Any healthy fast food or not-so-bad fast food out there
- Thread starter Gustavo1
- Start date
The fast food places have nutritional information on their web site. The "healthy" choices at the burger places are few and far between, usually involving grilled chicken (not crispy chicken or chicken nuggets, which are battered and fried in usually trans-fat laden oil). Even then, many of those "better" choices are still high in calories for their serving sizes. And the buns used for all of the sandwiches are white bread, of course. Of course, you'll have to avoid the trans-fat laden fries and the super size sodas (a huge dose of high fructose corn syrup).
Any fast food is good, really, if you just eat it in moderation. Just making it a part of your daily diet for life is the bad part. Ideally it is recommended not to eat any fast food. However, realistically, you will eat fast food several times during the week without knowing it. Things like frozen food, precooked, and other "time savers" are all forms of fast food.
The following rule will help: avoid when you can, and when you do, eat what you want. If all of it is bad, then any choice you make will be bad. It would be like playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun...
Some tips if you're a constant fast food type person and you want to break the habit:
* Cook at home. Prepare the night before of things you want the next day. This way, the temptation to go to fast food joint is not there.
* Avoid looking at fast food menu items. Looking over the "healthy" or "low calories" menu options are not always ideal. Even though they may be low in calories, they can be high in other junk that you body just doesn't need and will make you go hungry again.
* If you crave fast food, and you just can't help it because you've been doing it all your life, don't panic. Just have a schedule of times when you want to eat fast food during the week. For example, you can make it a habit to only eat fast food on Friday nights. At first you might have many days of the week for fast food, but shortly you will break this habit if you try hard to eat food prepared at home.
The following rule will help: avoid when you can, and when you do, eat what you want. If all of it is bad, then any choice you make will be bad. It would be like playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun...
Some tips if you're a constant fast food type person and you want to break the habit:
* Cook at home. Prepare the night before of things you want the next day. This way, the temptation to go to fast food joint is not there.
* Avoid looking at fast food menu items. Looking over the "healthy" or "low calories" menu options are not always ideal. Even though they may be low in calories, they can be high in other junk that you body just doesn't need and will make you go hungry again.
* If you crave fast food, and you just can't help it because you've been doing it all your life, don't panic. Just have a schedule of times when you want to eat fast food during the week. For example, you can make it a habit to only eat fast food on Friday nights. At first you might have many days of the week for fast food, but shortly you will break this habit if you try hard to eat food prepared at home.
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Every now and then I will let myself have a Burger King Tendergrill chicken sandwich. I order it plain with nothing on it. Not too bad for you.
It's funny, once you really start eating healthy and stick to it a while, then you get tempted and have a Big Mac or a Whopper, you may end up feeling rather sick. This happens to me now, if I eat something like BK or KFC, I have to sprint for the mens room within 15 minutes.
Well its been months since ive eaten at a fast food place so I hope the same happens to me.
I like subway everyonce in a while
I was thinking on a small grilled chicken burger with nothing on it except KETCHUP.
Pfft, ketchup.
What's the point of getting fast food if it tastes so bad you need to put liquid sugar on it?
Edit: Okay, I guess I was sort of useless on this one. Here's my suggestion: find yourself a local sandwich/shawarma/whatever shop (skip the sauce!) that prepares some combination of meat and vegetables (cheese, also, if you like) in or on whole grain bread. That way you get the convenience and "treat" factor of fast food without much of a cheat.
My policy is if you want junk food, eat junk food, as a rare treat. Don't try to dress it up and make it "okay" by going low-carb or low-fat or whatever bull****. That's how America earned itself an "obesity epidemic". (More processing, less quality and balance). But if you want something convenient and/or that you didn't have to prepare yourself that's still fairly healthy, see above. Subway would work. Just skip the sauce(s) and get nothing but water (or diet ______, if you must) with it.
P.S. Skip the sauce. Salt and/or pepper is all you need. That's 3 times now. Also, don't order the fat kid special - calories still matter. A pound of cold cuts and double cheese, extra bacon, etc is usually not your friend.
What's the point of getting fast food if it tastes so bad you need to put liquid sugar on it?
