How to Make Healthier Fast Food Choices
By Brandi Swieter
Fast food is a common practice among people with time constraints. During the holiday season, in particular, many are flocking to fast food chains regularly to get a quick bite to eat in between decorating, shopping, wrapping, and tending to other festivities. Most of the food choices at these places are quite unhealthy, but there are ways to make healthier choices. Eating at these locations doesn't have to put a damper on your health throughout the holidays or any other time of year.
Skip the Bun
White bread is one of the unhealthiest kinds to eat, yet it's one of the most commonly served at fast food locations. The white bread bun can be skipped to make the food choice less fattening and have fewer calories. A burger can be enjoyed much more with no thick bun in the way. Sandwiched between two large pieces of lettuce makes a burger even tastier and more nutritious.
Choose a Salad
Fast food locations do offer salads. Choosing this allows a person to skip the red meat options and get a more nutritious meal. The important thing is to go easy on the dressing or skip using it at all. This is where a lot of the calories and fat comes from when choosing a salad.
Pick Fish Over Beef
Fish is one of the leaner meat options. Pick a fish sandwich over a beef burger for better nutritional value and fewer calories. Chicken is the next best option for those who aren't seafood eaters.
Order a Water
One of the biggest problems when ordering fast food is the beverage choice. Most people get a soda pop to drink. In such a large size, this drink is far too full of sugar and calories. Ordering a water along with the meal is the better option. It takes away all of the would-be drink calories and promotes better digestion and overall health.
Go Somewhere with a Healthier Selection
Some places only offer burgers, sandwiches, and fries with the occasional healthy choice. Avoid these locations and go somewhere with a healthier selection. Wendy's is one option. It offers baked potatoes, chicken wraps, and an apple pecan chicken salad. Subway is also one of the healthier fast food chains. Choose whole grain bread and load the sub with veggies and it will provide plenty of nutritious benefits.
Enjoying fast food when you're in a hurry isn't the worst thing in the world as long as you make better choices. No one should be grabbing the biggest bacon burger every time they go. A yogurt parfait or some grilled chicken provide healthier alternatives that offer some nutritional value over many of the other selections available.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Eastvale, Calif.