Fast Food
Are there any good fast food choices?
Fortunately, the word is out that eating high fat, super-sized meals can lead to our kids gaining too much weight. Our kids are taking in extra calories from soda and high fat foods and it shows. Fast food restaurants are starting to offer smaller portions, more grilled chicken selections, kids meals with a choice of fruit and milk instead of fries and soda, and creative salads with bottled waters. Now, if there is no time to cook, it is possible to order healthy items on the run.
Tips for ordering kid friendly food:
- Order the smaller portion sizes
- Pick milk or water instead of a soft drink
- Choose grilled chicken items more often
- Ask for mustard and ketchup instead of mayonnaise or order food plain and request condiment packets
- Use salad dressing sparingly, or ask for the low-fat or fat-free varieties
- If you are taking the food home, order entrees only and prepare your own quick side dishes, served with milk, water, or other low sugar drink.
Making Healthy Fast Food Choices
Most restaurants are now offering a variety of healthy salads, with calories ranging from 200 to 400 calories before adding the dressing. If your kids like salads, encourage them to order a salad instead of a burger. Choose the low-fat or fat-free dressings. A full fat dressing packet can contain 200 to 300 extra calories!
When choosing a meal, try to pick one that has fewer calories and fat for your child. Although some of the choices may still be a bit high in calories and fat, compared to the typical kid’s meal, these new menu items are a big improvement. The McDonald’s Happy Meal with a cheeseburger, fries and a soda contains 640 calories and 23 grams of fat. If your child is older and ordering a regular meal, such as a Quarter Pounder with cheese, medium fries and medium-sized soda, the calories jump to 1,070 with 41 grams of fat.
The food choices listed below are some of the lowest in calories and fat offered on the restaurant’s menu.