Edit: Okay, I guess I was sort of useless on this one. Here's my suggestion: find yourself a local sandwich/shawarma/whatever shop (skip the sauce!) that prepares some combination of meat and vegetables (cheese, also, if you like) in or on whole grain bread. That way you get the convenience and "treat" factor of fast food without much of a cheat.
My policy is if you want junk food, eat junk food, as a rare treat. Don't try to dress it up and make it "okay" by going low-carb or low-fat or whatever bull****. That's how America earned itself an "obesity epidemic". (More processing, less quality and balance). But if you want something convenient and/or that you didn't have to prepare yourself that's still fairly healthy, see above. Subway would work. Just skip the sauce(s) and get nothing but water (or diet ______, if you must) with it.
P.S. Skip the sauce. Salt and/or pepper is all you need. That's 3 times now.
Also, don't order the fat kid special - calories still matter. A pound of cold cuts and double cheese, extra bacon, etc is usually not your friend.
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If you are careful and knowledgeable you can incorporate it. Arby's used to have some really good choices and still probably does. Even their roast beef sandwiches aren't too bad. McDonalds even has a grilled chicken caesar salad. I'm not sure what dressings are available but you can browse through what they've got and make the wisest decision possible. Almost all will have a grilled chicken sandwich. Just be sure to tell them not to toast the bun because they'll add fat/butter to it before they toast it.
Like someone else mentioned above, look at the nutritional information and become knowledgeable of the nutrient content of the food items and choose accordingly.
I think you mentioned burgers specifically. I don't know of any specific places but generally the same rules apply. A lean burger on a bun shouldn't be a problem. Avoid the mayo, fries and regular soft drinks as well as the cheese and you should be on the right track. Good luck, Greg
Like someone else mentioned above, look at the nutritional information and become knowledgeable of the nutrient content of the food items and choose accordingly.
I think you mentioned burgers specifically. I don't know of any specific places but generally the same rules apply. A lean burger on a bun shouldn't be a problem. Avoid the mayo, fries and regular soft drinks as well as the cheese and you should be on the right track. Good luck, Greg
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Stay as far away from burger joints and their "healthy alternatives" as possible. They are usually anything but... a prime example are the Micky D's salads. The dressings alone warrant just buying a cheeseburger.
Usually the sub places (Subways/Quiznos) are pretty good because you can get a moderately portioned sandwich with plenty of veggies to boot, but again, watch out for the calorie/fat heavy condiments, chips, and soft drinks because they all pretty much kill the whole attempt at healthy fast food anyways.
Usually the sub places (Subways/Quiznos) are pretty good because you can get a moderately portioned sandwich with plenty of veggies to boot, but again, watch out for the calorie/fat heavy condiments, chips, and soft drinks because they all pretty much kill the whole attempt at healthy fast food anyways.
subway chicken breast on whole wheat (12")
630cal, 11g fat, 95g carbs, 9g fiber, 47g protein
I put no mayo, or sub sauce, just one line(I always make sure its just a line) of fat free honey mustard. This taste great, as is the perfect size to fill you up, and at the same time not destroy your calorie restrictions.
630cal, 11g fat, 95g carbs, 9g fiber, 47g protein
I put no mayo, or sub sauce, just one line(I always make sure its just a line) of fat free honey mustard. This taste great, as is the perfect size to fill you up, and at the same time not destroy your calorie restrictions.
Yes, I mentioned burgers because my roomate bought a box of mini burgers which have a piece of grilled chicken and the two buns and that's all they have so I thought they shouldnt be that bad, although when I looked at the nutrion info it said that each mini burger was 270 calories.
Keep it simple...
There are 2 evils involved in eating "Fast Food", we need to deliniate:
1) Calories
2) Unhealthy nutrients
The calories can be incredible, these places don't want you to just enjoy the food, they want you to love it, crave it and return for it. More then anything they need to rock your taste buds and make a solid impression. Which restaurant are you gonna return to, the good one or the GREAT one? Most these places offer some healthier alternatives, but the tempting choices are going to assemble a meal that is pretty much going to blow about 70%-90% of your days total caloric intake! What's a double bacon cheeseburger, large fries and chocolate shake gonna run ya, about 2,000 calories!!!!!! #@^ ME!!!!
