Panda Express
Sodium, saturated fat and calories were the key considerations for the guide, according to the author, Katherine Brooking, M.S., R.D. While salads and sandwiches with grilled chicken are obvious choices, there were a few surprises on the list. Two items, including the Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco from Taco Bell, have beef, which is often considered a no-no for people trying to eat healthy. There's also a "Wok Smart" entrée from Panda Express that's not bursting with sodium (a common pitfall with fast food, says Brooking) and has only 250 calories. In other words, it's not only low in calories -- it's too low in calories for lunch, which should be 350 to 500 calories or more, depending on your individual calorie needs, says Brooking. (She suggests adding some extra brown rice and perhaps another side if you need a full meal).
Brooking cautions that the message of the article isn't, "Go eat fast food," but that if you're stuck with only chain options, there are some good choices. She also told Slashfood her top pick that's not on the cookinglight.com list: When she's traveling, she gets a six-inch Veggie Delite from Subway and adds some cheese so it's more filling.
2-06-2010 @11:26AM Creative Delites said... Is it true that at fast-food restaurants, you're better off getting a thin crust pizza than a salad?! What are healthy dressings you should ask for?
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2-08-2010 @10:04AM Megan Steintrager said... It really depends on the salad (and the pizza). I would say a veggie pizza with a moderate amount of cheese would be a healthier bet than a salad with, say, fried chicken and a creamy dressing. As for dressing, if you're watching calories, look for something that's low in fat (those tend to be lower in calories too, but watch out for too much sugar) but if you just want something generally healthy, consider a vinaigrette made with a healthy oil (such as olive or canola).
2-08-2010 @10:41PM Bubba said... Canola is not a healthy oil, Do some research on it. Neither is soy, fluoride, MSG, high fructose corn syrup. It's in almost everything. The latter three are not oils. Choose your dressing and flavoring wisely. Take more time and prepare your foods and enjoy them more. And stop using the microwave (it's convienent I know, but it destroys enzymes in food. Use a toaster oven instead to reheat foods.
2-09-2010 @1:38PM LinC said... Bubba -- if you think canola oil is unhealthy, you are obviously not doing much research (or are looking at Internet scare sites). The Mayo Clinic hospital web site says canola oil is a very healthy oil.
"Canola oil is very low in saturated fat and has a very high proportion of monounsaturated fat. So, it's a healthy and safe choice when it comes to oils."
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/canola-oil/AN01281
2-08-2010 @12:42PM Nick said... It's absolutely the dressing that does in most salads. Some basic rules to follow:
*No creamy dressings. Ranch, French, Thousand Island...a full packet of most can add 500 - 800 calories to your meal, no joke.
*No fried Chicken
*Avoid any salad that also contains the word 'taco'. Just because it has lettuce somewhere under that sour cream and ground taco meat does *not* constitute a salad.
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2-08-2010 @9:04PM Diana Lynn said... Typical guide that considers Sodium, saturated fat and calories the key considerations. Good nutrition is more than fat, carbs and protein. Good nutrition is getting the "nutrients" your body needs. Check out goliteonwhite.com for more information on eating for health AND healthy weight.
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2-08-2010 @9:13PM sealift said... other fast food items I would add include Carl's BBQ grilled chicken sandwich w/o cheese
or bacon; chicken soft taco at the Bell, light on the cheese; Fudruckers ostrich burger,
kentucky grilled w/o skin; a number of cheese, mayo-free sandwiches at subway.
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2-08-2010 @10:24PM lita said... Well put... and thank you for your brilliant documentation in support of your eloquent post.
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2-09-2010 @1:03AM Jude3 said... I suffer from IBS. We generally eat home cooked meals because of this. I find it interesting that I can eat food from fast food restaurants, and; it doesn't bother me. But; if, I eat at restaurants like Applebee's, Outback, Cheaters, Olive Garden, etc. Then, I can't make it home without stopping somewhere on the way home. Taco Bell is OK; but, no Mexican Restaurants.
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2-09-2010 @3:44AM cavernvision said... As a vegan,I always have to plan ahead whenever I leave my home. I either have to know where I'll be and what's near that I can eat,preferably healthy. Or,I have to make/buy food I can bring with me. Some people may find it annoying,having to always think about food if you'll be leaving home for long periods of time,but I think it's pretty great. I get to be creative and I'm not stuck eating whatever crap is put in front of my face. I haven't set foot inside of a fast food joint in over 10 years,long before I ever went vegan(was vegetarian though),so my insides are probably healthier than most people,since the average American tends to eat fast food at least once in awhile.
I'm not trying to say I'm better than others,by the way,just pointing out that,when you only eat healthy food,you take away the possibility of eating fast food,ever. You don't have to be a vegan to cut fast food out of your diet,just a person who wants to take good care of themselves.
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2-09-2010 @3:30AM charlie said... I lost 15 pounds since I retired ten years ago. I eat hamburger at McDonald's without the bun and french fries. I also don't rice and noddles.
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2-09-2010 @4:47AM Kristin Kreiner said... Thin Crust Pizzas in general have much less fat and calories. I used to work at papa johns and We put less cheese on our thin crust, plus obviously the lack of dough. As far as salads go, be weary! I work at The Cheesecake Factory and these rich snotty women who think they are being healthy by gettting a BBQ ranch chicken salad crack me up. Any kind of viniagrette will be better than a ranch, blue cheese, 1000 island etc... but some viniagrette's have high sugar and sodium. I have squeezed fresh lemon on salads with darker greens and its good with no calories! Also I just wanna throw out there that if you are going to get a salad or sandwich that has lettuce, ask for raw spinach or argula instead! Lettuce has virtually no nutrient value...anytime you can substitute a nice, dark, leafy green, DO IT! more flavor too :-D also if you ever go to the cheesecake factory, get the french country salad...it is my favorite :-D
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2-09-2010 @4:26PM Dawn said... This information is wrong. Read the nutrition information from these places. Taco Bell has Partially Hydrogenated Oil in their steak. It is not real meat it is processed. If you are tired of being fat and lazy stop eating Hydrogenated Oils. Do NOT eat at these places. Grilled Chicken from McDonals is prepared with Partially Hydrogenated Oil. The Grilled Chicken has Trans Fat. This is outdated information.
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