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Having spent a week on a road trip, I learned one thing along the way: Fast food is unavoidable, given time and budget constraints. You can’t beat a drive-thru for convenience and speed of service, but the bellyache you get afterward can quickly remind you of the excess calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium you just put into your body. While a super-sized value meal can give you a day’s worth of calories in a single meal, you can exit the drive-thru with a healthier meal. And for the times when nothing seems better than hot French fries or a juicy burger, it’s important to learn how to make good choices. DrinksIt might only cost a few dimes more to guzzle down a large soda instead of a small one, but your waistline will pay the real price. Soda—diet or regular—isn't a healthy choice since it provides calories, but no real nutrition at all. Soda is often filled with sugar or artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients that fill you up without giving your body any benefits. One way to make a fast food meal healthier is to opt for a drink other than soda. Of course, water is a great choice to hydrate your body and aid digestion. Unsweetened tea is virtually calorie-free if you want something other than water. Juice (100% fruit juice, not "fruit drinks") and low-fat milk are two alternatives that add nutrition to the calories you drink, making them healthier choices than soda and other sweet beverages. If you must go with soda, opt for the smallest size available. Fruits and Vegetables
Just as you would at any other meal, try to include at least one serving of fruits or vegetables with your order. (And no, French fries do NOT count as a healthy vegetable!) Load your burger with extra tomatoes, or enjoy a side of fresh fruit instead of fries or chips. If you are having a sandwich, load up on lettuce, peppers and even cucumbers. If they offer it, opt for a baked potato (nix the high-calorie toppings like cheese and sour cream) instead of fries. Portion Control
One of the biggest problems people face when eating fast food is the out-of-control portion sizes. You don’t have to order the value meal with the big burger, bigger fries and biggest drink. Instead, try a child-sized meal. You still get the burger, fries and drink, but will only consume about half the fat of the full-sized version. Ordering small is automatic portion control—you won’t be tempted to overeat. Extras
The “extras” can quickly increase the calories and fat. A tablespoon of mayo will add an extra 57 calories, and you'll ad 106 more calories with a single slice of cheese! Instead of smothering your burger with sauces, opt for mustard (about 10 calories). Forgo the sour cream and three kinds of cheese on your taco, instead opting for low-calorie salsa. Go easy on the ranch dressing and salt shaker, too, as these little substitutions can really add up. Your taste buds will be happy (and so will your waistline). BreakfastA healthy breakfast is the best way to start your day. While hitting the drive-thru on the way to work may be convenient, it could cause a calorie overload early in the day. Making healthy, nutritious choices comes into play again. Instead of a breakfast sandwich (English muffin with eggs, bacon, and cheese), order a bowl of fresh fruit, a fruit and yogurt parfait, oatmeal, cereal with milk or plain eggs. That way, you’ll be starting your day off on the right foot. ComparisonsSee how many calories and fat grams you can save just by trying different menu options at some of your favorite fast food restaurants. (All nutritional information comes from each restaurant’s website.)
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