Are all drive through meals precursors to a heart attack? The idea that your favorite fast food restaurant may actually be a healthy place to eat is no longer just a nutty idea. Despite the fat content of a Big Mac, or the calories in a piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken, there are some surprisingly healthy options these days for eating at your favorite places.
So which fast food chains offer the healthiest foods? A surprising number since the advent of adding salads to the McDonald's menu. But salads aren't the only safe fare now. Just look at the options from some of the top restaurants:
KFC has several great options for healthy eating, and some surprisingly tasty ones. KFC's mashed potatoes and gravy has only 120 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. Don't be concerned about the gravy, as it only adds a tiny .5 grams of fat. A regular drumstick is also a safe bet, but avoid the extra crispy, which is loaded with fat. A honey barbeque sandwich weighs in at only 300 calories and is the lowest-calorie sandwich they offer.
Arby's also has a large variety of salads and roast chicken meals to fill you up without adding too much extra fat. They also offer Panini sandwiches, grilled and seasoned with tasty and healthy pesto or mustard.
Burger King, famous for the heart-stopping Whopper, also offers a broiled chicken sandwich and low-fat frozen yogurt on their dessert menu.
Wendy's was the originator of the drive through baked potato, which has only 2 grams of fat and 240 calories if ordered plain.
Noodle's & Company is a new kind of fast food fare that offers wholesome, freshly made dishes with low fat and veggies combined with chicken, shrimp or beef cooked in healthy soy bean oil. Tofu is an option to replace the meat, and smaller sizes make this a perfect option for many healthy choices.
Despite which fast food restaurant you love and what you choose to eat there, you can make healthier choice in a number of other ways. Drink water or unsweetened tea with your meal instead of soda, reducing your sugar intake and eliminating up to 425 calories in the drink.
Pay attention to portions. In the age of super sizing, it's easy to sock away enormous amounts of fat and calories in one sitting. Forget the bargain, go for the smaller portions and split the desserts.
Be aware of the salt and sodium content of the foods you are eating. With normally high levels of sodium in the foods themselves, scale back or eliminate the salt altogether.
Before eating anywhere, check the nutritional content of the foods by visiting their websites, or other websites that have this information. Moderation is always a key to enjoying a great meal. Plan ahead, eat mindfully and make healthy choices to enjoy a great dining experience with nutritional value.
