7 Fast-Food Lunches that Keep You Lean

brwneyes71

7 Fast-Food Lunches that Keep You Lean



As long as you place a smart order, it's possible to eat fast food without tacking on pounds. One stay-slim secret worth remembering?

Many of us seem to operate on one speed—overdrive! And that habit has carried over to our food habits, too: Fifty-nine percent of women eat on the go, according to a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Those who eat while driving, working or otherwise occupied, tend to fill up more on fast food. While you can hit the insta-burger joint occasionally without gaining, those who indulge in fast food more than twice a week tend to be 10 pounds heavier than those who eat it sparingly, according to a study in The Lancet, which puts them at greater risk for diabetes.

The good news: As long as you place a smart order, it's possible to eat fast food without tacking on pounds. One stay-slim secret worth remembering? Beware the combo meal: The average side accounted for a third of these meals' 1,200 calories, a study in the journal Obesity indicates, so avoid the fries-with-that trap. As for the healthiest options on the menu board, you can't go wrong with the all-stars below. Speedy, nutritious meal? Coming right up!

QUIZNOS

Pan Asian Chicken Chopped Salad. Order the dressing (it comes with Spicy Asian dressing) on the side and use half of it, or ask for fat-free balsamic vinaigrette for a healthier option. About 330 calories.

BURGER KING

Veggie burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato and ketchup; garden salad with 1/2 packet of light Italian dressing. About 550 calories.

McDONALD'S

Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken, with 1/2 packet of creamy Southwest dressing; fruit and yogurt parfait (without the granola). About 500 calories.

WENDY'S

Small chili with a side salad tossed with 1 packet of fat-free French dressing and 1/2 order of mandarin oranges. About 400 calories.

TACO BELL

Fresco Bean Burrito with a side of guacamole (it contains healthy fat!). About 400 calories.

SUBWAY

6-inch Subway Veggie Patty sandwich on toasted wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, 2 slices provolone, plus any other uncooked veggies you enjoy (I like mushrooms, onions and peppers), topped with mustard and/or vinegar. About 450 calories.

PANERA

Order a You Pick Two combo of Lowfat Vegetarian Black Bean soup and half a Mediterranean Salmon Salad. About 350 calories.

Find news to help you lose daily on our nutrition editors' Healthy Bites blog at Self.com.

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http://health.yahoo.net/experts/healthieryou/7-fast-food-lunches-keep-you-lean

itsallup2u

Wow! That was really helpful information.

LovelyLady1977

Salad, salad, SALAD! That's all these articles are advocating nowadays! Like I'm gonna go into a fast food restaurant with all that greasy, fatty goodness floating around, order a salad (with all the goodies like cheese removed and HALF a packet of LOW-FAT dressing, mind you!) and be satisfied! It's much more realistic for me to order a little bit of the bad stuff, enjoy it, and tack on a few extra minutes to my workout later.

Jennyzfit

Thank you. If I would have know earlier I wouldn't have gone to Quizno's! Very usefull tips...

Jennyzfit

I mean I wouldn't have ordered the sandwhich at Quizno's.l...lol

thedreamhazer

The Panera one was especially helpful for me! I walk there about 2 times per week for lunch and always order the same thing. Now I can mix it up a little!

Rugbychick16

Thank you for all your suggestions! I love the Mediterranean chicken salad from McDonalds. I *Personally* like ordering a salad instead of the greasy goodness that they have there. I dunno, after going from having it all the time to only have it once in a while, I enjoy it more AND It doesn't make my tummy hurt! :happy:

❤B☩❤

@ LovelyLady1977;
My nephew posted on his FB: Going to McDonald's and ordering a salad is like going to a prostitute and asking for a hug!!

elyse0210

Thanks for the post. I usually say if you're going to eat fast food then go all out because then what is the point of going right? But I do understand now that it is possible to make better fast food choices.

LovelyLady1977

LMAO @ ODONNA! So true!!!

I could go into McDonald's and everything in me would be telling me to order the salad and I know it would be the smart thing to do, but I wouldn't. I don't eat fast food very often, but when I do, I'm at the point now where I can eat a kid's meal and be satisfied with that. I'm FINALLY getting the hang of this "moderation" thing. That's a TREMENDOUS feat for me!