Eat Fast Food without Supersizing Yourself

In the U.S. today, a lot of people are fat, and a recent trend is to blame fastfood restaurants--McDonalds, Wendy's and Burker King (Supersize me?) and say, "how unhealthy; eating there is like eating a heart attack for lunch every day!"

It's an unfortunately reality that sometimes fast food is the only option. Just because you're eating at McDonald's does not mean you need to suddenly say, "everything here is 1 billion calories, I might as well get the Big Mac and extra large fries and a large McFlurry."

Easy things to do at any fast food place:
Don't supersize your fries. This would be equivalent to eating an entire meal in fries.

• Small fries at McDonald's = 250 calories, 13.0g fat
• Medium fries (usually come with a meal) = 380 calories, 20.0 g fat
• Supersize = 610 calories, 29.0 g fat

-Drink only diet soda or water. You don't need to add any drinking calories.
-Skip the mayo. 1 tbsp = 90 calories, 10.0 g fat I've definitely seen more than a tablespoon on my burger.
-If you get a salad, first look at the amount of calories in the dressing, then apply. The low-fat italian dressing at McDonald's is only 60 calories.
-If you're getting a chicken sandwich or wrap, get grilled instead of crispy. This will save you 80 calories and 9.0 g of fat.

Now I'll put my money where my mouth is and put together a sample order from various fast-food places with abbreviated nutritional information. If you're desperate you can always just order a salad (or 2) and a diet coke.

McDonald's
I grabbed dinner there the other day, a honey-mustard snack wrap and small fries= 510 calories and 22 g fat. Not great, but no terrible.
You could also grab a fruit and yogurt parfait and a cheeseburger = 460 calories, 14.0 g fat
Wendy's
I always substitute a garden salad for my fries--healthier and I'm not tempted by my fries.
I usually get a chicken club (grilled), with a salad and diet coke= 590 calories, 29.0 f
Not the greatest.
The same meal replaced with ultimate chicken grill = 450 calories, 15.0 g fat
Burger King
cheeseburger, Garden Salad, Fat Free Ranch Dressing = 480 calories, 24.5 g fat

Just take a look at the nutrition info before you head over, and then make your decision. Obviously most of the choices aren't the greatest, but you can still eat a normal number of calories. It's easy, I promise. There's no need for anyone to lose their dieting soul.