Mcdonalds? Other fast food?

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.

Uh... I don't know if the OP was asking what you think tastes good. I think it had to do with caloric content...

Actually, she asked what was HEALTHY and wouldn't leave her starving.

I guess I don't see your point in responding to me. I understand she asked what was healthy and wouldn't leave her starving. My point still stands. I don't see a big mac and fries as the "healthy" option at mcdonald's, whether we're talking caloric content or macros. I don't see " BLT on italian cheese bread. xtra bacon, jalepenos, pickles, pepperjack cheese, and that chipotle sauce" as the "healthy" option for Subway.

I would expect something like "egg whites with no mayo" or "salad with minimal dressing," as traditional responses to this question. Did you meant to capitalize the "wouldn't leave her starving" portion of the quote?

I don't see how you could possibly determine what's healthy for someone else in terms of calories or macros without more information, but you're still choosing to see a Big Mac as unhealthy.

There's nothing wrong with egg yolks, mayo, or fat in general. Thus, there's no reason to avoid them provided that they don't keep a food item from meeting caloric and macro goals...which is completely possible.

Let's look at a Big Mac:

530 calories
24g of prot
27g of fat
27g of carbs

For macro balance, it's slightly low in protein for the calories (for my liking), but 530 calories is not a lot. I could easily make up that relative lack of protein in another meal.

Well, I'm not disagreeing with you. I think for most people, avoiding this food is helpful b/c the convenience, price and caloric content of this food most likely was a contributing factor to where they are now... wanting to lose weight. But then, I'm assuming people on this site are trying to lose and not gain. I was, as you've pointed out, speaking generally. I wasn't trying to hide that fact, either.

any chance you're willing to admit you're playing devil's advocate on this one? Like I understand CICO, but as I said before, it's hard to eat under a goal when you eat fast food, because it's calorie dense. do you really disagree with me, or devil's advocate?

Yeah, I'd have to say I disagree with you. The difficulty really just varies by person, and it varies by what you get when you get fast food.

The degree of difficulty is going to be variable by what you get when you eat fast food, how often you do it, and what else you're eating that day (to say nothing of goals and activity, etc). And given all that, I think general statements are pretty useless.

I could construct a weekly scenario when it's pretty easy to eat fast food 1/day, and I could also construct a scenario when it would make meeting calorie and macros way more difficult. I could have a double quarter pounder for lunch everyday and not really have a problem with the rest of the day as far as calories and macros go. Now, if I chose to each a large pepperoni pizza from pizza hut everyday, that would be an entirely different story. Way more calories there, with macros out of balance (for me).

Well, it sort of feels like you're now disagreeing with something different. I'm not saying it's not possible to eat fast food and be healthy. My original comment was that the gentleman's choices were not what was healthier than other items on the menu. But I see you're point on splitting hairs with the definition of healthy, so, I guess we're done here.

I think the point is that we have four pages of responses and no consistency or consensus when it comes to "healthy" recommendations which is exactly the point. Everyone's definition of "healthy" is very personal and can vary, not only from person to person, but from day to day depending on what the rest of their day looks like from a calorie/macros perspective.

I want someone to give me an in-depth, scientific reason as to why Big Macs are bad for me. Please use reputable sources that aren't just Google searches. Peer reviewed studies that are statistically sound would be great, but I'm not counting on anyone finding anything.

I am pretty sure McDonald's is good for you. You can't argue with graphs.

I know that correlation =/= causation, but that graph makes me feel like I'm doing my body justice by stuffing my pie hole full of chicken nuggets.

I am blaming you for this 10 piece McNugget sitting at my desk right now.

Lmao

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.

we have both near me. in-n-out has become a bi-weekly after-meeting ritual for my group of friends.

4x4 animal style protein style, and i'll save up for it by not eating lunch that day.

5 guys is hubby's favorite. i like how when i order my burgers to be lettuce wrapped, they always ask if i'm allergic to anything just so they can be ultra careful.

