Fast-Food Places Offer Low-Fat OptionsKey
Is To Think Before You Order UPDATED: 9:36 a.m. EDT October 2,
2002 CLEVELAND -- When you're on
the run, fast food is sometimes your only choice when you're really hungry. But if you're watching your weight,
it's probably the worst choice. However, you can hit the drive-thru
and not eat too many calories and fat grams. Nutritionist Mary Beth Cavanaugh of
University Hospitals in Cleveland is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to
calories and fat grams. "When you're going through the
drive-thru, you're in a hurry, and you're usually starved, and so a little
damage control and thinking about what you're going to order before you get
there would be a good idea," she said. The mistake most people make when
they're hungry is that they order what sounds good, not what seems the lowest in
calories or fat. At McDonald's, a Quarter Pounder with
cheese, a medium Coke and supersize fries add up to 1,350 calories and 59 grams
of fat. Supersize, by the way, is not your
friend. "The fries, they supersize the
sandwiches, and that's where a lot of extra calories and fat grams can really
rack up quickly," Cavanaugh said. But if you get the Happy Meal, you
might be happier later. It has only 475 calories and 20 grams of fat. At Arby's, a roast beef with cheese,
curly fries, a Coke and Horsey sauce totals 1,055 calories and 44 grams of fat. Cavanaugh figured that the new Market
Fresh Turkey Swiss would be better, but it turned out that the sandwich is 760
calories and 33 grams of fat all by itself. Opt for the light grilled chicken
instead -- it's 280 calories and 5 grams of fat. Also, go for the regular fries
instead of the curly ones, and get a Diet Coke. That meal would total 580
calories and 18 grams of fat. At Wendy's, a double classic
cheeseburger, fries and a small Frosty add up to 1,500 calories and 64 grams of
fat. "Right away, that extra amount
of meat adds an extra 300 calories to your order," Cavanaugh said. Instead, try a grilled chicken
sandwich, an iced tea and a side salad, but treat yourself with the real Italian
dressing -- not the low-cal stuff. The grand total is only 555 calories
and 27 grams of fat. Cavanaugh said that the bottom line
is to think before you order. If you want to do a little research
on your own, most fast-food restaurants will give you a nutrition guide if you
ask for one. There is also a lot of information on
the various restaurants' Web sites. |