April 2004
| Fast food: A healthful pit stop? McDonald's will help you ?eat wisely on the road.? Burger King can ?support your diet.? Wendy's offers a low-fat meal that ?costs less than a personal trainer.? If you're looking for a healthful fill-up on a road trip, can these places fit the bill? The answer is yes--if you choose wisely. Many fast-food chains offer at least a few healthful options. However, sodium tends to be high, and you need to avoid pitfalls such as high-fat salad toppings. Simple tactics can help you cut fat and calories. Order a small sandwich. Choose bottled water instead of soda. Replace fries with a baked potato or salad, and watch out for extra toppings. For example, Wendy's Mandarin Chicken Salad comes with almonds, crispy noodles, and a full-fat dressing. Use them all and calories will be more than double what's shown in the chart below. We'll give a broader view of fast-food offerings in a future report. This chart compares a few choices that are better nutritional bets than a jumbo burger and fries. The government recommends that you consume no more than 65 grams of fat in a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet.
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