In the past, I have disagreed with some of the food-related lists that MSN has put forth and their latest addition is no exception. They put together a list of 15 tips to stay on a diet at fast food restaurants, most of which suggest things like choosing a smaller portion size or sharing desserts, fries, etc. with a friend. And one of their most important tips is to "limit your visits to fast-food restaurants to no more than twice a week," which is still quite a few visits, to say nothing of the fact that it assumes that you already visit three or more times per week.
It's not that their tips are bad, just overly obvious or repetitive. For example, if you're eating at a fast food restaurant every other day, it's pretty safe to say that your diet has a lot of room for improvement. The tips can be streamlined into a much shorter list:
- Cut back fast food visits to occasional meals, once or twice a month - especially if you like fried fish, chicken or french fries from fast food joints.
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Take MSN's suggestion and never up-size a meal. You can always grab a (healthier) snack later if you get hungry.
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Skip the bacon, cheese and anything else that is obviously unhealthy (including mayo and "secret sauce") and get your burgers relatively plain, or with extra "salad" toppings. And while you're at it, skip the actual salads, especially the dressings or any of the fried toppings, like croutons or crispy noodles.
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If you have to eat fast food more frequently (for any reason), try to pick healthier restaurants that provide you with nutritional info up front (like Subway) and identify healthy options.
Taking all the fun out of fast food? Well, if you only go once a month (or less), you can get that bacon cheeseburger without the guilt because it becomes a once-a-month treat, and not a regular part of your diet.
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