5 Fast Food Hacks to Make Your Next Meal A Healthier One

5 Fast Food Hacks to Make Your Next Meal A Healthier One

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Photo by RitaE on Pixabay

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Are you a fast food aficionado? Do you often find yourself craving a drive-thru burger or some nuggets at the end of a long day? If so, chances are you’re also well aware of the not-so-healthy downsides of fast food. While a meal from your favorite fast food restaurant might be one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to fill up on calories, it’s important to remember that eating fast food regularly is almost never good for your diet. In fact, according to a study published in the American Journal of Nutrition, the high volume of sodium, sugar and fat in fast food is directly linked to an increased risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease. That’s why creating healthier habits when it comes to fast food can help balance out your diet and prevent negative health effects down the road.

Go for grilled options

Whether you’re craving chicken, fish or a burger, grilled menu items are typically a healthier option when dining at a fast food joint. Grilled foods are usually lower in fat than their fried counterparts, which can be helpful for maintaining a balanced diet. Grilled foods can also be a good source of protein, which can help you maintain healthy muscles and prevent fatigue. If you’re trying to eat as healthfully as possible at a fast food restaurant, Lean burgers, steamed fish and baked or grilled chicken are all great options.

Watch the sauce

Sauces are often the secret culprit behind your favorite fast food menu items. Sauces like ranch, barbecue and honey mustard are often high in sodium and sugar which can pack on calories and make your meal less healthy. While it may not be possible to avoid condiments completely at a fast food restaurant, you can try to watch your portion size and go for the smallest size available. If you’re craving sauce opting for hot sauce is almost always the best option.

Don’t forget the protein

One of the few benefits of eating at a fast food restaurant is that the portions tend to be larger than you’d expect. That can be good news if you’re craving something salty, crunchy and cheesy, but it can be bad news if you’re trying to choose healthy options. While you can’t go wrong with french fries or onion rings, you may want to consider eating more protein-packed foods like chicken nuggets, fish filets or a burger with extra meat. Most fast food places these days have options to add for extra burger or chicken patties at a pretty cheap price. Adding an extra chicken patty and removing the bun is a great way to add extra protein and eliminate the unhealthy carbs.

Take the bun off your burger

One of the most unhealthy aspects of the classic burger is the bun. Although sesame buns and plain buns are typically lower in calories than white buns, a plain bun at a fast food restaurant is still packed with sodium and other preservatives that can negatively affect your health. Burgers served in lettuce wraps are a healthier option, and as mentioned above if you add an extra patty to your meal it will be much more filling and pack way more protein than a typical burger.

Watch your portions

Finally, it’s important to watch your portion sizes when eating at a fast food restaurant. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, eating larger portions at popular fast food restaurants can negatively impact your health. While you may not be able to avoid the extra calories completely, you can try to eat a smaller portion when eating at a fast food restaurant.

Final Thoughts

Next time you’re craving some fast food, remember that you don’t have to choose the unhealthiest menu items to satisfy your craving. Instead, try to choose healthier menu options like grilled foods, salads and sandwiches without the bun. You can also try to eat smaller portions or opt for additional protein sources so you can still enjoy your favorite fast food items without feeling guilty. Eating at a fast food restaurant doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and with these fast food hacks, you can make sure your next meal will be a healthier one.

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Thanks for reading!

My name is Austin Snow, I am the founder and author of ameliorating-man. I started this blog as an opportunity to devlop my writing and content creation skills. I have always loved writing, poetry mostly, which has been a creative outlet for me. The concept of ameliorating-man is simple, be the best man I can be, and to provide some helpful insight for other men wanting to better themselves. The word ameliorate means to "make better" and that is exactly my intention. I want to be a better man, a better husband, and a better father. I want to improve my health, my capacity for knowledge, my writing abilities, and my own personal skills. In my eyes that is what life is all about, being better than you were the day before. In this blog I will explore topics of personal interest including fitness, nutrition, mental health, relationships, fatherhood and any other self help topics I think can help benefit my life as a man. I will share my own stories and lessons that I have learned along the way as well as things I wish I would have known sooner to help others on their own respective journey.