Fast Food Restaurants - How to make healthier choices
Let’s face it – fast food restaurants are a part of lives. All three of my children were able to identify McDonald’s golden arches from a very early age. If we passed by a McDonald’s and my youngest daughter saw the arches, she would point at it and say “French fries.” While we all indulge at fast food restaurants from time to time, it’s not something we should do often or make a habit, no matter how convenient it is or cheap it is. Developing the habit of eating at fast food restaurants, especially for children, can lead to obesity and health problems. This news isn’t all bad, however.
In recent years, fast food restaurants have made it easier to choose healthier foods when eating there. It’s now possible to eat a nutritious meal at fast food restaurants, while on the go. Following are some steps you can take to make more nutritious choices:
- Control your portions – Don’t supersize, as is common at many fast food restaurants.
- Eliminate high fat and high calorie sauces and dressing; choose lower fat options instead, use sparingly, or don’t use at all.
- Choose water or milk instead of sodas. Even diet sodas are loaded with artificial sweeteners.
- Choose a chicken or fish sandwich over a hamburger, and choose whole wheat rolls (if possible) instead of white. If you must choose a hamburger, choose a single burger sandwich, not one that consists of two or three burgers in one roll. Also, choose a fish or chicken sandwich that is broiled or baked, not fried.
- Choose fruit or a salad instead of French fries. Many fast food restaurants offer these choices instead high fat fries.
So what are the really bad choices that you should avoid when eating at a restaurant? They include fried chicken, onion rings, French fries, croissants, and surprisingly, many condiments. Cheese sauce, “special” sauces, tartar sauce, guacamole, gravy and sour cream, all add unnecessary fats and calories that can contribute to weight gain and high cholesterol.
What about making good choices for children? This is a tough one for me! My kids love getting Happy Meals and Kid Meals, but I don’t love the contents of them! How can you make better choices for your kids? Fast food restaurants today are offering milk and fruit juices instead of soda. You can also substitute fruit or vegetables for the fries. By helping them make healthy choices when they are young they will be more apt to continue making good choices when they are adults.
You may want to investigate fast food restaurants before you dine there. Chains such as McDonald’s Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell offer nutritional information about their menu items. If you know what your options are before you arrive, you can better decide what you should order once you get there. This makes it even easier to make the best choices for yourself and your family.