Fast food you can eat

You can eat fast food still. No you heard me right, you can still eat fast food, you just need to be aware of what kind of calories you are taking in. I've said it a million times, but it's true and one of the big reasons why America is so overweight. It is due to the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Even last night in an interview with Barbara Walters, Oprah said that she simply doesn't have the time to commit to being as thin as she'd like to be. So see it's not just you or me, everyone suffers from time contstraints. There are days that it will be neccessary to stop and pick up some fast food on the way home, because it will either be that or no food at all (which is horrible for your metabolism and will make you gain weight too).

So after doing some research I stumbled across an article on the CNN Web site that talks about just this thing. The article is entitled, Your Healthiest Fast Food Choices and is written by CNN senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen on November 11. The beginning of the article discusses fast food and how to get your kids (I don't have any) to eat the right things when at a fast food restaurant. Then it talks about how to eat the right things for you. I will share the new found wisdom with you.

These are the healthiest options according to the Consumer Report on Health . Most people should be on a diet based on approximately a 2,200 calorie intake (this of course varies person to person). To know what your suggested caloric intake is based on your age, gender and activity you will want to check out the USDA's complete list based on these factors. Another thing you may want to know is your body mass index this may help you decide how many calories you want to consume so I have provided a link to a BMI calculator as well. As promised I will give you the list of food that is OK to eat including how many calories if you have to go the fast food route. They are as follows in Cohen's article:

1. Arby's Melt
Add on a chopped side salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing and you've got a 570-calorie meal.

2. Chick-Fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich
With barbecue sauce and a large fruit cup, this meal is 425 calories.

3. McDonalds Asian Salad
Get the low-fat balsamic vinaigrette and it's 340 calories.

4. Taco Bell Fresco Bean Burrito
Along with a side of Mexican Rice Fresco, it's 460 calories.

5. Wendy's Jr. Hamburger

It's 320 calories if you add on a side of mandarin oranges.

I personally love the Cick-Fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich. Sometimes I also get a classic McDonalds Happy Meal, but did you know that a Happy Meal, with a cheeseburger, fries and a soda equals 650 calories. It is also pretty small on portions so these options above may be more satisfying for you, but if you happen to get a Micky D's craving maybe a classic Happy Meal may be the way to go. According to the USDA I should probably take in about 2,000 calories per day and with my height and weight, according to my BMI using the calculator that I have linked I am in fact obese. These stats make me sad and I would like to very soon type my height and weight into that calculator and see that it does not say obese. I hope some of these tips help you all make some healthier desicions when you go out to eat. If you have any other fast food suggestions please let me know what you do. More to come tomorrow!