With obesity rates on the rise among both adults and children, Americans have been forced to reevaluate the way they satisfy their hunger, and fast food restaurants have taken a hard look at what they offer their customers. Most restaurants have changed their menus and provided customers with healthier options – but how healthy are these new items.
Simply cutting calories or portion sizes isn’t always the best way to prepare healthier meals. Sodium levels should be reviewed, as well as high saturated fat levels. Many ‘healthy’ fast food options are high in fat and sodium. If you eat this for a long time, you can eventually develop obesity or heart disease.
So what should we do if our only choice is fast food? For starters, remember a few rules about eating out. Fried foods are usually higher in calories than grilled foods. Choose small portions instead of large ones; French fries and sugary drinks will add a lot of calories to your meal. Finally, skip the mayonnaise; it will save you a ton of unwanted fat.
Even if you are really careful, let’s figure out which fast food food contains the least sodium, fat and calories and will provide you with the most nutrients? The following ten points are the top choices for healthy options for diners.
KFC fried chicken breast and legs
Most KFC menu items are loaded with fat and high in sodium. So if you eat at KFC, your main goal will be to find something that isn’t fried in tons of fat and soaked in oil.
The best opportunity to meet these requirements is to order chicken breast. Because the name itself implies that it is not fried, but grilled, which will save you a lot of calories. If you’re really serious about limiting fat in your diet, remove the skin from your chicken breast before eating it.
In addition to the chicken, you can get a small portion of mashed potatoes, as well as green beans or corn on the cob. Remember not to drown your potatoes in gravy or pour oil on your beans or corn. The entire meal, without additional seasoning, will be approximately 390 calories.
Burger King flame fried hamburger
If you can’t resist the taste of a hamburger, then the best way to keep your daily caloric intake in order is to order the simplest hamburger at Burger King. The fire-grilled burger has significantly less sodium than most of Burger King’s other burgers and even many of their salads. If you do choose it, skip the Mayo and order the regular salad.
Baja Fresh Fish Wahoo Taco
A fish taco has only 230 calories. This is a great way to get some seafood into your diet. You can add avocado or even a few spoons of Badgey Fresh salsa for extra flavor. The fish taco is so low in calories that you can get rice and beans with your order. The fiber in beans will keep you full for a very long time without adding many unnecessary calories. Avoid fried corn tortillas – such a small portion will add more than 200 calories!
Wendy’s Fried Chicken Sandwich
While many Wendy’s burgers are very high in calories, their chicken fried sandwich has relatively fewer calories, with just 380 and seven grams of fat; and, for example, an asiago ranch club sandwich has more than 650 calories!
The sandwich comes with tomato and lettuce. Instead of mayonnaise, spicy honey mustard is added there. This choice will decisively protect you from high-fat calories.
Taco Bell Fresco Fried Steak Soft Taco
Besides its strange love of tacos with Doritos and layers of melted cheese, Taco Bell is changing its menu and adding ‘healthier’ offerings for customers.
Each taco is only 150 calories and has 4.5 grams of fat. It’s filled with steak and vegetables. If you order two Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Tacos, your meal will be just 300 calories and add 24 grams of protein.
Starbucks Chicken & Hummus box with quick
The mega cafe chain, known for its huge cookies and piping hot coffee, is turning over a healthy leaf. In addition to several sandwiches, Starbucks has added bistro boxes to its menu. There are several options, but the healthiest is chicken and hummus.
With only 270 calories and 4 grams of protein per box, a good option for a boost. In the box you will find chicken breast, hummus, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and wheat pita bread. Since all of this doesn’t contain many calories, you can afford to add creamer to your coffee for a sweet treat.
Chipotle salad bowl
Chipotle has quickly made a name for itself as the ideal fast food restaurant for healthy food options. They are known for their attempt to use organic meats and vegetables, and for allowing you to build your own meal. From burritos to salads.
customers can choose vegetarian options, chicken, steak, rice, beans and salsa as toppings for their order. To keep sodium and calories low, we recommend choosing a Chipotle salad bowl. All toppings are added on top of the romaine lettuce. Add chicken or steak, beans, vegetables and chili salsa and you have a meal that’s under 250 calories.
McDonald’s Fruit and Yogurt Parfait: 150 calories
Last year, fast food chains such as McDonald’s saw a decline in the number of consumers willing to indulge in their high-calorie foods. McDonald’s has taken steps to provide easier food choices by creating the “Favorites Under 400″ menu. There are several sandwiches and salads that have the fewest calories but the highest amount of sodium.
Fruit purees and fruit-filled yoghurts are very low in calories and low in sodium. The parfait contains only 150 calories in total and ten percent of the daily value of calcium. Each parfait comes with reduced fat toppings, vanilla yogurt, and fresh strawberries.
