When you’re on the road, or just out for the day, making a quick stop at the fast food drive-thru can often seem like the quickest, simplest, and cheapest option for mealtime. The fact that the grandkids love these places is an added bonus. But, these days, most seniors do need to be somewhat conscious of their diets.
Being a senior, however, does not mean you’re doomed to a life of eating salads and never getting to stop at the Golden Arches. While a steady diet of fast food is not healthy for anyone, many fast food places do have healthier options on their menus.
Here are some great suggestions to eat healthy while on the go.
1. Use a Smart Phone App
Smartphone apps like Fooducate provide nutrition information that helps you make educated choices at fast food restaurants. These nifty gadgets also can help you track your eating and fitness habits throughout the day.
2. Order off the Kids' Menu
Kids' meals often offer smaller portion sizes for those who are trying to watch their waistlines. The Veggie Delite sandwich at Subway with a side of apple slices and juice for a beverage has only 285 calories. At Burger King, if you opt for the kids' macaroni and cheese, the apple fries (without caramel sauce) and the fat-free milk, you will only consume 285 calories.
3. Pay Attention to the Sauces
Ordering a favorite like Arby's Southwest Chicken wrap without the sauce can save you almost half of the calories. Stick to thin, light sauces like salsas, catsup, mustard, marinara, and barbeque sauce rather than thick, creamy ones. Additionally, you can ask for the sauce to be on the side, so you can use a dab of it rather than a big glob.
4. Go Basic
The simplest and cheapest burgers are usually some of the healthiest options. A Whopper Junior with no mayonnaise from Burger King has just 240 calories. McDonald's basic hamburger only has 250 calories.
5. Recognize That Healthy Names Could Fool You
Be very careful to not rely on healthy sounding names from fast food places. For instance, at Burger King, the Chicken Apple & Cranberry Garden Fresh Salad with Tendergrill actually has more calories and fat than their BK Veggie Burger. Take a peek at the nutritional facts posted in the restaurant to be sure that the menu items with the nutritious sounding names actually do live up to their reputations.
6. Choose Water
When dining out, water is your best beverage choice. Avoid sugary soft drinks, sweetened teas, and lemonades. Choose water or unsweetened tea as your drink.
7. Ditch the Value Meal
Value meals may be slightly cheaper, but they also encourage people to eat way more than needed. Remember that eating too much does not save you any money. It just makes you feel awful and can hurt your health. Order off of the dollar menu to maximize your money. That way you can get exactly what you want.
8. Forget the Fries
You don’t have to get fries as a side. Most fast food places offer healthier options. You can get a baked potato at Wendy's. McDonald offers apple slices. Arby's boasts a chopped side salad that has only 80 calories and just 5 grams of fat. One thing to keep in mind when you choose salads is that the toppings can make or break the nutritional benefits. If you pile on cheese, meat, croutons, and dressing, your salad moves from heart healthy to heart attack in a bowl.
When you make wise choices at fast food restaurants, you will feel better and be able to stick to your healthy eating plan. Senior living does not mean that you have to always plan to eat at home or bring a sack lunch everywhere you go. Enjoy your time traveling or just hanging out with your grandkids by using these tips for healthy eating at fast food restaurants.
