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2007/05/23, 06:52 PM
I would suggest to invest in tupperware, but here is an article from mens fitness about fast food.
The 50 best fast foods-and how we picked 'em
Fast food and healthy are rarely used in the same sentence. Ordering the most nutritious fast food often comes down to choosing the lesser of two evils. Just when a sandwich or salad is looking great in terms of calories and fat, the sodium it packs is often enough to induce high blood pressure on the spot. Even worse, when you find an option that's high in protein and low in carbs, it's also almost always notoriously low in dietary fiber. That said, there are many decent choices a guy can make when eating on the fly, and--surprise--not every one of them includes grilled chicken!
The criteria for making our list? The fast foods we chose had to have the highest levels of protein (and fiber, when possible) and the fewest grams of processed carbs, sodium, and fat. (True, not all fat is bad; however, when it comes to fast food, most of the fat you're getting is saturated, so it's smart to keep levels on the lower side when possible.) Although calories were less of an issue, we also eliminated any food that greatly exceeded the amount a young, active guy should be getting in any one meal.
MCDONALD'S
The company's arches may be golden, but its reputation for healthy food isn't. Even so, it is possible to eat at Mickey D's without inflating the spare tire around your midsection. In fact, now that the company has struck the words Super Size from its menu, McDonald's may be a leaner place to eat than at any time in its history. But while the entrees here have MF's seal of approval, you should order them alone, or with a side salad and diet soda or milk, and not with those ubiquitous--and ab-obliterating-(sorry, guys) fries.
* Chicken McGrill sandwich 400 calories, 38 g carbs, 27 g protein, 16 g fat, 1,010 mg sodium, 3 g fiber
* California Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken and Cobb Dressing 390 calories, 20 g carbs, 34 g protein, 20 g fat, 1,500 mg sodium, 3 g fiber
* Chicken Selects breast strips (3 pieces) 380 calories, 28 g carbs, 23 g protein, 20 g fat, 930 mg sodium, O g fiber
* Filet-O-Fish sandwich 400 calories, 42 g carbs, 14 g protein, 18 g fat, 640 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
BURGER KING
BK gets good grades for having a variety of fast-food fare you can sink your teeth into, including burgers, chicken, salad, and nuggets--all of which are big enough to satisfy your appetite without sending you out to shop for king-size clothing.
* Whopper Jr. 390 calories, 31 g carbs, 17g protein, 22 g fat, 550 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Chicken Whopper 570 calories, 48 g carbs, 38 g protein, 25 g fat, 1,410 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
Fire-Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad with Garlic-Parmesan Toast/Fat-Free Honey Mustard Dressing 320 calories, 36 g carbs, 22 g protein, 13 g fat, 1,240 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
Chicken Tenders with BBQ, Honey, or Sweet & Sour Sauce (8 pc.) 380 calories, 29 g carbs, 22 g protein, 19 g fat, 1,230 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
WENDY'S
It's a credit to founder Dave Thomas that Wendy's has always been the leader when it comes to offering the healthiest fast food. Their latest entry in the field--the fresh-fruit bowl (including grapes, pineapple, melon, and strawberry yogurt) pairs well with any of these MF-approved options:
* Mandarin Chicken Salad with Low-Fat Dressing 280 calories, 38 g carbs, 23 g protein, 5 g fat, 820 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
* Classic Single 430 calories, 37 g carbs, 25 g protein, 20 g fat, 890 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Ultimate Chicken Grill sandwich 360 calories, 44 g carbs, 31 g protein, 7 g fat, 1,090 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Large Chili with 2 tbsp of shredded cheddar cheese 400 calories, 36 g carbs, 29 g protein, 15 g fat, 1,280 mg sodium, 8 g fiber
KFC
Slim pickings at the former Kentucky Fried Chicken. But what do you expect from a place with the word fried in its name? Still, there are some options worth ordering when you hit the home of Colonel Sanders:
* Oven-Roasted Twister Sandwich 520 calories, 46 g carbs, 29 g protein, 23 g fat, 1,400 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
* Honey-BBQ Sandwich 300 calories, 41 g carbs, 22 g protein, 6 g fat, 920 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
* Roasted Caesar Salad with Hidden Valley Golden Italian Light Dressing 226 calories, 14 g carbs, 29 g protein, 9 g fat, 1,200 mg sodium, 3 g fiber
* Tender-Roast Sandwich 270 calories, 23 g carbs, 31 g protein, 5 g fat, 690 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
SUBWAY
Size matters--and six inches is enough for a guy looking to curb calories without sacrificing protein. Not a sub kinda guy? Although you may not even know it's on the menu, the chain's spicy chili rocks, too.
