Fast Food Tips

Now that Panera has the calories for their items right on the menu I'm horrified! I thought it was a "better" fast food choice, boy was I wrong. But there are still smart choices that can be made. I went with the "Pick 2" and got their lowfat black bean soup and the Thai Chopped Chicken Salad. Both together come in around 450. Honestly though I only ate the soup since after that I was full. .Saving the salad for today's lunch.

I'm sure that the other fast food guys have healthy choices that won't destroy your calories for the day as well. Grilled chicken sandwich, hold the mayo. Salad with low cal/low fat dressing. Will have to check it out online since I do grab lunch on busier days at these types of places.

Subway is fantastic for a good lunch or even dinner. All the nutrition information is listed in the store and you can even download it from their website. There are so many choices and the food really does taste good! :bigsmile:

I had been craving fried food all day, so I saved some calories from breakfast and lunch for an order of value menu french fries from Burger King. They're 220 calories. I'm still 176 cal below my 1200/day allowance. Cutting calories doesn't have to mean total deprivation. It's all about planning and moderation. just my approach

Great topic. Because even though as much as we try to avoid it, at somepoint we will end up going to a fast food joint, either a friend takes us or people your with stop through a drive through, etc.

Yeah, definitely avoid the fries and pops, and Subway can be a pretty good choice, as long as you don't get excessive condiments/cheese etc. and pick the right sub (veggie or a turkey on wheat) I used to work at Subway and people would come in thinking there healthy just cause its subway and they'd get like meatball subs covered in mayo (...gross i know) or a philly cheesesteak wiith handfuls and handfuls of shredded cheese, with a bag of chips, and then a diet coke! go figure.

I also work at a fast food, and when I have to eat there, i just have a grilled chicken (no breading) on a wheat bun, and a fruit cup (just a cup of cut fruits we sell) instead of fries, with a water.

chik filet chargrilled chicken sandwhich is around 270 calories and like 4 grams of fat 20-25 g of protein. and instead of fries ask for a fruit cup (the fruit cups are DELICIOUS btw) and the whole meal is around 320 calories. and the honey bbq sauce the sandwhich comes with actually isnt terrible for you either and is soooooooooooooo good. lol

I love the oatmeal at Starbucks, but avoid the little dried fruit and nut packet, loads of calories and sugar! And watch out for the sugar content in those fast food fruit cups and/or yogurt. McDonald's has an oatmeal too, but beware as it it full of sugar!!!!!! I have found that sugar can put a huge stall on your weight loss efforts.

Thanks for this topic!

Great topic. Because even though as much as we try to avoid it, at somepoint we will end up going to a fast food joint, either a friend takes us or people your with stop through a drive through, etc.

Yeah, definitely avoid the fries and pops, and Subway can be a pretty good choice, as long as you don't get excessive condiments/cheese etc. and pick the right sub (veggie or a turkey on wheat) I used to work at Subway and people would come in thinking there healthy just cause its subway and they'd get like meatball subs covered in mayo (...gross i know) or a philly cheesesteak wiith handfuls and handfuls of shredded cheese, with a bag of chips, and then a diet coke! go figure.

I also work at a fast food, and when I have to eat there, i just have a grilled chicken (no breading) on a wheat bun, and a fruit cup (just a cup of cut fruits we sell) instead of fries, with a water.

So, one of my friends, when we go to subway, gets the most disgusting sandwhich ever.... a footlong on italian herb and cheese.... that one combination that is like salami, ham and something else for meat, then he gets cheese on it, has it toasted, puts mayo on it, (no veggies of course), and then PUTS TWO CHOCOLATE COOKIES ON IT!!!. And he eats a whole bag of chips. Seriously. Omg. And he wonders why he gained his weight back after HCG...

Go into the food database here and look up the things you can eat then write them down on a small piece of paper and put it in your wallet/purse.

That's what I did....just in case I have to stop sometime.

That's a great idea!

I have been avoiding dining out entirely, but that's just where I am in my journey right now. But you're right--eventually it's gonna come up.

Another option from Panera is their new recipe chicken soup. I order the cup...110 calories! Then, a whole grain baguette is 80 calories and so is a classic side salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Yum!

I love Subway. I usually get a 6" turkey and ham on wheat with just lettuce, onion, and a little honey mustard. Sometimes if I'm extra hungry I'll get double meat. Still filling but adds less calories than upgrading to a foot long.

Otherwise, I do find myself eating a bunch of the bacon ranch chicken salads at McDonald's. Sometimes I'll use half of the ranch packet they give (since it's full fat ranch), or if I'm at home I'll toss the ranch packet and use a fat free ranch to lower the calories some more.

I usually just always go with the salads when I eat out, trying to avoid creamy dressings.

My friends and I like to go the diner, and I always order turkey burgers on wheat buns with lettuce, onion and ketchup. Eating only half for dinner and saving the rest for a lunch or dinner meal a day or two after is a great way to eat out without going overboard, I find.