HEALTHY FAST FOOD???

Gwen7121

The thing is - nothing is bad for you IN MODERATION. A McDonald's cheeseburger every once in a while isn't going to kill anyone, it's not even going to remove a full minute from your life.

Cr357

I think people worry about sodium way too much. A person with healthy kidneys and adequate water intake should have no problem at all secreting excess salt. The menu at Wendys isn't bad, grilled chicken breast at KFC, Whopper Jr no mayo at BK. Strive for choices where at least 25% of the calories come from protein and take your total caloric intake into account and you should be fine.

wannababyH

Not really, but each place will have something that is "healthier" than the rest.

Taco Bell's "fresco" menu is pretty tasty. If I need food in a pinch I'll get their fresco chicken soft taco with no cheese.

solpwr

I just ate McDonald's for lunch. TWO double hamburgers. Yum.

I get double hammies at McD's also. Once per week probably.

At Taco Bell I get fresco chicken soft tacos, once per week.

At Subway I get 6 inch black forest ham on honey oat with cheese, honey mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno, twice per week.

We have Frugal's in the northwest, I get regular hamburger there once in a while.

I skip fries.

bcattoes

The thing is - nothing is bad for you IN MODERATION. A McDonald's cheeseburger every once in a while isn't going to kill anyone, it's not even going to remove a full minute from your life.

But that wasn't the topic. The question was whether there was any healthy fast food. Just because one serving of something doesn't kill you doesn't make it healthy. I doubt eating one serving of dog crap would kill you. That doesn't mean it is healthy food.

Katherine_Nelson

I really like the charbroiled chicken sandwich from chik fil a. And i usually get a fruit cup on the side instead of fries. Oh, and a diet lemonade.

solpwr

The thing is - nothing is bad for you IN MODERATION. A McDonald's cheeseburger every once in a while isn't going to kill anyone, it's not even going to remove a full minute from your life.

But that wasn't the topic. The question was whether there was any healthy fast food. Just because one serving of something doesn't kill you doesn't make it healthy. I doubt eating one serving of dog crap would kill you. That doesn't mean it is healthy food.

This is a good point. Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is. If ground beef and bread are part of your normal diet, a McDonald's hamburger is not going to be different than your normal diet. Yes, they put more salt in their foods. All restaurants do that. Fast food joints don't have the corner on salting foods. I worked at a French restaurant; they used more salt than I did, because of the average person's tastes.

Look at the ingredients of what you are eating, and make informed choices for yourself. I personally pick a double hamburger at McDonald's instead of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

The QP has 510 cals, 26g fat, 1190 sodium, 40g carbs, 29g protein.
The DBurger has 330 cals, 15g fat, 510 sodium, 28g carbs, 19g protein.
So my choice is 35% less calories, 42% less fat, 57% less sodium, 30% less carbs, and 34% less protein. Most of the reduction comes from the two slices of cheese.

Looking at the macro breakdown of each, the QP is 46% fat, 31% carbs, and 23% protein.
The double burger is 41% fat, 34% carbs, and 23% protein. Neither of these are particularly stellar.

EDIT: Thinking outside the bun, look at 2 Fresco chicken soft tacos at Taco Bell.
They have 300 cals, 7g fat, 960 sodium, 36g carbs, and 24g protein.
Macros are 19% fat, 44% carbs, 29% protein. Much better, in line with my goals. So depending on the rest of my day, those may be what I need to eat to make better choices. The double burger is close in calories, but much higher in fat, which by elimination means lower in beneficial carbohydrates and protein.

I don't think I need to explain why I don't get french fries.

bcattoes

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

solpwr

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

So a double burger at McDonald's will improve my health, guaranteed. Using the argument of purely "improving my health" the french fries will do that too, especially if I need those calories and nutrients in my diet for that week. And as far as sodium, I need the salt. I sweat it out in my daily workouts.

I choose not to eat the french fries because of how they fit into my daily meal planning. Healthy is relative to the rest of the meal planning process. Eating McDonald's 3 times per day doesn't work, but once per day might be just fine, DEPENDING ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL MEAL PLANNING.

bcattoes

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

So a double burger at McDonald's will improve my health, guaranteed. Using the argument of purely "improving my health" the french fries will do that too, especially if I need those calories and nutrients in my diet for that week. And as far as sodium, I need the salt. I sweat it out in my daily workouts.

I choose not to eat the french fries because of how they fit into my daily meal planning. Healthy is relative to the rest of the meal planning process. Eating McDonald's 3 times per day doesn't work, but once per day might be just fine, DEPENDING ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL MEAL PLANNING.

