Tips for Healthy Choices at Fast Food Restaurants

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The following tips and menu recommendations can help you make healthier choices at fast food restaurants. Just remember that even the healthiest fast food options often have nutritional drawbacks so try to keep fast food to the occasional treat.

Tips have been sourced from heart.org and elsewhere.

Tips for Healthy Choices at Fast Food Restaurants

Tips/Steps:

Sandwiches:

Order sandwiches without mayonnaise, tartar sauce, or special sauces. Or, try mustard or low-fat mayonnaise. Ask for vegetables to be added to your sandwich.
Order small, plain hamburgers instead of deluxe hamburgers.
Order sandwiches made with lean roast beef or grilled chicken. Chicken and tuna salad made with regular mayonnaise are high in fat.
Choose grilled chicken or fish sandwiches instead of breaded chicken or fish sandwiches.

Main dishes:

Choose rotisserie-style chicken rather than fried chicken. Always remove the skin.
Order pizza with vegetable toppings, such as peppers, mushrooms, or onions. Ask for half the usual amount of cheese.
Choose grilled, broiled, steamed, or baked fish instead of fried fish.
Leave off sauces.

Side dishes:

Share a small order of french fries instead of eating a large order by yourself.
Ask that no salt be added to your serving.
Order a baked potato instead of french fries.
Try vegetables as a potato topping.
Ask that high-fat toppings, such as cheese or sour cream, be served on the side, and use fewer toppings.
Ask for low-fat cheese and low-fat sour cream.
Use low-calorie, low-fat salad dressing on salad. Bring your own if the restaurant does not offer a low-fat dressing. You can buy packets at some stores. Ask that dressings be served on the side, and use less.
Order a green vegetable or salad instead of two or more starches, such as potatoes, steamed rice, noodles (pasta), bread, and corn.

Beverages:

Choose water, 100% fruit juice, unsweetened iced tea, or fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk, rather than a soft drink or a milkshake.
If you really want to have a soft drink, order a small one.

Desserts:

Buy fresh fruits and gelatin instead of cakes or pies.