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Nutrition
Eating healthy at fast food restaurants
Do you think you can make low-fat choices at fast food restaurants? Take our quiz to find out!
Also, be sure to look at our fast food tips.
On average, teenagers eat at fast-food restaurants twice each week. As a result, they are probably taking in a lot of extra calories and fat. Just one super-sized fast food meal of a sandwich, fries, and soda can have more calories, fat, and added sugar than people need in an entire day.
The best approach is to limit the amount of fast food you eat. And when you do eat at fast food restaurants, choose the healthier options. Here are some healthier options at popular fast-food restaurants:
McDonald’s:
- Chicken McGrill ® sandwich without mayonnaise: 340 calories, 7 fat grams
- Grilled chicken caesar salad without dressing: 100 calories, 3 fat grams
- Fruit ‘n yogurt parfait ® (5.3 ounces) without granola: 130 calories, 2 fat grams; with granola: 160 calories, 2 fat grams
Burger King:
- BK Veggie burger without mayonnaise: 330 calories, 7 fat grams
- Fire-grilled shrimp garden salad with fat-free honey mustard dressing: 225 calories, 10 fat grams
- Chicken Whopper ® without reduced fat mayonnaise: 405 calories, 4 fat grams
Kentucky Fried Chicken:
- Tender roast sandwich without sauce: 270 calories, 6 fat grams
- Corn on the cob: 150 calories, 2 fat grams
- Baked beans: 190 calories, 3 fat grams
Taco Bell
- Bean burrito: 370 calories, 10 fat grams
- Chicken soft taco: 190 calories, 10 fat grams
- Steak or chicken Gordito nacho cheese: 270 calories, 11 fat grams
Wendy’s
- Mandarin chicken salad: 170 calories, 2 fat grams
- Plain baked potato: 270 calories, 0 fat grams
- Small chili: 220 calories, 6 fat grams
SOURCE: Center for Science in the Public Interest
Content last updated July 3, 2007