Need advice on fast food choice

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Replies

  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    McDonald's has a chicken Caesar salad. Dressing comes on the side, so you can toss that and use your own, low-cal, fat-free dressing. They pile all the cheese on top, so you can toss out a most ever bit of it.

    The Taco Bell chicken soft tacos are around 150 calories each and really pretty good. You can order those without cheese.

    That's all I know.

    I'm no longer cooking for extra people. When I did, I made up a plate for whoever wasn't there and stuck it in the fridge. :)
  • mmm_drop
    mmm_drop Posts: 1,126 Member
    Subway is my choice for fast food. Low calorie choices and if I have it loaded with all the veggies I can really get full. Always under 400 calories for my choices.

    If I'm in the mood for salad, Wendy's is the place. Their Asian Cashew Chicken Salad is the bomb, and under 500 calories. And it's huge!

    And yes, i would like to reiterate what the other guy said, but for different reasons. There is a lot of bread in that sub, and a lot of processed meats. Sodium at Subway is through the roof (about 2500 mg per sub). Bread, though, will obliterate any diet, so watch how much nutrients you are getting, because i think most the calories are carbs.

    What's with the bread hate?

    I'm going to just reiterate that you have to make smart choices no matter where you go. Yes, Subway has more lower calorie options than other places, but you can still choose low calorie at most fast food places.

    Oh, and sodium? You can be careful there too, even at Subway. My go-to is the 6" Roasted Chicken Breast on wheat, with pepper jack cheese, loaded up with veggies, oil and vinegar, pepper and a dash of buffalo sauce. All for 450 calories and about 1100 mg of sodium.
  • looopyloops
    looopyloops Posts: 84 Member
    subway is my fast food choice, be careful of the condiments though , plain mustard and franks are about the only low cal condiments they have, The salads are pretty filling if you get all the veggies and chicken breast
  • smarieallen85
    smarieallen85 Posts: 535 Member
    I never do any of these places. I think my guts would fall out.
  • smarieallen85
    smarieallen85 Posts: 535 Member
    I just take my boys through the drive-thru and eat when I get home...

    Ah! Smart one.
  • northbanu
    northbanu Posts: 366 Member
    My Wendy's go to meal is the Ultimate Chicken Grill (370 Calories)
    and a large chilli (270 Calories)

    Usually have water with me, otherwise a large unsweetened ice tea.

    Not too shabby for 660 calories
  • jazzie_red
    jazzie_red Posts: 180 Member
    I love love taco bell crisp AL freso taco. 150 calories. Wendy's chicken apple salad small size, think that is like 350. Also subway, you can go to the website and build your sandwich and they will regurgitate a calorie count. I have been watching my calories, but I eat out a lot. :/
  • higgins8283801
    higgins8283801 Posts: 844 Member
    I just take my boys through the drive-thru and eat when I get home...

    Ah! Smart one.

    That would have worked had we not gotten done at 8. Lol I hate eating so late, but these schedules are vicious. I'm cooking crockpot tomorrow and plan to pack dinner for us and I eat there and they eat in the car or something.
  • smarieallen85
    smarieallen85 Posts: 535 Member
    Eight! I had my second dinner at 8:30 haha.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    Subway is my choice for fast food. Low calorie choices and if I have it loaded with all the veggies I can really get full. Always under 400 calories for my choices.

    If I'm in the mood for salad, Wendy's is the place. Their Asian Cashew Chicken Salad is the bomb, and under 500 calories. And it's huge!

    And yes, i would like to reiterate what the other guy said, but for different reasons. There is a lot of bread in that sub, and a lot of processed meats. Sodium at Subway is through the roof (about 2500 mg per sub). Bread, though, will obliterate any diet, so watch how much nutrients you are getting, because i think most the calories are carbs.

    Bread will obliterate any diet? Though I don't eat fast food, I do eat bread. That hasn't stopped me from maintaining for two years.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Chick-Fil-A - I love a side salad with the honey sesame and an 8-piece order of chicken nuggets. I put the chicken on the salad, toss it with the dressing and it's like a Chinese chicken salad. Forget the cals, but it's not bad and the protein in the chicken is good.

    Subway - my old standby that I've always loved - split a Cold Cut Combo with hubby with all the fixin's. Yeah, I know the meat and all that isn't the healthiest, but it's tasty and fits in my goals.

    In-N-Out Burger - my weakness. :love: :love: :love: Depending on where I'm at for the day, I just go for it and get a cheeseburger (animal style with chopped chilis FTW!) and split an order of fries with hubby or the kiddo, water to drink. Sometimes I order it protein style (no bun, lettuce wrap), but like I said, depends on the day and where I'm at on cals.

    Panda Express - on my own brown rice bowl with string bean chicken, or other dish with good protein and reasonable cals. With hubby, we split a 3 entree plate.

