Fast Food - Call Out!

Going to a fast food joint for a salad is like going to a hooker for a hug....

Try to keep fast food an occasional treat only


The salads are not what is bad--it's the dressing. You can make a "fast food" salad work if you are in a pinch.

I am a single mother, work full time, and go to school part time...and I almost always pack a lunch for work or bring a snack if I am going to be out in about--it's not impossible to be prepared no matter how busy our schedules are. It just comes down to how important it is to you.

McDonalds I get the southwest grilled chicken salad and at burger king I get their veggie burger!

I normally will only eat what I make. Luckily I enjoy cooking. No processed stuff for me except maybe turkey bacon, cheese and yogurt. Trying to ditch the bacon too. Oh and the occassional Healthy Choice if an emergency happens but I try not to.

If I have to go to a FF place then I get a salad. I have my own dressing at work so I don't use there's. I stay away from the burgers and fries. they are evil and full of crap.

I really don't like getting salads anywhere, simply because I feel like I could make one at home for like a buck. That said, I will occasionally crave the grilled chicken and berry salad from Wendy's. Just get the half size and leave off the nuts (if they're the candied ones). Their raspberry vinegarette (sp?) dressing is awesome. Also, their chili is fairly healthy. If I go to McDonalds, I'll get a plain burger, like the one that comes in the kid's meal and a fruit and yogurt parfait. Those are really the only two fast food places besides subway that I eat at. At subway, just stick to the healthy menu. Meatball subs are a no-no. lol

Sometimes, when out on the road, you are forced to go to a fast food location. I always choose Wendy"s and get two grilled chicken sandwiches, and a plain baked potato. Throw away the bread from the sandwiches, and eat the grilled breast, with the lettuce and tomato, and just add ketchup to the baked potato. It works for me!

If I'm going to do fast food, I prefer Culvers (I do like their soup) and Jimmy Johns (add dijon hold the mayo). Chipotle, Noodles & Company and Subway are the only other options close to work that I would consider. Near home, I have better options for healthier eating.

Noodles and Co is one of those places where when I started this I was WAY surpsied over the calorie intake of almost everything on their menu. It's do-able for me on a good day when I have calories to spare - but I hardly go there now.

I agree, if I'm going to go to Noodles & Co, I usually do the small Japanese Pan Noodles with tofu or chicken but even that has to be on a day when I have the calories to spare.

Also, I don't know if other states have The Habit Burger Grill, but they have a grilled chicken salad with fat free Italian that I ate a lot because it was next door to my work. It's good and fresh chicken and under 300 calories. They also will make your burger protein style. Tasty.

Hit up Chick-Fil-A. A regular chicken sandwich is 440 calories and 30g of protein.

There is no such thing as a healthy choice from any of those places. Personally, I would say something like ONE McDs cheeseburger or hamburger (NOT the big mac, 1/4 pounder or any of that), once in awhile as a craving give in. And by once in awhile I mean once in 1 to 2 months, not even once a week. Sometimes I do thecheeseburger happy meal - that way I'm just ordering one (instead of the two cheeseburger meal), it inclused the tiny fries (just enough to feed the crave beast) and it also includes apples. Minimal damage, craving satified, back to regular eating.

The only fast food I do is Subway, and sometimes Jimmy John's (get the "unwich" - it's the sandwich wrapped in lettuce instead of the bread - they will "unwich" any of their sandwich choices for you). I also sometimes do Chipotle - there are ways to cut the cals down in the burrito bowl. I do 1/2 rice, 1/2 black beans, meat, tomato salsa, corn salsa, cheese. No sour cream. Comes out under 500 cals. Again this is rare.

Potbelly's also has some skinny(er) sandwich options.

Also, Panda Express Panda Bowl... some of the entrees are surprisingly low cal. Just get the mixed veggie side instead of the noodles or the rice. You can build your bowl online, just like the build your sanwich on Subway's site - and get all of the nutritional info for it.

Granted, Panda and Chipotle will kill you on the sodium, but if you're looking for a lower cal fast food that is more of a treat than a habit, these are probably better choice than McDs or Wendy's or BK. (especially BK! I love it but OH WOW, more cals than McDs even!)

Chipotle is always the way to go. Real food. Grass fed beef, free range chicken, locally sourced produce. It's what fast food SHOULD be. Eat liberally.