* 6" Roast Beef 290 calories, 45 g carbs, 19 g protein, 5 g fat, 920 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
* 6" Oven-Roasted Chicken Breast 330 calories, 47 g carbs, 24 g protein, 5 g fat, 1,020 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
* 6" Sweet-Onion Chicken Teriyaki 380 calories, 59 g carbs, 26 g protein, 5 g fat, 1,230 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
* 6" Cheese Steak 360 calories, 47g carbs, 24 g protein, 10 g fat, 1,100 mg sodium, 5 g fiber
* Chili Con Came 240 calories, 23 g carbs, 15 g protein, 10 g fat, 860 mg sodium, 8 g fiber
ARBY'S
Most roast beef can be fatty--but not the stuff you get at Arby's, which is lean enough to pack a hefty shot of muscle-building protein without carrying a huge boatload of calories. For a well-balanced meal, pair any of these sandwiches with a small Martha's Vineyard salad.
* Regular Roast Beef 320 calories, 34 g carbs, 21 g protein, 13 g fat, 950 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Jr. Roast Beef 270 calories, 34 g carbs, 16 g protein, 9 g fat, 740 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Giant Roast Beef 450 calories, 41 g carbs, 32 g protein, 19 g fat, 1,440 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
DUNKIN' DONUTS
D&D is more a glorified coffee shop than a place to get much of a meal. Still, with the chain rivaling Starbucks to see who can conquer the most city blocks, we decided to find out if it was possible to order a healthy breakfast while getting your morning cup of joe. Turns out it is.
* Ham Egg Cheese English Muffin Sandwich 310 calories, 34 g carbs, 21 g protein, 10 g fat, 1,270 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
* Egg Cheese Bagel Sandwich 470 calories, 71 g carbs, 23 g protein, 10 g fat, 1,190 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Egg Cheese Biscuit Sandwich 370 calories, 32 g carbs, 15 g protein, 20 g fat, 1,190 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
PIZZA HUT
Think pizza, and grease comes to mind. But not at Pizza Hut--if you order your pie correctly.
* Thin N Crispy Cheese Pizza (2 slices of 12" pie) 400 calories, 42 g carbs, 20 g protein, 16 g fat, 980 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* 1/2 P'Zone Classic with Green Pepper and Onion 540 calories, 71 g carbs, 30 g protein, 15 g fat, 1,020 mg sodium, 3 g fiber
* Spaghetti with Meat Sauce 640 calories, 92 g carbs, 23 g protein, 20 g fat, 1,610 mg sodium, 12 g fiber
* Spaghetti with Marinara 490 calories, 90 g carbs, 14 g protein, 8 g fat, 1,050 mg sodium, 10 g fiber
low-carb options
Despite what you may have heard, low-carb isn't over. If you're trying to lose weight, there's no better way to do it. But, we also know living on bun-less, ketchup-free burgers is boring. With that in mind, here are 14 fast foods you can order--each with 20 grams or less of carbohydrates per serving.
McDonald's
* Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken
* Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken
Burger King
* 5-piece Chicken Tenders with Ranch Dipping Sauce
* Fire-Grilled Chicken or Shrimp Caesar Salad with Creamy Garlic Caesar or Garden Ranch Dressing
* Low-Carb Angus Burger
Subway
* Wraps: Chicken Bacon Ranch; Savory Turkey Breast; Tuna; Turkey Bacon Melt
* Salad with Tuna
* Grilled Chicken Breast and Baby-Spinach Salad
Carl's Junior
* Charbroiled Chicken Salad-To-Go
* Low-Carb Six-Dollar Burger
* Low-Carb Chicken Club Sandwich
Sbarro
* Low-Carb Cheese Pizza (1 slice)
* Chicken Parmesan
KFC
* Roasted Caesar Salad with Italian Dressing
Screw Jared. All subs aren't lean and good for your diet. But they can be, if you order correctly. Stick to 6-inchers, no larger. Skip the mayo but ask for all the mustard you want--along with a double helping of lettuce, tomato, and onion. They'll make up for the missing spread and keep your sandwich moist.