Five Guys is the best fast food burger joint around.

Just wanted to point out the link to www.healthydiningfinder.com in case you missed it earlier.

Great site, and it helps you find food within your personal nutrition/macro goals.

If you're asking for those once in a while dinners out with friends, then just keep your day light and save up for the evening and eat whatever the hell you want that would fit your calorie budget.

If you're asking for convenience and nutrition, you basically want food that has at least a basic balance of micro and macronutrients. You could, for example do this at McDonald's :

Lunch or dinner:

- Apple slices instead of fries, this will provide you with some vitamin C and fiber. If you are dead-set on fries, get a small.Calories: 15-110

- Order a side salad for vitamins and fiber (and barely a dent into your calorie budget). Calories: 20

- Get one of these smaller burgers like a BBQ ranch so that it does not pack in 700 calories in a single sandwich but still provides you with protein.

You may want to opt for Filet-O-Fish if you're watching sodium. Some of the medium sandwiches like a double cheeseburger or a bacon mcdouble are still within acceptable range if you are an active person. These would give you more protein than the small ones. If you want the best of both worlds, the bigger size/higher protein and the lower calories go for premium grilled
chicken classic (7 oz) , BLT (8 oz), or McWrap chicken sweet chili (10 oz).
Calories: 350-450

- Drink diet soda. Calories: 10 max

Max calories for the whole meal: 600

Breakfast:
- Go for a small fruit oatmeal for vitamins and soluble fiber. Calories: 100
- Egg McMuffin or a sausage burrito for protein. Calories: 300
- Drink plain coffee, no sugar if you can. If you can't, don't go heavy on it.
Max calories for the whole meal: 500

Sweets: Sundaes, especially strawberry, won't break your calorie bank if you have saved for it at 280 calories.

Basically combine your fast foods in a way that gives you enough protein plus some fiber.

If you're asking for those once in a while dinners out with friends, then just keep your day light and save up for the evening and eat whatever the hell you want that would fit your calorie budget.

If you're asking for convenience and nutrition, you basically want food that has at least a basic balance of micro and macronutrients. You could, for example do this at McDonald's :

Lunch or dinner:

- Apple slices instead of fries, this will provide you with some vitamin C and fiber. If you are dead-set on fries, get a small.Calories: 15-110

- Order a side salad for vitamins and fiber (and barely a dent into your calorie budget). Calories: 20

- Get one of these smaller burgers like a BBQ ranch so that it does not pack in 700 calories in a single sandwich but still provides you with protein.

You may want to opt for Filet-O-Fish if you're watching sodium. Some of the medium sandwiches like a double cheeseburger or a bacon mcdouble are still within acceptable range if you are an active person. These would give you more protein than the small ones. If you want the best of both worlds, the bigger size/higher protein and the lower calories go for premium grilled
chicken classic (7 oz) , BLT (8 oz), or McWrap chicken sweet chili (10 oz).
Calories: 350-450

- Drink diet soda. Calories: 10 max

Max calories for the whole meal: 600

Breakfast:
- Go for a small fruit oatmeal for vitamins and soluble fiber. Calories: 100
- Egg McMuffin or a sausage burrito for protein. Calories: 300
- Drink plain coffee, no sugar if you can. If you can't, don't go heavy on it.
Max calories for the whole meal: 500

Sweets: Sundaes, especially strawberry, won't break your calorie bank if you have saved for it at 280 calories.

Basically combine your fast foods in a way that gives you enough protein plus some fiber.

What Oatmeal WITH FRUIT at McDonald's is only 100 calories?!?!

Get whatever you want at any place, just account for it in your calories and macros for the day.

^ This.

If you know you're getting it, make room with more exercise or fewer calories at other meals.

As a general rule, non-breaded over breaded and grilled over fried if you're just worried about calories.

You can get salads but usually if it's truly "fast food" they're not very good.

DOWNsize the fries....if you have them at all, get the small (unless, again, you're willing to "pay" for the giganto size with extra time in the gym or by shrinking your other meals..)