Part 2. Aside from the calories, look at the content. Because they need to rock your mouth, they use butter, sugar, fats and ANY means to stroke your mouth into a foodgasm. Trans fats, fried food, MSG, lots of sodium, chemicals, flavorings, coloring.....it's just really bad for you. Even if you keep the calories low, it's poisonous calories! And let's not forget, the cheaper the ingredients the more profit they make....it's not like they care about your health.
Forget McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Jack in the box and other places like that. You can, however, find healthy choices at Subway, El Pollo Loco, Sharkies and these kind of places that are one solid step above the typical bunch.
The problem I find is that, in an effort to not ruin yourself with calories, you end up restricting your intake and not really feeling satisfied. Many/most of us are into exercise and push ourselves...ya really need the bulk, fiber and quality food that comes from whole-grains and other healthy choices.
Nah..Fast food is like cocaine...you can probably moderate it and get away with it, but why bother?...it can only lead to rationalizing that you can implement it in some manner and then what's next?
Friends don't let friends eat fast food.....
There are 2 evils involved in eating "Fast Food", we need to deliniate:
1) Calories
2) Unhealthy nutrients
The calories can be incredible, these places don't want you to just enjoy the food, they want you to love it, crave it and return for it. More then anything they need to rock your taste buds and make a solid impression. Which restaurant are you gonna return to, the good one or the GREAT one? Most these places offer some healthier alternatives, but the tempting choices are going to assemble a meal that is pretty much going to blow about 70%-90% of your days total caloric intake! What's a double bacon cheeseburger, large fries and chocolate shake gonna run ya, about 2,000 calories!!!!!! #@^ ME!!!!
Part 2. Aside from the calories, look at the content. Because they need to rock your mouth, they use butter, sugar, fats and ANY means to stroke your mouth into a foodgasm. Trans fats, fried food, MSG, lots of sodium, chemicals, flavorings, coloring.....it's just really bad for you. Even if you keep the calories low, it's poisonous calories! And let's not forget, the cheaper the ingredients the more profit they make....it's not like they care about your health.
Forget McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Jack in the box and other places like that. You can, however, find healthy choices at Subway, El Pollo Loco, Sharkies and these kind of places that are one solid step above the typical bunch.
The problem I find is that, in an effort to not ruin yourself with calories, you end up restricting your intake and not really feeling satisfied. Many/most of us are into exercise and push ourselves...ya really need the bulk, fiber and quality food that comes from whole-grains and other healthy choices.
Nah..Fast food is like cocaine...you can probably moderate it and get away with it, but why bother?...it can only lead to rationalizing that you can implement it in some manner and then what's next?
Friends don't let friends eat fast food.....
I agree with almost everything everyone has said. I agree that one can lose their taste for fast food with time. I myself don't really find hamburger places tempting at all. And when I do find myself eating there, I too find myself not feeling too good afterwards.
IMHO, the biggest things to avoid are trans-fat and empty carbs. Trans-fat, unlike saturated fat, is unnatural garbage that your body has absolutely no use for. I don't think it's a stretch to call it a poison. Saturated fat is bad for you in excess, but in moderation, it's not something to really avoid. But trans-fat is the one reason I won't eat fries or deep-fried chicken or anything like that. Granted, trans-fat-free deep fried products are not going to be healthy either. But if I were going to eat fries, I'd only eat them if they were cooked in trans-fat-free oil. As a rule, I won't eat anything that has partially hydrogenated oil in it, regardless of whether I'm at a restaurant or at home. As bad as too much fatty red meat can be for you, at least it doesn't contain trans-fat (so long as they don't do something to add trans-fat to it). (In my personal experience, trans-fat also causes me to have acne breakouts, which is another reason I avoid it.)
