With more fast food restaurants dotting the U.S. landscape than ever before, it
is no wonder why the United States is a country in the middle of an unhealthy epidemic.
Twenty-five percent of Americans eat at a fast food restaurant at least once a day.
For some, the food from a fast food joint is the only food they have all day. Carl's
Jr. once expressed its knowledge of this fact by stating in one of their commercials
that, "Without us, some guys would starve".
There are many reasons for why fast food has become a meal option for most Americans.
In a country that has grown more and more busy, getting dinner from a fast food
place often becomes the only option for feeding a family quickly. In addition, fast
food is also cheap and affordable, making it a common choice for dinner with families
on a budget or with many mouths to feed. Unfortunately, fast food is not the best
food. Besides being high in salt and fat, fast food usually lacks the vitamins and
minerals that are found in most other "healthier" foods.
What is a person to do when fast food serves as the only option? The answer is simple:
make good choices. Today, most fast food restaurants offer healthier meal alternatives
on their menus, making it possible to get a quick (and healthy) meal straight from
the drive-thru. By choosing diet soft drinks, avoiding high-fat and high-calories
condiments and dressings, and avoiding the dreaded super-size option, it is possible
to have a healthy meal at a fast food restaurant.
Today's fast food restaurants are beginning to recognize that people are becoming
smarter about the food they eat. Slowly but surely, fast food giants have begun
to recognize that their customers are not just interested in a quick mea, but in
a healthy meal as well. For the fast food restaurants, providing healthy food and
meal alternatives represents increased profits, but the end result does also benefit
the health of the customer. If your meal has to come from a fast food restaurant,
consider the following tips and suggestions:
- Don't feel pressured - Many times, people walk into a fast food restaurant
without really knowing what they want. The unprepared visitor will usually end up
choosing a meal or option they are familiar with. Unfortunately, this choice usually
ends up being a bad one. To avoid the pressure of having to decide on a meal at
the last minute, log on to the restaurant's website and look at their menu on your
own terms. Decide what you want ahead of time, then stick to your choice once you're
in the restaurant.
- If a chosen meal comes with sides or dressings, opt for the low-fat or low-calorie
option. Salad dressings and condiments are usually high in fat and calories, and
can make even the healthiest meal unhealthy. Ask for no mayo on your sandwich, and
choose a salad instead of fries. Not every restaurant will be prepared with every
possible healthy alternative, but it certainly does not hurt to ask.
The following options represent the most commonly available (and healthy) food choices
for individuals dining out at a fast food restaurant. Try to stick to these as much
as possible.
• Choose grilled chicken or fish instead of a grilled hamburger
• Ask for whole wheat bread or buns instead of the traditional white bread
or buns
• Choose fruit or yogurt as a side, if it is available as an option
• Baked potatoes represent healthy alternative to French fries
• Ask for your salad dressing on the side to avoid drenching your greens
in it
• Don't super-size your meal
• Wash your food down with diet soda or water instead of juices
• Avoid high-calorie "secret sauces" and dressings
• Stay away from dips like cheese, guacamole, and sour cream and go for the
salsa