As I said, pretending that the food at McD is healthy will not make it so. But good luck with that.

neanderthin

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

You just don't get it. What is unhealthy for one person may be healthy for another.....Restating fast food is always unhealthy, is flawed logic and repeating yourself doesn't make it any more correct.

bcattoes

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

You just don't get it. What is unhealthy for one person may be healthy for another.....Restating fast food is always unhealthy, is flawed logic and repeating yourself doesn't make it any more correct.

edit - why bother? Eat fast food if you want.

Rae6503

Strive for choices where at least 25% of the calories come from protein and take your total caloric intake into account and you should be fine.

McDs double hamburger has 40% from protein.

solpwr

Strive for choices where at least 25% of the calories come from protein and take your total caloric intake into account and you should be fine.

McDs double hamburger has 40% from protein.

Are you sure Rachel? I must be using wrong data. I'm calculating using 9 cals per gram of fat, and 4 cals per gram of carbohydrate and protein.

neanderthin

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

You just don't get it. What is unhealthy for one person may be healthy for another.....Restating fast food is always unhealthy, is flawed logic and repeating yourself doesn't make it any more correct.

edit - why bother? Eat fast food if you want.

I only eat fast food once in a blue moon and not that is healthy or not, it's because it all tastes pretty nasty. I do get cravings and I'll generally jump all over it, but soon regret it....it's a vicious circle lol. Overall I probably eat out once a month.

Rae6503

Strive for choices where at least 25% of the calories come from protein and take your total caloric intake into account and you should be fine.

McDs double hamburger has 40% from protein.

Are you sure Rachel? I must be using wrong data. I'm calculating using 9 cals per gram of fat, and 4 cals per gram of carbohydrate and protein.

Crap. I did it wrong. For some reason I was thinking 7 grams. Wishful thinking I guess. Either way I like them and will continue to eat them.

tigersword

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

You just don't get it. What is unhealthy for one person may be healthy for another.....Restating fast food is always unhealthy, is flawed logic and repeating yourself doesn't make it any more correct.

You're arguing with the same person who told me that a head of lettuce magically becomes unhealthy because it's delivered to a McDonald's instead of a grocery store. It's a lost cause.

bcattoes

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

You just don't get it. What is unhealthy for one person may be healthy for another.....Restating fast food is always unhealthy, is flawed logic and repeating yourself doesn't make it any more correct.

You're arguing with the same person who told me that a head of lettuce magically becomes unhealthy because it's delivered to a McDonald's instead of a grocery store. It's a lost cause.

LOL It's not magic.

wendorfa

I'm still confused as to why the BREAD at Subway is considered "high in sodium" they list the 6 inch white as 290 mg of sodium. The daily guidelines say 2300 mg of sodium, or if you have heart issues 1500 mg. Let's say you decided to only use HALF of that 2300 mg so 1150 mg. If you at the bread you still have 860 mg of sodium left for the day. This would be a meal, and you can drink it with water. So I don't see that as high sodium at all. There are FAR worse things than bread for sodium.

ONE03

Transcribing what is considered healthy from my college nutrition class is probably not going to help. :laugh:

tigersword

I'm still confused as to why the BREAD at Subway is considered "high in sodium" they list the 6 inch white as 290 mg of sodium. The daily guidelines say 2300 mg of sodium, or if you have heart issues 1500 mg. Let's say you decided to only use HALF of that 2300 mg so 1150 mg. If you at the bread you still have 860 mg of sodium left for the day. This would be a meal, and you can drink it with water. So I don't see that as high sodium at all. There are FAR worse things than bread for sodium.

The bread isn't high in sodium, the meat is.

tigersword

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

You just don't get it. What is unhealthy for one person may be healthy for another.....Restating fast food is always unhealthy, is flawed logic and repeating yourself doesn't make it any more correct.

You're arguing with the same person who told me that a head of lettuce magically becomes unhealthy because it's delivered to a McDonald's instead of a grocery store. It's a lost cause.

LOL It's not magic.

I'm still waiting for you to explain it. Obviously you can't. If it's automatically unhealthy, please, give me a serious, real, scientific explanation as to why a vegetable automatically becomes unhealthy when purchased by a fast food restaurant.

neanderthin

You're arguing with the same person who told me that a head of lettuce magically becomes unhealthy because it's delivered to a McDonald's instead of a grocery store. It's a lost cause.

