Even the most health-conscious of us have found ourselves beneath those Golden Arches
on occasion.
Whether it's for an on-the-road pit stop, a quick lunch, or a full-on dinner option,
almost everyone eats McDonald's once in a while.
"Everybody come on, put a smile on."
And while Mickey D's is notorious for offering less-than-healthy menu options, there are
still some diet-friendly dining choices available if you look closely enough.
Egg McMuffin
If you're seeking a quick and reasonable breakfast at McDonald's, opt for an Egg McMuffin.
Made with an English muffin, egg, Canadian bacon, and American cheese, it's pretty tasty,
and it won't break the calorie budget.
This morning sandwich comes in at 290 calories and 17 grams of protein, which, all in all,
isn't that bad.
Pair it with a regular coffee for a meal that doesn't tip your caloric scale for the day.
Southwest grilled chicken salad
For lunch that fills you up but doesn't feel overly heavy, try the Southwest grilled chicken
salad.
With 37 grams of protein and 15 percent of your daily value for iron, this dish will
maintain your energy levels and keep you feeling sated for a longer period of time than other
options with less health value.
The beans and corn in this salad lend it a good amount of fiber to keep you regular,
too.
Keep the calories low by opting for one of McDonald's low-fat dressings and go easy on
dressing your greens.
Fruit and maple oatmeal
If you need an energy pick-me-up, order the fruit and maple oatmeal.
By skipping the additional brown sugar, dairy, and dried fruit, you can also eliminate a
lot of the fat and sugar content in this snack item, making it more suitable as a pick-me-up.
Fibrous oats require some work to digest, which will make you feel full and satisfied
'til the next real meal.
Filet-O-Fish
It may surprise you to learn that McDonald's Filet-O-Fish is a decent choice when you're
in need of a reasonably healthy meal on the run.
With 410 calories, 20 grams of protein, and only 5 grams of sugar, this famous sandwich
gives you loads of energy while still remaining pretty light.
Fruit n' yogurt parfait
Want something sweet from McDonald's?
Skip the soft serve, shakes, and apple pie.
Instead opt for their fruit and yogurt parfait, which is both low in calories and fat and
very tasty.
"Have you ever met a person and say, 'hey yo let's get some parfaits,' and they go 'No
I don't like no parfaits.'
Parfaits are delicious!"
Made with creamy yogurt, fruit, and granola, this tasty snack promises to satisfy your
sweet tooth without breaking the scale.
Side salad
When paired with a low-fat dressing, McDonald's side salad is a terrific healthy loophole
for dining at the fast food chain without severe regrets.
The salad is a medley of lettuces, including more nutrient-rich ones like baby kale and
red leaf lettuce as well as carrots and spinach, and has just 15 calories.
You can also skip dressing altogether and avoid unnecessary fat, calories, and sodium.
Hamburger
The regular hamburger is only 250 calories and contains just a fraction of the fat and
sodium found in other McDonald's favorites in the burger category.
Compared to all that excess, the original hamburger is a truly reasonable and fun classic
to boot.
Just watch out for you know who...
"The Hamburglar is very clever and very sneaky"
"The Hamburglar!"
Apple slices
While it may seem obvious to order fruit as a healthy choice at McDonald's, many people
don't immediately go for the apple slices at the famous fast food eatery.
But an order of apple slices contains only 15 calories, which makes it a great alternative
to greasy fries, fatty shakes, and other less-than-healthy options.
So the next time you find yourself staring at those golden arches, go for the apples.
Happy Meal
In the age of so much super sizing, a responsible on-the-run lunch might mean taking a look
at the kids' menu.
Order a Happy Meal with a plain hamburger, a kids-size serving of fries, a clementine,
and water instead of juice or milk for a meal that has 400 calories total.
Your waistline will thank you.
And hey!
You get a free toy!
"Hey guys... Spongebob!"
"(Screaming)"
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