    Chipotle - burrito bowl, generally eat half and save the rest for the next day.

    Those are the places we hit most often.
  • Camo_xxx
    Camo_xxx Posts: 1,082 Member
    Fast food joints are a bad habbit to get into ( even for children ). So rather then enable the habbit we just dont go to them. If we failed to adequety plan out a meal or our timing and the kids need some food we just find a grocery store. Grab some fruit and cottage cheese or maybe a yogurt for a quick meal on the road. Funny thing is most times the kids will end up choosing to wait until we get home to eat. Seems they just use the " I'm starving " routine to try and cop a junk food meal. LoL. Clever little connivers they are.
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    Don't do the fries they will always blow out your daily calorie goal.
  • ahoier
    ahoier Posts: 312 Member
    I love the "kids menu" turkey sub.....it's basically half of a 6 inch....and tell them you want extra, or everything ;) It basically comes a "salad" in your hands haha. cause there's only essentially, approximately 3 inches of bread......if your subway has true 6 inch and 12 inch subs.....that is.....lol.....http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/subway-footlong-lawsuit/ hehehe.
  • smarieallen85
    smarieallen85 Posts: 535 Member
    Fast food joints are a bad habbit to get into ( even for children ). So rather then enable the habbit we just dont go to them. If we failed to adequety plan out a meal or our timing and the kids need some food we just find a grocery store. Grab some fruit and cottage cheese or maybe a yogurt for a quick meal on the road. Funny thing is most times the kids will end up choosing to wait until we get home to eat. Seems they just use the " I'm starving " routine to try and cop a junk food meal. LoL. Clever little connivers they are.

    Ditto. There are other "fast" foods out there! Grocery store!
  • alienbabyjen
    alienbabyjen Posts: 36 Member
    Taco Bell and Jimmy John's! Most places have a nutritional menu online. Print them out and put them in your glove box if you expect to have to do this often.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,333 Member
    taco bell soft tacos fresco style.
  • RockstarWilson
    RockstarWilson Posts: 836 Member
    Subway is my choice for fast food. Low calorie choices and if I have it loaded with all the veggies I can really get full. Always under 400 calories for my choices.

    If I'm in the mood for salad, Wendy's is the place. Their Asian Cashew Chicken Salad is the bomb, and under 500 calories. And it's huge!

    And yes, i would like to reiterate what the other guy said, but for different reasons. There is a lot of bread in that sub, and a lot of processed meats. Sodium at Subway is through the roof (about 2500 mg per sub). Bread, though, will obliterate any diet, so watch how much nutrients you are getting, because i think most the calories are carbs.

    Bread will obliterate any diet? Though I don't eat fast food, I do eat bread. That hasn't stopped me from maintaining for two years.

    I should elaborate. Those big 12 foot pieces of bread on the subs take up over half the calories in the subs at subway. So I am just saying, if not watched, it can affect daily goals. yes, we all eat bread, but that is what i mean. that comment is not intended for you...obviously.
  • RockstarWilson
    RockstarWilson Posts: 836 Member
    I just take my boys through the drive-thru and eat when I get home...

    Ah! Smart one.

    That would have worked had we not gotten done at 8. Lol I hate eating so late, but these schedules are vicious. I'm cooking crockpot tomorrow and plan to pack dinner for us and I eat there and they eat in the car or something.

    Crock Pot! Now that is an idea! take it with you and make sure it wont spill, with some picnic wares...it will be warm for hours. Good thinking!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Pretty much anything but Burger King and Arby's for me. But typically I get food for the kids and eat at home afterwards.
  • zac775
    zac775 Posts: 199 Member
    Look at Men Health, as they do a book call Eat this Not That and gives you great choices, on fast food and when eating out, it can really help.
  • brightsideofpink
    brightsideofpink Posts: 1,018 Member
    On sports days, even if I can't plan my food, I plan the timing of my meals to help with the hunger. I'll typically try a later breakfast, a morning snack, a later lunch. Then I'll grab a snack- from home or whatever store is nearby our destination- and then eat a light dinner when I get home. There are some great portable snacks that are fairly filling, easy to find, and won't kill your calorie counts- string cheese, hommus, apples, almonds, even pb in those little pre-packaged cups. Deconstructed cereal- eat some cheerios by hand with a container of milk on the side. You could pre-make some trail mix even. I guess it helps that my kids hate most typical fast food options, and other "fast food" like Chipotle, etc aren't exactly fast.
  • JamieMommy1985
    JamieMommy1985 Posts: 92 Member
    I do wendy's chili when I forget my lunch and it's really filling and under 350 cals. with crackers.
  • megan116xo
    megan116xo Posts: 40 Member
    Order a kids meal with your kids :)
  • Bella0531
    Bella0531 Posts: 309 Member
    I love the Subway double chicken chopped salad - it is huge, full of protein and right around 500cal (depending on what you add).

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