Menu
Most fast food restaurants now have a nutrition menu somewhere in the store. It is often posted on the wall. Check these out before you place your order. Sure there are some obvious things to avoid that are high in calories or fat, but it is also important to make sure you aren’t overdoing it when it comes to sodium. Check the menu out and know what you are putting in your body!
The bottom line is there ARE healthy choices to be made even at fast food restaurants. Do the best you can and make healthy substitutions and usually you can get out without messing up your day or diet too badly.
Avoid Heavy Sauces
This is where a lot of the calories are in many of your meals – including salads! If something comes with a sauce ask them to leave it off or put it on the side. You are usually safe for substituting the sauce for mustard or another low calorie condiment if you still need something to add taste.
Try Finding Grilled Chicken
At most fast food restaurants they have at least one non-fried item. Most of the time I will ask for a grilled chicken sandwich and eat it without the bun. You can still each all the veggies that are added, but by taking off the bun you take the calories down. Grilled is always the best option.
Watching Out for Salads
Salads are great, but you still need to be careful what is put on those salads before you order it. A lot of times you will find that they load the salads with unhealthy things that up the calories. Sometimes these can be customized, sometimes they can’t, but it is always important to at least ask and see what they do. You are also always safer having them put the dressing on the side and see what other substitutions they have for dressings.
Check the Nutrition Menu
Most fast food restaurants now have a nutrition menu somewhere in the store. It is often posted on the wall. Check these out before you place your order. Sure there are some obvious things to avoid that are high in calories or fat, but it is also important to make sure you aren’t overdoing it when it comes to sodium. Check the menu out and know what you are putting in your body!
The bottom line is there ARE healthy choices to be made even at fast food restaurants. Do the best you can and make healthy substitutions and usually you can get out without messing up your day or diet too badly.
