Fast Food options for diets?

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fevre
fevre Posts: 60 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I know that fast food is never the ideal option for someone trying to eat healthier, much less someone trying to lose weight - but I'm trapped in the suburbs for a while, and sometimes that's the only option I have! What are some of the lesser evils out there? I've heard people mention Subway having some decent options, what would some of those be?

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  • Nyxks
    Nyxks Posts: 10 Member
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    I'd not touch Subway with a 10 foot poll for healthy food (the sodium count in most of their offerings are higher then McDs - I dont have to watch my sodium, I just don't like how salty their selections tend to taste) calorie wise going for a veggie sub on one of the grain buns 6" only still still net you over 500mg of sodium in most cases and come in around 300 or so calories. If you really wish healthy, go for a salad with all the fixings and if they have the option go for a vinaigrette on the side (other wise your adding more calories that are less then great).

    I personally eat at McDs i'll get a single double hamburger (about 200 calories and about 300mg of sodium) small fries (without added salt) and split a medium pop with my hubby if eating there.

    To me its more about eating what I will and allowing for the fact that life happens and that one can't always eat as healthy as one might wish to do so, so if I can't eat as i should I make sure to drink extra water and get in more cardio to help with what is being taken in on average.

    Aka - have that Big Mac, Fries and Pop just remember to drink extra water and do another 60 min of working out to help off set what you have dun sort of deal (not saying to do that, but that is what I tend to do and well for myself its not hurt my weight loss).

    Good luck
  • taramaureen
    taramaureen Posts: 569 Member
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    What I normally do when no other options are available is get a hamburger with no bun and a side salad w/ vinagrette. My cousins affectionatly call my bunless burgers "whopper salads" LOL. My favorite, though, is the turkey burger from Carl's Jr. Check out each resturant's website and see what works in your diet.
  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
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    the veggie with olive oil and no mayo
  • paul87920
    paul87920 Posts: 165 Member
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    You can cut so many unnecessary calories out of your fast food meal by avoiding:

    French Fries
    Mayonnaise
    Soda (Don't drink your calories)
    Ranch Dip/Sauce
    "Secret Sauces"

    It also depends on what kind of diet you're doing. I mean if you're watching your cholesterol and sodium intake Nyxks advice is great, just as taramaureen advice is also great for avoiding carbohydrates.

    I'm in my twenties also, so I'm personally paying more attention to the calories. I leave the bacon and cheese off burgers and avoid fries like the plague.
  • FoxyMcDeadlift
    FoxyMcDeadlift Posts: 771 Member
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    Lunchbox.
  • RachStevens06
    RachStevens06 Posts: 10 Member
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    I enjoy subway but I never get meat on my subs. I do the 6 inch honey oat with lettuce, tomato, green peppers, red onion, olives, pepper and Parmesan cheese. If they have it, I always add spinach.
    I agree with Paul, cut out all the extras. mayo, ketchup (mustard is fine, zero cals) sauces, dips, dressings. All that stuff adds up quickly
    Sometimes if I'm in a rush I go to BK (i actually really dislike the food there) and get the TenderGrill and skip the mayo. The chicken is very moist and the tomato adds some moisture.
  • 99clmsntgr
    99clmsntgr Posts: 777 Member
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    Chick-Fil-A has some good options out there, too. The Char-grilled chicken sammich (NOT the club, just the plain sammich) with the fruit cup side is only 340 calories for the entire meal. Just over 1000 mg of sodium, so if you're like some of the other posters and care about sodium, it's a lot for one meal. Unfortunately, most of your fast food places, especially places that serve deli meats, are going to be high in sodium. And bread doesn't help either.

    Almost all the fast food places have their nutrition online. Go check out their web pages (I've linked a bunch below) and read up before going. I keep a couple in my back pocket (Chick-Fil-A, Panera, etc.) that if I know we're grabbing something quick I know I can get.

    Burger King: http://www.bk.com/en/us/menu-nutrition/index.html
    Chick Fil A: http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Meal
    Firehouse Subs: http://www.firehousesubs.com/App_Themes/FirehouseSubs/Files/FHS_Nutritionals.pdf
    Jason's Deli: http://www.jasonsdeli.com/nutrition
    Jersey Mike's: http://www.jerseymikes.com/menu/nutrition.php
    McDonald's: http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/nutritionfacts.pdf
    Moe's: http://www.moes.com/food/nutrition/calculator/
    Panera: http://www.panerabread.com/pdf/nutr-guide.pdf
    Quizno's: http://www.quiznos.com/Menu/Under-500-Calories.aspx
    Subway: http://www.subway.com/applications/NutritionInfo/Files/NutritionValues.pdf
    Wendy's: http://www.wendys.com/food/NutritionLanding.jsp
  • ChantelleFowler
    ChantelleFowler Posts: 208 Member
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    Dairy Queen has a really yummy grilled chicken salad that comes in just over 200 calories!
  • grumpers
    grumpers Posts: 46 Member
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    Sonic grilled chicken on whole wheat bun, no mayo is under 300, usually nice quality tomatoes and lettuce with it
  • mezzosoprano89
    mezzosoprano89 Posts: 81 Member
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    Chipotle is pretty good if you make good choices, it's my personal favorite haha.

    You can look up calories for your burrito on this site: http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

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