Even the most conscientious eaters hit up a fast food joint every now and then. It happens. The key is getting the right thing once you're there. These days, most chains are climbing over each other to promote whatever new, lighter options they've cranked out. Hungry Girl is here with the facts so you can survive a trip to the drive-thru...
Hungry Girl Snack Find:
Burger King BK Fresh Apple Fries
25 calories, 0g fat
Totally legit, even if you indulge in the caramel dipping sauce, which only adds another 35 calories. That's still a slim 60! Compare that to a small order of french fries (230 calories and 13g fat!), and your choice is clear. BTW, the caramel sauce for McDonald's Apple Dippers has almost twice as many calories as BK's sauce (likely 'cuz the portion's larger) -- but those Dippers are still a great snacking option!
Just Say NO: KFC Snacker
290 calories + 13g fat = too much for a small snack!
The Salad 411:
Wendy's Mandarin Chicken Salad
180 calories, 2g fat
Watch yourself here. To get those stats you need to skip the crispy noodles, roasted almonds, and sesame dressing, or you'll end up with 370 extra calories and over 20 more grams of fat! Best bet is to ask for the light honey dijon (100 calories, 5g fat). And if you're really hungry, get a small order of chili (190 calories, 6g fat) to make it a meal.
Just Say NO: McDonald's Premium Southwest Salad with Crispy Chicken
430 calories and 20g fat BEFORE DRESSING. Um, you might as well get the Quarter Pounder. But that same salad with grilled chicken is lighter (320 calories and 9g fat) -- and it's goooood!
The Main Course:
KFC Honey BBQ Sandwich
280 calories, 3.5g fat
Whaa??? How shocked are we that KFC has a full-sized sandwich with better nutritionals than most competitors? It's a simple sandwich -- shredded chicken smothered in BBQ sauce -- but it's flavorful enough that you won't be tempted to add fatty extras like mayo and cheese. Pair it with one of those little corn-cobs (70 calories, 1.5g fat), and it'll be like your own mini cookout!
Just Say NO: Wendy's 3/4-lb. Triple with Cheese
980 calories, 60g fat and COME ON! Does anyone REALLY need 3 patties? There are plenty more horrific burgers at all of the chains -- we're just picking on Wendy today.
Just Desserts:
McDonald's Fruit 'n' Yogurt Parfait
160 calories, 2g fat
Not a traditional dessert, but yummy nonetheless. If you nix the granola, it'll save you 30 calories (but the granola ROCKS!). Also VERY high up on our list are McD's reduced-fat ice cream cones (150 calories, 3.5g fat). YUM, YUM, YUM!
Just Say NO: McDonald's Triple-Thick Milkshakes
12 oz. = 420 - 440 calories and 10g fat!
32 oz. = 1,110 - 1,160 calories and 26 - 27g fat!
You too will be TRIPLE THICK if you down enough of these.
General Tips!
- Avoid words like "double", "triple", "crispy" and "cheesy".
- Most of the major chains keep nutritional info on hand -- so if you're really curious about an item's stats, ask!
- Don't get sucked in by that extreme new sandwich. That "Baconator" is probably just as destructive as it sounds.
- If something you see REALLY sounds good to you, think about ways to recreate it at home later in a healthier way. Chances are, that you can do it (or that we already have!).
Hungry For More?
Check out Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World. The book's a New York Times Best Seller, and it's packed with 165 super-easy and delicious recipes, survival guides for eating out, and so much more!
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