Anything I'd order from a FF joint, I could probably make it better at home.

But if time is the problem, either plan ahead with grab N go meals or if you DO go to a FF place, order your food "dry" meaning no condiments (oil, butter, sugary ketchup, mayo, etc) because they might LIST their Nutritional Facts for a certain portion, but we all know how lazy and sloppy and in a hurry FF workers are and they don't measure s**t! (I know this because as a teen & college student, I worked at Popeye's, Denny's, Subway, Hogi Yogi and Flying J).

Brush up on ingredients too, for example, if you go to Subway, order Spinach rather than iceberg lettuce, there's more nutritional "bang for your buck". Order Olives rather than having the worker sprinkle with Salt & Pepper, Olives give saltiness and satiating fat. Diced Jalapenos are better than sodium-ridden hot sauces, etc.

Pretty good advice here.

As a general rule, I've subbed fresh spinach for lettuce in ANY sandwich I get..because by the time you add the meat, whatever sauces on there...I'm not "tasting" the lettuce it's just there for texture..to give it crunch. Spinach does that too..with the bonus of adding lots of fiber and nutrients.

And condiments add tons of calories to most fast food burgers...

The water is about all you can really eat. Mcdonald's has apple fries that might be ok. But eating like you have is why you are where you're at now.
Fast food is noting but a chemical **** storm.

:huh:

Kids Meals. They heave all the things that I want in a normal portion size. I can enjoy a burger, fries and a diet coke for less than 550 calories.

Didn't think of that. But yes, this is true for pretty much any FF place. McDonald's, Panera, Burger King, etc

BK- Veggie burger (cuz they really taste nice! Anyone know who makes the patty there?) no mayo.

Morningstar Farms

Big mac and fries. If you're going to go, then eat. Who goes to a burger joint, for a salad??? Just track your calories. Actually, I'd try Burger King myself-whopper= yum!

I like to stay away from McDonald's, but fast food places I usually eat at are Wendy's, Chick-fil-a, and Taco Bell.

Wendy's: The chilli is very good and filling, but what I usually get is a grilled chicken patty, with either a small fry or a baked potato with one cup of butter, it really depends on what I feel like eating. I also like to get a 6 count of the spicy (or the regular) chicken nuggets with a medium fry.

Chick-fil-a: GRILLED NUGGETS! omg they are so good! And I usually get fries and/or a side of fruit with them. I would eat there more often if it was a little closer to my house. Their grilled chicken sandwich is good, too, but I usually don't eat buns anyway so the grilled nuggets are just basically the same thing as me getting the sandwich haha

Taco Bell: Alright,I would say this is probably one of the best fast food places to eat at, if you know what to order. Get anything fresco. When you order an item fresco, they take off the cheese, sour cream, and any creamy sauce, and replace that with fresh pico de gallo. I suggest ordering the chicken soft tacos fresco style. But, ask for the grilled chicken instead of the shredded chicken, because it is much more filling than the shredded. Also, the shredded chicken burritos fresco style are very good, and you might want to ask for the grilled chicken on that one as well. All it is, is rice, chicken, and the pico, which is much better (in my opinion) than the chicken burrito supreme (which has refried beans- yuck) and cheaper as well. And I've never tried it, but the Cantina Bowls are supposed to very good and they are filled with protein. Basically, you can get anything fresco and it will be better than all the cheese and sour cream most of the items have, and it won't cost you any extra.

BK- Veggie burger (cuz they really taste nice! Anyone know who makes the patty there?) no mayo.

Morningstar Farms

Thanks!

I get kids' meals when I have to eat fast food. It's plenty of food for me considering how greasy it invariably is and most kids' meals are 400-500 calories, which is generally where I like my meals to be anyway.

My fiance gets three bacon cheeseburgers and two packs of chicken nuggets because he needs the calories. The Wendy's cashiers always seem to get a kick out of the two of us together with that order.