
Fast foods has become an important part of many cultures being a convenient, quick and easy alternative to satisfy our taste buds. Unfortunately, fast foods are also some of the unhealthiest and most fattening choices you can make. However, it is possible to make healthier choices if you know what to look for, so check out some of the healthiest foods you can opt for.
The need for quick, easy and convenient food choices has made
fast food restaurants some of the most profitable businesses in the
food industry. However, these types of restaurants are also
notorious for contributing to the obesity epidemic as well as
providing foods that are deficient in nutrients while being
extremely high in calories.
Although most people are well aware of these facts, it can be quite
hard not to give into temptation every once in a while. Fortunately
there are a few ways to make these choices healthier if we take
into account a few simple tips.
First of all it's important to realize that healthy does not
necessarily mean low in calories. Although many times cutting
calories also makes a certain choice somewhat healthier it is not
always the case. While a few simple chances such as replacing soft
drinks with unsweetened tea, milk or water can save you a few
calories in the process, sometimes a healthy choice will not
necessarily be a low in calories. Paying attention to the size,
description as well as the dressings of a certain food that might
appeal to you are great ways to get more nutrition with less
calories.
When it comes to making healthier overall changes and decreasing
the amount of calories ingested at the same time, some tips are
generally recommended. Aside from replacing soft drinks, skipping
mayonnaise and other types of special dressings and replacing them
with mustard or ketchup or asking for dressing on the side to be
able to control the amount you consume is a good idea.
Also avoiding super sized foods will help you get a better portion
control while decreasing the amount of calories you ingest.
Whenever possible opting for a grilled version instead of a fried
version will be a smart choice that will help you save extra
calories along the way. Avoiding extras is another good way to make
sure that you keep your portions and the calories in check. Still
unsure of what you should order? Here are a few specific examples
along with their nutritional info:
Mandarin chicken salad: Offering a variety different
vitamins, antioxidants and minerals as well as lean protein sources
and mostly unsaturated fat this would be a nutritious and tasty
choice. Although it has 540 calories it has about 31 grams of
protein and 5 grams of fiber. Even though it has about 25 grams of
fat only about 3 grams are saturated fat, which is an important
plus.
Bean burrito with cheese: One serving of Bean and Cheese
burrito (99 grams) contains only 200 calories and offers about 16%
of the recommended daily value of protein as well as a good dose of
vitamin A and calcium. It also contains vitamin C and iron in
smaller quantities and although it contains 56.05 grams of fat only
3.65 come from saturated fat and it does not contain trans fats.
Cholesterol content (14.85 milligrams) and sodium levels ( 620.8
milligrams) are acceptable, making this choice a reasonable
one.
Fruit and Yogurt Parfait: If you want something sweet and
you need to have a dessert a yogurt and fruit parfait is probably
the smartest choice you can make. At a serving size of 3.5 oz this
sweet treat only has 160 calories. Offering about 15% of the
recommended calcium and vitamin C content and a modest 5 milligrams
of cholesterol, this dessert contains about 21 grams of sugar. One
of the most nutritious desserts that can be found at fast food
restaurants, this dessert can be the perfect healthy alternative to
satisfy your sugar cravings.
Large chilli: If you want a satisfying, filling meal for
only 330 calories, this is a good choice. With only 9 grams of
total fat, 25 grams of protein and 20% of the daily recommended
dose of iron and 10% of the recommended dose of calcium it can be a
good choice compared to other types of foods that have additional
calories. However, it offers about 50% of the total recommended
dose of sodium a day which can be a downside if you are used to eat
a lot of salty foods.
Add a Comment
Thank you for submission! Your comment will be displayed after getting approval from our administrators.