I'm not an advocate of the South Beach diet per se, but I think there are some really good concepts from that book. Specifically, you should avoid carbs that aren't paired with fiber, protein, or healthy fat. When you have carbs by themselves (like, from candy or soda pop), they don't fill you up. You remain hungry even though you just consumed a ton of calories. You can say a lot against a fatty hamburger, but at least a hamburger will fill you up. You can't get full on soda pop. You might get bloated, but you won't get full, and once that sugar gets quickly processed by your body, your insulin levels will skyrocket, your blood sugar will plummet, and you'll feel tired and hungry again. Sugar and corn syrup are of course bad, but watch out for white bread, white rice, and certain potato products too. They also will cause an unhealthy rise and fall in your blood sugar. You do need carbs, but stick to whole grains, brown rice, fruits, honey, and real maple syrup, which are all much better ways of getting your carbs.
I think most people here will agree with me that you don't do yourself any favors by choosing nutrasweet or splenda instead of sugar/corn syrup. I wouldn't want to put that artificial garbage into my body.
Personally, I do think Subway is, overall, a good place. I generally go without cheese, and I get the whole wheat bun. In general, try to flavor your food with herbs and spices rather than fats and sugars. I also don't think Chipotle is bad either, especially if you get the bowl rather than your burrito in a shell, which is a lot of empty calories. When I'm there, I get the vegetarian salad with guacamole and no rice. Guac is not a low-calorie food, but it is one of the healthiest sources of monounsaturated fat around, and it makes me happy. But both Subway and Chipotle have bad choices too. No one is automatically healthy because they are there rather than McD's or BK.
I try to eat out as little as I can. I can almost always make something healthier, tastier, and cheaper in my own kitchen.
IMHO, the biggest things to avoid are trans-fat and empty carbs. Trans-fat, unlike saturated fat, is unnatural garbage that your body has absolutely no use for. I don't think it's a stretch to call it a poison. Saturated fat is bad for you in excess, but in moderation, it's not something to really avoid. But trans-fat is the one reason I won't eat fries or deep-fried chicken or anything like that. Granted, trans-fat-free deep fried products are not going to be healthy either. But if I were going to eat fries, I'd only eat them if they were cooked in trans-fat-free oil. As a rule, I won't eat anything that has partially hydrogenated oil in it, regardless of whether I'm at a restaurant or at home. As bad as too much fatty red meat can be for you, at least it doesn't contain trans-fat (so long as they don't do something to add trans-fat to it). (In my personal experience, trans-fat also causes me to have acne breakouts, which is another reason I avoid it.)
I'm not an advocate of the South Beach diet per se, but I think there are some really good concepts from that book. Specifically, you should avoid carbs that aren't paired with fiber, protein, or healthy fat. When you have carbs by themselves (like, from candy or soda pop), they don't fill you up. You remain hungry even though you just consumed a ton of calories. You can say a lot against a fatty hamburger, but at least a hamburger will fill you up. You can't get full on soda pop. You might get bloated, but you won't get full, and once that sugar gets quickly processed by your body, your insulin levels will skyrocket, your blood sugar will plummet, and you'll feel tired and hungry again. Sugar and corn syrup are of course bad, but watch out for white bread, white rice, and certain potato products too. They also will cause an unhealthy rise and fall in your blood sugar. You do need carbs, but stick to whole grains, brown rice, fruits, honey, and real maple syrup, which are all much better ways of getting your carbs.
I think most people here will agree with me that you don't do yourself any favors by choosing nutrasweet or splenda instead of sugar/corn syrup. I wouldn't want to put that artificial garbage into my body.
Personally, I do think Subway is, overall, a good place. I generally go without cheese, and I get the whole wheat bun. In general, try to flavor your food with herbs and spices rather than fats and sugars. I also don't think Chipotle is bad either, especially if you get the bowl rather than your burrito in a shell, which is a lot of empty calories. When I'm there, I get the vegetarian salad with guacamole and no rice. Guac is not a low-calorie food, but it is one of the healthiest sources of monounsaturated fat around, and it makes me happy. But both Subway and Chipotle have bad choices too. No one is automatically healthy because they are there rather than McD's or BK.
I try to eat out as little as I can. I can almost always make something healthier, tastier, and cheaper in my own kitchen.