Yeah I know. The problem some people have when just starting out learning about nutrition is, in the belief there is a right answer and an answer that supersedes all argument regarding a particular subject. Confirmation bias is a wonderful thing if you don't want to argue with anyone and just make yourself feel better. The problem with that is down the road you get blindsided and then realize nothing is as simple as it appears, especially in nutritional science.

wendorfa

I'm still confused as to why the BREAD at Subway is considered "high in sodium" they list the 6 inch white as 290 mg of sodium. The daily guidelines say 2300 mg of sodium, or if you have heart issues 1500 mg. Let's say you decided to only use HALF of that 2300 mg so 1150 mg. If you at the bread you still have 860 mg of sodium left for the day. This would be a meal, and you can drink it with water. So I don't see that as high sodium at all. There are FAR worse things than bread for sodium.

The bread isn't high in sodium, the meat is.

A previous poster said "Sodium in the bread" that is why I was confused. There are veggie subs as well.

virruth

thx for a great post

virruth

to solpwr thx for great post

bcattoes

Healthy is what people's perception of "healthy" is.

No, healthy is food that improves your health when you eat it. Perception really has nothing to do with it. Believing or pretending that unhealthy food is healthy doesn't make it healthy.

You just don't get it. What is unhealthy for one person may be healthy for another.....Restating fast food is always unhealthy, is flawed logic and repeating yourself doesn't make it any more correct.

You're arguing with the same person who told me that a head of lettuce magically becomes unhealthy because it's delivered to a McDonald's instead of a grocery store. It's a lost cause.

LOL It's not magic.

I'm still waiting for you to explain it. Obviously you can't. If it's automatically unhealthy, please, give me a serious, real, scientific explanation as to why a vegetable automatically becomes unhealthy when purchased by a fast food restaurant.

Oh sorry, to keep you waiting. I thought we were done.

Most (probably all) spray nitrates on the lettuce and other veggies to keep them fresh longer. I thought posted that earlier. If you want to believe that these nitrates are not unhealthy then we'll just have to agree to disagree because I've been told by a trusted nutritionist that they are.

neanderthin

Most (probably all) spray nitrates on the lettuce and other veggies to keep them fresh longer. I thought posted that earlier. If you want to believe that these nitrates are not unhealthy then we'll just have to agree to disagree because I've been told by a trusted nutritionist that they are.

Nitrates are naturally occuring in vegetables and mother nature put them there for a reason, believe it or not their healthy............do you have any opinion of your own? or do you not wonder any further than the first 2 entries of google, I'm beginning to think you dont, considering your canned speach in just about any subject is to appeal to authority and say most medical sources say..... to which there are many conflicting opinions if you even bothered to look. I like to explore beyond the surface of conventional dogma, you should try it some time.

bcattoes

Most (probably all) spray nitrates on the lettuce and other veggies to keep them fresh longer. I thought posted that earlier. If you want to believe that these nitrates are not unhealthy then we'll just have to agree to disagree because I've been told by a trusted nutritionist that they are.

Nitrates are naturally occuring in vegetables and mother nature put them there for a reason, believe it or not their healthy............do you have any opinion of your own? or do you not wonder any further than the first 2 entries of google, I'm beginning to think you dont, considering your canned speach in just about any subject is to appeal to authority and say most medical sources say..... to which there are many conflicting opinions if you even bothered to look. I like to explore beyond the surface of conventional dogma, you should try it some time.

So ... no way to agree to disagree, I see. We're just going to lower ourselves to insults. Sorry, not interested today, I'm afraid. I've already stated why I think the nitrates added to processed and fast foods are unhealthy (at least twice, including the message to which you replied) and it had nothing to do with Google or the internet. If you can't, won't or just plain ol' don't want to read or understand that then I can't do anything about it. But I'm just not really in a mud slinging mood today.

Ebwash89

Ugghh...I'm so sick of everyone worrying about sodium and processed foods, etc etc...unless you have your own garden, your own cow, your own chickens, etc, you have to worry about sodium and processing...life is way too short for all that!
Watch your calories!!! A calorie is a calorie is a calorie...period! Yes there are other options if you are going to a fast food restaurant! You will pay more, but if you go to Wendy's, get the salad, only use one of the packets of dressing and get the low cal one. Go to Chipotle, get a rice bowl with chicken, salsa and lettuce only, no cheese no sour cream. Go to Subway, eat the turkey or ham sandwich without mayo....hey, it worked for Jared!!! Read the nutrition menus before going so you know what you're eating.
Otherwise, start growing your own veggies and rice, buy a cow and start raising some chickens.

Preach!! I'm sorry but those people must have absolutely no social life or have nothing but time on their hands to cook! People like to go out to eat and are sometimes on the go, in a rush, etc.