| Is it possible to eat healthfully at a fast food | | | | of added fat and calories. Should you give into |
| restaurant? The big name chains, such as | | | | temptation at Wendy's and order a "biggie" fries, |
| McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and Taco Bell | | | | you'll be taking in an extra 590 calories and 28 |
| want you to think so. All of these restaurants | | | | grams of fat.What about alternatives such as the |
| offer some type of "healthy" alternative on the | | | | low fat strawberry flavored yogurt? The yogurt |
| menu to entice those who are watching their | | | | itself is 200 calories, and the granola topping that |
| weight or simply wanting better options. But how | | | | comes with it is an extra 110 calories. In |
| healthy are these options? It depends on what | | | | comparison, an average cup of low fat yogurt |
| you order, of course.Aside from some options | | | | from the grocery store will have around 100 |
| that can be quite healthy, such as salads, other | | | | calories.Burger KingBurger King provides an array |
| options that may seem like wise choices may not | | | | of eating options through its website for those |
| be as great as they seem. Also avoid ordering | | | | who are watching carbs, fats, or calories. Many |
| anything in a large size, as this quickly adds extra | | | | salads listed have from between 10 and 13 grams |
| calories and fat. Many foods also include extra | | | | of fat, or 90 to 117 calories from fat. Salads fall in |
| sugars that quickly add calories.McDonaldsSalads | | | | the 400 total calorie range. The dressings will add |
| and salad dressings at McDonalds are quite low in | | | | another 70 to 270 calories, for a total of up to |
| calories and fat. A salad with dressing can go as | | | | almost 700 calories. Again, this is almost a third of |
| high as 500 or more calories, but this is much | | | | a day's total caloric intake. The original Whopper |
| lower than other choices. Salads do not | | | | sandwich with everything on it has about the |
| necessarily mean that the nutritional value is high, | | | | same amount of calories. Depending on the salad |
| however. Many salads are made with iceberg | | | | and dressing chosen, the salad option can actually |
| lettuce, which is primarily water. However, if | | | | have more total fat than the Whopper. In other |
| you're trying to watch your weight, and find | | | | words, eating a "healthy" salad instead of a |
| yourself with no other options, a salad can be a | | | | sandwich may not provide you with the benefits |
| good choice. It won't likely make you feel full, so | | | | you're looking for.Taco BellTaco Bell offers |
| snacking ahead of time may be a good option to | | | | "Fresco Style" options that have fewer than ten |
| avoid other temptations while there.Other options | | | | grams of fat per serving. This translates into the |
| that seem like healthy alternatives can be | | | | cheeses and sauces being removed from the |
| deceiving. Whether a food is fried or grilled will also | | | | item. This style can reduce total fat and caloric |
| have a huge effect. But simply choosing between | | | | intake. Many items on the Fresco Style menu are |
| beef and chicken, for example, may not be | | | | under 400 calories. The key to ordering through |
| enough. The Premium Crispy Chicken Club | | | | this method is to know which items are available |
| Sandwich has 680 calories compared to the Big | | | | Fresco Style and which are not. Most items offer |
| Mac's 560. The key is to look for grilled | | | | this option, but many do not. Ask prior to |
| alternatives and avoid the tempting sides, such as | | | | ordering.One final word of caution when it comes |
| fries or desserts.Wendy'sIf you're opting for a | | | | to fast food: even when the options are low fat |
| salad, choose wisely. Just because a menu item | | | | and low calorie, many are still very high in sodium |
| includes the word "salad" does not mean it's | | | | content and low in fiber content. The total |
| healthy. Wendy's Taco Salad, for example, comes | | | | nutritional value is an issue. Cooking methods, such |
| with almost 400 calories if you only look at the | | | | as deep-frying or leaving foods under hot lamps |
| basic salad ingredients; add in the extras that | | | | for extended periods can dramatically reduce a |
| come with it, and the total is nearly 700 calories. | | | | food's nutritional value. So what's the bottom line? |
| This is about a third of a day's totals on a 2,000 | | | | While the occasional visit to a fast food |
| calorie per day diet. Even a seemingly healthy | | | | restaurant can be enjoyable and will not create |
| broccoli and cheese baked potato comes with | | | | too many negative side affects, the idea that |
| 340 calories.If you're hungry, it can be very | | | | 'healthy' alternatives at fast food chains are in |
| difficult to avoid the temptations of the fast food | | | | fact 'healthy' is questionable. |
| restaurant. This can be dangerous from the sense | | | | |