Ordering diet soda can save you hundreds of calories per meal. If you need help making the switch, pour yourself a mixture of 25% diet and 75% regular. Then, gradually adjust the ratio until you're drinking all diet.
* Veggie-Lovers 6" Personal Pan Pizza 580 calories, 73 g carbs, 22 g protein, 23 g fat, 1,150 mg sodium, 5 g fiber
* Fit 'N Delicious Chicken and Veggie-Lovers Lower-Fat Pizza (3 slices of 12" pie) 480 calories, 63 g carbs, 27 g protein, 14 g fat, 1,380 mg sodium, 3 g fiber
* Fit 'N Delicious Ham and Veggie-Lovers Lower-Fat Pizza (3 slices of 12" pie) 450 calories, 60 g carbs, 21 g protein, 12 g fat, 1,380 mg sodium, 3 g fiber
TACO BELL
It's fairly easy to eat lean at Taco Bell. The only problem is that the best menu choices--while low cal--tend to run small when it comes to portion size, and are therefore sometimes low in protein. The simple solution: Order two or three servings, or pair them with a side of milk to push the protein grams past 20. (Always order your items "Fresco style." This ensures you get more salsa and less calorie-laden sour cream and cheese.)
* Grilled Steak Soft Taco 170 calories, 21 g carbs, 11 g protein, 5 g fat, 560 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Soft Taco Supreme, Beef 190 calories, 23 g carbs, 9 g protein, 8 g fat, 630 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Gordita Supreme, Chicken 230 calories, 28 g carbs, 15 g protein, 6 g fat, 510 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Gordita Nacho Cheese, Chicken 230 calories, 28 g carbs, 15 g protein, 6 g fat, 510 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Chalupa Supreme, Beef 330 calories, 31 g carbs, 11 g protein, 18 g fat, 580 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
* Zesty Chicken Border Bowl 480 calories, 62 g carbs, 21 g protein, 17 g fat, 1,460 mg sodium, 13 g fiber
* Mexican Pizza 450 calories, 47 g carbs, 14 g protein, 23 g fat, 850 mg sodium, 5 g fiber
* Bean Burrito 350 calories, 56 g carbs, 13 g protein, 8 g fat, 1,220 mg sodium, 9 g fiber
* Fiesta Burrito, chicken 350 calories, 49 g carbs, 16 g protein, 9 g fat, 1,100 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
SBARRO
Of all the fast-food places we surveyed, Sbarro came out on top when it came to easy ways to work fruits and vegetables into a fast meal. Any of the following can easily be combined with a side of mixed vegetables, fruit salad, or stringbean-and-tomato salad for a quick meal that hits all the required food groups.
* Fresh Tomato Pizza, 1 slice 450 calories, 60 g carbs, 20 g protein, 14 g fat, 1,040 mg sodium, 3 g fiber
* Cheese Pizza, 1 slice 460 calories, 60 g carbs, 24 g protein, 13 g fat, 1,080 mg sodium, 3 g fiber
* Chicken Vegetable Pizza, 1 slice 530 calories, 69 g carbs, 24 g protein, 17g fat, 1,260 mg sodium, 5 g fiber
* Chicken Parmesan 520 calories, 16 g carbs, 64 g protein, 22 g fat, 750 mg sodium, 2 g fiber
CARL'S JR. (AKA HARDEE'S) The chain may have two names, but no matter which branch you're visiting, the menu remains almost identical. And the best item on that menu? (No, it's not Paris Hilton, even though she is the official Carl's Jr. girl.) The best thing you can get at either place is a side: the plain baked potato--an ideal mate to either the chicken salad or chicken sandwich, or a Paris Hilton video, for that matter.
* Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich 370 calories, 47 g carbs, 35 g protein, 4 g fat, 1,070 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
* Charbroiled Chicken Salad-To-Go 330 calories, 17 g carbs, 34 g protein, 7 g fat, 880 mg sodium, 5 g fiber
* Jr. Hamburger 280 calories, 36 g carbs, 14 g protein, 9 g fat, 480 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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