How Do I Make Healthy Choices in a Fast Food Restaurant?

This answer is directly from the book "90 days to a New You."

With a recent paradigm shift seen by many fast food chains and restaurants, it has become easier to make healthier and "Better Bad Food Choices."  Take your time to plan what you will order before you pull up to the drive-thru window or go inside.  Being prepared is quite possibly the best strategy you can utilize.

Better Bad Food Choices – Fast Food

1. Try to limit fast food to once or twice per week.
2. Avoid sauces like special sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, butter, cheese sauces, gravy and tartar sauce.
3. Avoid super-sizing your meal.
4. Choose fat-free or low-fat milk, diet soda, unsweetened iced tea, or water instead of regular sodas and milkshakes.
5. Order the smallest size burger (single hamburger instead of a double hamburger) and leave off the cheese.
6. Select grilled/broiled chicken and fish sandwiches (and salads) instead of fried/ breaded chicken and fish sandwiches (and salads).
7. Choose a side salad (with low-fat or fat-free dressing on the side) or plain baked potato (with salsa and vegetables) instead of fries and onion rings.
8. Select a thin crust pizza with vegetable toppings instead of a deep dish pizza with meat toppings like sausage and pepperoni.
9. Avoid the loaded baked potato (with cheese, sour cream, butter) – instead add extra salsa or vegetables.
10. Choose fruit and/or yogurt for dessert.
11. Plain bagels and English muffins are less damaging than croissants and pastries.
12. Choose wraps or sandwiches on whole wheat bread or pita when possible.
13. Choose baked chips instead of regular chips.
14. When ordering breakfast sandwiches be sure to order eggwhites, request reduced fat cheese and be certain to choose a whole grain bagel, wrap or a baget (smaller/ flatter bagel).

By utilizing these strategies at burger places, sandwich shops and bagel shops you can reduce your calorie consumption, boost the impact on your health and live in the "Real World."

To your health,

Robert