Mcdonalds? Other fast food?

bethwr1
bethwr1 Posts: 21 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Any tips on what I can eat at a fast food restaurant that will be healthy and not leave me starving?
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Replies

  • lady6starlight
    lady6starlight Posts: 127 Member
    The best thing to do is skip fast food in general, but if you absolutely have no choice or if your friends are dead set on eating at a McDonald's, there are things you can order. Their salads aren't so bad, but if you're not a salad person a simple grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo or cheese should be fine.
  • aubyshortcake
    aubyshortcake Posts: 796 Member
    McDoubles are pretty good on protein.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I'd suggest looking up the nutritional info of your local fast food places and go from there. Foods higher in protein will be more filling.

    If you're doing fast food for convenience, I'd suggest trying to plan ahead and bring foods with you. I like a McD's cheeseburger now and then but it doesn't really do anything for me (leaves me hungry) so I'd rather just throw a sandwich together at home, grab a piece of fruit and bring them with. Or grab a protein bar if I'm in a huge rush.
  • stephiejean37
    stephiejean37 Posts: 75 Member
    Fast food really just isn't healthy. period. But if I have no choice I usually order a wrap or a salad, but make sure it's grilled chicken!
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    Fries and soda make it easy to blow past your macros really quickly ... I usually toss the bun as well.

    Wendy's chicken sandwich is good, and their chili is pretty awesome.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I can usually get a grilled chicken breast for about 450 calories. They have a wrap that is 360 calories and a grilled chicken bacon club house for 580 when i want to behave badly. Never have a sugary drink or fries. The salads can be hit or miss and the dressing is not included so they are a bit higher than you plan for.
  • morehealthymatt
    morehealthymatt Posts: 208 Member
    If you can live with just one for breakfast, egg mcmuffins are 300 cals each. The sodium though....
  • Luv2eatSweets
    Luv2eatSweets Posts: 221 Member
    Chipotle salad bowls are good. Sofritas are amazing. Yep I know it's not McDonalds....but I'm hungry so I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring:laugh:
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Get whatever you want at any place, just account for it in your calories and macros for the day.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    McDs - im a sucker for a big mac and fries. a quarter pounder will do nicely as well.

    Wendys - i love their spicy chicken sandwich and fries. last week i had a baconator, and upgraded to a pretzel bun. best decision i've made in YEARS. also frosty.

    Burger King - im not big on BK, though in a pinch, i usually hit the dollar menu pretty hard. couple whopper jrs, but now that chicken fries are back.....

    Steak n Shake - I dont live in an area blessed with this wonderful franchise. combo meals for $4?! STOP IT! last time i was in FL i got a triple something....maybe 1/2 lb? i dont recall, but it was good and their fries are also quite nice.

    Krystal Burger - again, not in my region, but last time i was in GA i got a 24 pack for $24. half chicken, half beef. really fun. something about mowing down 10 after a night of drinking made me feel accomplished.

    Taco Bell - this is my go-to fast food. usually a 6-pack of crunchy with a ton of fire sauce. if im feeling super hungry, i'll score myself a chalupa or a crunch wrap.

    Subway - i like their BLT on italian cheese bread. xtra bacon, jalepenos, pickles, pepperjack cheese, and that chipotle sauce

    i need access to an in n out burger. i hear its magical.
  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    Whatever fits into your calorie goal and overall day plan. I had a 6 inch flatbread with egg whites, american cheese and a ton of veggies from Subway for breakfast this morning. And because I biked a gazillion miles yesterday, a big, beautiful, juicy smashburger and order of haystack onions fit beautifully into my food diary. In general, I end up having subway breakfast twice a week and one other fast food meal of my choice on the weekend (like any fast food meal I want, not a salad).

    I would be miserable without my fast food. Yes, it's what made me fat in the first place (going out to eat 7 days a week without calorie counting = 50 lbs weight gain in my 20s), but so long as I don't simply give in to my whims and desires to eat it EVERY SINGLE DAY OMG FRENCH FRIES I LOVE YOU I NEED YOU NOW!!!!!!!, I have been able to make is a part of my weight loss plan.
  • Joannah700
    Joannah700 Posts: 2,665 Member
    Check out the nutrition facts of the restaurant you want to go to before you get there - so you have a gameplan in mind and aren't tempted by the fries or mcnuggets.

