In a perfect world, we’d never leave the house without a picnic basket full of freshly made sandwiches and cut fruit. Unfortunately, that isn't realistic in our busy, fast-paced lives. Sometimes, we have no choice but to pull up to that fast-food drive-thru because we need to eat, fast.
Luckily, fast doesn't mean it has to be a calorie-laden, gut-busting meal. With a little creativity and savvy choosing, you can cobble together a relatively nutritious meal or snack at just about any fast-food restaurant. (Heck, simply avoiding the soda and fries will get you halfway there.) Here’s how.
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Food in a hurry doesn't have to be unhealthy. All you need is a little fast-food know-how.
Get creative with a burger.
Ask for a burger with no bun or no cheese for a high-protein snack; or do the opposite and try a burger-less burger with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions inside a bun. Don't worry, you won't be able to see the funny looks through the drive-through menu board.
Get picky with a salad.
Order a salad, but keep it simple and choose a low-fat dressing. Beware of higher-fat toppings like cheese, fried-chicken strips, croutons or tortilla-shell bowls that will quickly turn your salad from healthy to heavy.
Chicken out.
Most fast-food chains have a grilled chicken sandwich option, which is almost always a healthier choice than fried. For an even lower calorie option, ask for the grilled chicken open face or without a bun.
Scope out those sides.
You can easily pull together a filling and nutritious meal by choosing side items or breakfast menu accompaniments. This includes snack packs of cut carrots and apples, low-fat yogurt, oatmeal, real 100 percent orange juice and water.
Get eggs-actly what you want.
Choose the simplest preparation of eggs available on the menu, even if it's a breakfast sandwich minus the cheese, the mystery meat, even the biscuit.
Previewing Your Comment.
This comment has not yet been postedTonight I went to eat out and came home feeling very sick.
I don't think anything I've seen here will convince me to return to drive thrus.
Though I suppose considering the way most of America eats, its a start.