14 Fast Food Items to Never Ever Order
And 8 Ways To Order Healthier
14.
Lunch Meats.
You might opt for a sub sandwich as a healthier fast food alternative to a burger, but that’s
not always the case.
Due to how processed lunch meats are, the high levels of sodium can cause high blood
pressure, and The American Institute for Cancer Research warns that they can increase the
risk of colorectal cancer.
13.
Pre-Dressed Salads.
While salads are generally the healthier of options when it comes to fast food, many places
over-dress their salads to improve the taste.
It’s recommended to get dressing on the side and to not use an entire packet.
There can be a surprising amount of calories, sugar, and fat in a pre-made dressing, which
can make this meal option a lot less healthy.
12.
Coleslaw.
When it comes to ordering sides for your meal, coleslaw might seem like a fairly safe bet.
However, this is one side you should really avoid.
Considering coleslaw is made with a ton of mayonnaise, the calorie count can parallel
that of an entire meal so don’t be fooled by the sight of that cabbage.
11.
Condiments.There are some fast food items where condiments are a match made in heaven,
but you should take into consideration that each packet has more sugar and salt than you
may realize.
It’s always best to order meals plain so that you can be in control of the number of
condiments being added.
10.
Breakfast Plates.
Many fast food restaurants that offer a breakfast menu will have some sort of plate that includes
all of the favorites from eggs to hash browns.
The problem with these plates is that usually everything on them is cooked with a lot of
butter, which can result in a fat intake that is more than the recommended amount per day.
9.
Value Meals.
Many fast food restaurants offer value meals that are tempting for their price, but most
aren’t worth the high-calorie count and amount of fat.
Research from the Journal of Nutrition found that high-fat meals can increase cardiovascular
reactivity to psychological stress in healthy young adults, which makes a value meal seem
much less valuable.
8.
Ice.
It’s only natural to want to fill your cup with ice before dispensing your fountain drink
selection, but you might want to reconsider hitting that ice button.
According to fast food employees on Reddit, ice machines are rarely cleaned and many can
have mold lurking within.
While there are establishments that regularly clean their ice machines, you should consider
the cleanliness of the place before chilling your drink.
7.
Chili.
A warm bowl of chili can be awfully tempting but you should be cautious about where you’re
ordering it.
There are some fast food restaurants that just use old meat and chop it into pieces
to compose their chili, which makes this hearty dish a lot less tempting.
6.
Fish Patties.
Unless the fast food place you’re going to specializes in fish, you should probably
refrain from ordering anything fish-related.
Many fast food employees have revealed that fish patties tend to get left out a lot longer
than they should be.
There’s nothing too appetizing about fish that’s been sitting out for hours.
5.
Flavored Coffee Drinks.
Flavored brews may be tasty but they can be hiding a lot more sugar than you would think
to put in your own drink.
If you’re concerned about your sugar intake, make sure to order your drinks plain and with
skim or low-fat milk.
Flavored coffee drinks tend to be high in sugar and low in nutrients.
4.
Eggs.
It’s hard to find a breakfast menu item that doesn’t contain eggs, but you should
be a little wary when ordering them.
Fast food restaurants rarely use fresh eggs and instead will microwave them or they will
have a lot of preservatives to maintain their color, texture, and taste.
3.
Veggie Burgers.
Unless you’re at a vegetarian establishment, you probably should avoid the veggie burger
if you don’t eat meat.
More often than not, veggie burgers end up being cooked on the same grill they use for
meat.
While you can try and request that they clean the grill, most places won’t have the time
to do that in between orders.
2.
Unique Menu Items.
Fast food restaurants try to cater to a variety of tastes, but there are some items that are
usually undeniably niche.
Former employees confessed on Reddit that you shouldn’t order something on the menu
if you can’t find at least one or two other items that the ingredients could be used in.
Items that aren’t ordered frequently are much more likely to be on the lesser side
of fresh.
1.
Tuna Sandwiches.
Thinking about ordering a tuna sandwich?
You might want to think again.
Many fast food restaurants that offer tuna sandwiches use a lot more mayonnaise than
tuna.
This may make the sandwich tasty but there are probably a lot more calories hiding in
there than you realize.
So there you have it, 14 fast food items you should never ever order.
Now, just because there are certain things you should avoid ordering at fast food restaurants
doesn’t mean that you have to avoid them all of them together.
Fast food is sometimes the most convenient option, and while some places cater to health
more than others, there are situations where your options are limited.
Here are 8 ways to make your next fast food meal a healthier one no matter where you are.
8.
Familiarize yourself with nutritional information first.
While grabbing fast food isn’t always planned, if you have a regular go-to place, check out
the nutritional information listed on the website.
This will help you get a better idea of what you’re putting into your body.
Your favorite option might not be the same after you see those calorie counts.
There’s a reason most fast food places don’t display this information when you’re ordering
so familiarize yourself prior.
7.
Say no to supersizing.
Many fast food restaurants will have deals that seem too good to pass up when it comes
to supersizing your meal.
While it might seem like you’re getting more bang for your buck, doing this only adds
more calories, fat, sugar and sodium to your meal.
6.
Go grilled.
Try and choose menu options that are grilled rather than fried.
The calorie count can go up drastically when you choose the breaded option of the same
meal.
It may be tasty but if you are trying to be health conscious with your fast food meal,
you should opt for grilled meats.
5.
Skip the drive-thru.
Many people choose fast food because they are in a rush, but you should still find the
time to sit down and eat your meal rather than shoveling down while driving.
Dietitians recommend this because it allows you to mentally register those calories as
satisfying to avoid overeating later.
4.
Order from the kids’ menu.
Don’t be ashamed to order off of the kids’ menu, your body will thank you.
You can drastically downsize the calories and fat in your meal by ordering the kids’
version of it.
Also, often times the kids’ menu has more fruit options to take advantage of that aren’t
on the regular menu.
3.
Rethink your drink.
As previously mentioned, the ice machines at many fast food places aren’t ideal and
the syrup they use for fountain drinks is chock-full of sugar.
If you want to cut down on the sugar in your meal and overall calorie count, skip the soda
and opt for water or unsweetened tea instead.
2.
Choose healthier sides.
It may be tempting to get fries with your burger and many combo deals will try to push
that duo, but choosing a salad with low-fat dressing or a fruit option can increase the
health benefits of your meal.
It might not always be the most frugal pairing but it will be undeniably healthier.
1.
Choose deli-style fast food when possible.
There may be those times where your fast food options are limited, but if you can, try seeking
out deli-style fast food chains.
The benefit of these places is that they allow you to have more control over what goes into
your meal.
For those perpetually on the go, it’s easy to turn a blind eye to the nutritional facts
and indulge in a good ol’ greasy fast food meal.
Sometimes it’s out of opportunity, sometimes it’s just because it’s too good to resist.
However, many consumers are becoming more health conscious, which is something companies
have taken note of and are trying to cater to.
Still, many of us are aware that when we order fast food, we’re sacrificing healthiness
for convenience.
If you find you eat way too much fast food, well then, this video might just be able to
kick you out of your fast food addiction!
While there are certainly some fast food menu items that do little to disguise their lack
of nutritious value, there are others that might seem like healthier choices that are
surprisingly not.
According to dietitians, nutritionists, and former fast-food employees, there are a number
of fast food options that should be avoided and the results may sway your next order.
What are some of your healthy fast food options?
Let us know in the comments section below!