Making Fast Food Work

http://www.flickr.com/, photo by ebruli

The convenience and economy of fast food make it one of the things people have a hard time letting go when they want to get healthy. That, and how delicious everything tastes fried in hydrogenated oil, and how convincing their commercials are, and how much you can save using their coupons, and the signs (and smells) you have to drive by when you're hungry... Yeah. Fast food is pretty hard to resist, especially when you're pressed for time or are really tired and don't feel like cooking.

Before you throw in the towel and order those trans fat loaded fries, though, let's take a look at some fast food alternatives that make the drive through doable, even on a healthy eating plan.

1. Chick filA's grilled chicken nuggets. Yes, that's right! You can now order nuggets grilled at Chick-filA! Technically, they're only offered as part of the kids' meals, but the point is that they have them! You can either ask to have your adult meal made with them, or order the smaller portioned kids' meal instead. (Your protein portion should be about the size of your fist--remember that when deciding how big to make your meal.) To add to the pleasure, they also offer Buddy Fruits as a side. This blended applesauce, with no added sugar, is super convenient, and somehow seems just a little cooler than a side of sliced apples. Maybe it's the colorful cap.

2. Streakers at Moe's. This summer, I was surprised to read on a frisbee (yes, a frisbee) that Moe's uses grass-fed beef, cage-free chicken with no hormones added, no microwaves, no trans fat, no msg, and whole grain tortillas. I'm assuming the tortillas use some refined flour, or else they would say 100% whole grain, which is why I recommend the streaker option--ordering your meal without the tortilla. You may want a small bed of lettuce underneath, otherwise known as a salad.

3. Baked potato (Wendy's, Arby's). Yes, potatoes are pretty starchy--I wouldn't recommend having this all the time, but ordering a baked potato instead of a trans fat loaded meal is a much better alternative. A couple of months ago, our family stopped at a Wendy's while traveling, and I felt so triumphant when I ordered a baked potato and side salad, completely bypassing the burgers and fries. It was possible to eat fresh and healthy--even at Wendy's! To get your protein, consider ordering a grilled chicken breast. Cut it up and throw it over the top of your potato.

4. Go grilled. Do salad. I'm not the world's biggest salad fan, but I have to admit that if you include ingredients you really like, salads can be pretty tasty. Having said this, I've been disappointed on more than one occasion to find that I don't really like the limited salad choices at many fast food restaurants, and I often feel like I'm missing out by ordering them. Make a compromise. Order your favorite roast beef sandwich, but ask for it on a bed of lettuce, rather than on a bun. Go ahead and get those chicken strips--just get them grilled (or order a grilled chicken breast and cut it into strips!). Don't be afraid to ask for your grilled burger to be wrapped in lettuce instead of on a bun (my dad ordered this by accident one time and was really disappointed!) or to throw your meat on some greens. The worst they can say is no, and if they say yes--who knows? You just may find a new favorite fast-food meal.

5. Always drink water. For starters, it's free! When a family of 5 eats out, this can save you close to $10.00, depending on the cost of drinks. Some restaurants will even lower the price of a value meal if you ask for a glass of water with it. In addition, because most fast food is pretty high in sodium, drinking extra water will help move that excess salt through your body. Also, pretty much any drink you would order besides water will either be full of sugar or harmful artificial sweeteners.

Of course, it's almost always cheaper and healthier to eat at home, but when you must eat out, don't just give up and order junk--give your best effort to eat healthy, even at the drive-thru.