Fast food - Good for you

We all know that the greasy fried foods that are served in fast food restaurant's are unhealthy. Why then do we still go in masses to devour deep fried foods and sugary soft drinks? For some its the allure of the addictive fatty treats; yet for some it is for convenience. With today's busy schedules sometimes it's necessary to grab something quick. For whatever reason we end up at the drive-thru we can make the conscientious choice to order healthier foods.

One thing that we can do is know what foods we should stay away from and what the healthier choices are.  Simple rule of thumb in fast food: don't eat anything fried or breaded. These foods are loaded with trans fats. If you order one breaded fish or chicken sandwich, paired with an order of fries you have eaten 10 grams of trans fat; adding a cookie adds 3 more grams.

You should also try to stay away from soft drinks, the reason they taste so good is because they are full of high fructose corn syrup: corn syrup is so bad for your health it is banned in European countries. Water or fat free milk is always your best option (most places have both options on their menu). If you must have something sweet, try a slightly sweetened iced tea.

When ordering try to choose healthier menu items. When choosing a breakfast item, ham egg and cheese on an english muffin is a good option. If your ordering lunch or dinner opt for a grilled chicken sandwich without fries. You can also try a grilled chicken salad, no croutons; or, a fruit and nut salad. If you like more of a kick chili, or a baked potato with veggies are also a good choices.

Many places now have websites that list the nutritional information for all their menu items. If you have the time its a good idea to look up this information and make a healthy choice before you actually go. Many places offer low fat healthier foods. Subway for example, has several low fat, low calorie subs and wraps. They have their healthiest menu items printed right on their napkins.

Another way to make a fast food meal healthier is to forgo the condiments. Ketchup is loaded with high fructose corn syrup. Mayo and salad dressings have a lot of fat and calories all by them selves. You can also add vegetables on your sandwiches to add some nutritional value.

Did you know that recent studies have shown that even one gram of trans fat (hydrogenated oil) can cause degenerative internal effects. These effects include heart disease, inflammation, clogged and hardening of the arteries; it can also lead to various cancers. Considering one gram of trans fat can slowly destroy a person from the inside, imagine what happens to those of us consuming twenty to thirty grams a day.

"Eat now, think later" is a state of mind that many people have. They are unconsciously destroying their health, eating their way to a health disaster. Hopefully after reading this article some of these people learn to make good choices when eating at fast food restaurants.

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