    If you want some 'healthy' ideas - checking out healthydiningfinder.com works too. You can put in your zip code and it lists the restaurants in the area that have 'healthy' options and what those options are.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    Fast food really just isn't healthy. period. But if I have no choice I usually order a wrap or a salad, but make sure it's grilled chicken!

    huh?

    they have protein, fat, and carbs.
    all thing my body needs.

    i'm not sure i understand your assessment.
  • pander101
    pander101 Posts: 677 Member
    I don't limit anything. I eat fast food 2-4 times a week. I'm still consistently losing, as long as it fits your calories I don't see the point in limiting yourself to anything. I personally found when I had to limit myself and couldn't enjoy food with my friends I ended failing more.

    But in regards to your question look at the calorie contents before you order. More chain fast food places have all their nutritional info on the website. When I was restricting myself I hardly ever found a chain that didn't. But I would say that's the best way to go. You can also ask to them to substitute something or omit something. Given, I've only done this and had the most success at Taco Bell and Burgerville.
  • pander101
    pander101 Posts: 677 Member
    Fast food really just isn't healthy. period. But if I have no choice I usually order a wrap or a salad, but make sure it's grilled chicken!

    huh?

    they have protein, fat, and carbs.
    all thing my body needs.

    i'm not sure i understand your assessment.

    Exactly!!!
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    Why are you eating fast food opposed to packing your self a lunch.. use a cooler if you need to.
  • Alex_murphyy
    Alex_murphyy Posts: 50 Member
    http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/on-the-go/healthy-fast-foods/

    This link gives a break down of the healthiest options in the most common fast food joints.

    Enjoy and hope this helps!
  • CaitlinW19
    CaitlinW19 Posts: 431 Member
    It depends what your goals are here. I look strictly at calories in this situation and when I'm in a pinch and have to do fast food, here are the things I try to go for
    1) Subway- the healthier options
    2) Taco Bell- fresco tacos. 2 of these are 300 calories. I believe there are other things on the fresco menu. I don't think the fresco stuff is posted when you go in to taco hell anymore but I always order this and have never had an issue with them not knowing what it was etc.
    3) Wendy's chili
  • dj1skywalker
    dj1skywalker Posts: 86
    Chipotle salad bowls are good. Sofritas are amazing. Yep I know it's not McDonalds....but I'm hungry so I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring:laugh:

    ^^ This made me HUNGRY!! I don't even want my tuna anymore :ohwell:
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    Wendy's plain baked potato

    Taco bell bean burrito fresco style
  • Phatgirl420
    Phatgirl420 Posts: 197 Member
    I usually opt for a salad with low fat dressing, or a wrap with grilled chicken, if I am taking the wrap(s) home, I get them with just the grilled chicken and lettuce, then when I get home, I add some salsa, and my own low fat shredded cheese :-)
  • thecrushinator
    thecrushinator Posts: 76 Member
    More like Mcbarfies, skip the ball pit and get some nuts or jerky and a water from a gas station.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Fast food really just isn't healthy. period. But if I have no choice I usually order a wrap or a salad, but make sure it's grilled chicken!

    huh?

    they have protein, fat, and carbs.
    all thing my body needs.

    i'm not sure i understand your assessment.
    And yet, she's not wrong.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    i need access to an in n out burger. i hear its magical.
    Meh, it's overrated. It's no 5 Guys, that's for sure.
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  • Joannah700
    Joannah700 Posts: 2,665 Member
    i need access to an in n out burger. i hear its magical.
    Meh, it's overrated. It's no 5 Guys, that's for sure.

    Blasphemy! You probably ordered from the regular menu and not the secret menu. Animal Style, grilled onions...if you're going to do In N Out, you have to order from the secret menu. And you can get as many patties and cheese slices that you want. So you can get a 3x3 Animal Style... or two of them if you're a teenage boy.
  • BenjaminMFP88
    BenjaminMFP88 Posts: 660 Member
    For McDonalds, I eat 2 egg white delights, yogurt parfeit and a iced coffee all the time. Makes me really full too. For lunches, I tend to stick with their chicken sandwiches and salads.
  • EBRE44
    EBRE44 Posts: 18 Member
    A large fries has more calories and fat than the most unhealthy burger on the menu usually, skip the meal deals and just get a main item + water.Fizzy drinks soon add up and i often overlook these calories. Don't completely cut it out but keep it to once a week maximum and maybe up the exercise if you do really go for it that day x
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    The premium grilled chicken wraps at McDonalds are pretty tasty. I like the Sweet Chili one.

    Chick-Fil-A's grilled chicken nuggets are really good and basically all protein.

    Any kind of grilled chicken sandwich is generally good, small burgers without cheese or mayo are good. Salads are generally fine but you've got to watch some of them (like Panera) can be over 1000 calories with dressing, nuts, cheese, etc.
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    Just don't do it .. you will be much better off if you just avoid it all together.

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