Healthy Fast Food: what do you recommend?

Hello Kisar,
Depending where you live...El Pollo Loco. Great grilled chicken (not processed), whole beans (not refried) and salads. Not bad for "on the run"...

Sincerely,
Michael

Hi Kisar
Here are a few healthy choices

Lunch on the road
Jamba Juice 400 kcals. check menu for calorie count
Subway - 6 inch turkey breast on whole wheat, hold the mayo, add the mustard
Bristol Farms - Sushi package to go or Turkey Hye Roller to go, eat two save the rest.
Replacement meal protein bar - (Pure Protein) and an apple ot banana
Quizno's - Sierra smoked turkey sandwich, small.
Quizno's - Honey bourbon chicken sandwich, small
Koo Koo Roo - 4ozs. of turkey, steamed veggies, or a 1/2 turkey breast sandwich

Lunch at the office or home
Microwaved prewashed veggies and an egg
Microwave a yam for 9 minutes and top with plain yogurt or cottage cheese
Amy's organic nukable pockets topped with cottage cheese
Nuke a portobello and cool with cottage cheese
Three bean salad, low calorie dressing
Sandwich - chx or turkey, whole wheat bread, tomato slice , lettuce, mustard, and fruit.

Snacks
Luna bar - Edamame, apples, banana

Danielle

The only fast food I recommend is what is prepared and put in a cooler that they can take with them. Any processed or packaged food is not going to help with a lifestyle change.

My first resort is to try and convince them to pack stuff the night before so they can just grab and go. However, if they are resistant or they have a lot of excuses, then I offer the following options.

I try and explain that it may be just as easy and quick to stop at a grocery store and pick up some fresh fruit and veggies and a box of low fat granola bars to keep in their bag.

If fast food is their only option or their co-workers are insisting on fast food locations, while this is not ideal, it can be managed. For example, get smaller portions of the foods. Small fries, or get a salad with low fat dressing or a baked potato. Or small hamburger rather than a double cheese burger. I usually reccomend that they opt for water for a beverage.

I really like Stephen's answer. Many supermarkets have pretty good salad bars and that's much better than trying to make something work at the drive thru.

However, I know that not everyone will do that so I generally advise to avoid dairy products, food that's been fried, food with added salt, and food with saturated fat.

Keep your food as close to its natural state as possible!

I don't tell them not to eat here or there. I educate them on the better choices they can make. You can't expect someone (unless they're training for a competition) to go 100% clean ALL the time.
You can eat anywhere and there is a healthier option. No it's not the BEST option, but it's still better than a Super Sized Big Mac, Fries and a Soda.
I'm for educating people on how to make better choices, even when their options aren't that great. It is better than telling them they can or cannot have something.
Human Nature leans towards rebellion. For some people- You tell them they can't do something- it's a challenge and they will take it.

I think all of your answers are great - thank you very much for posting. I tend to follow the Douglas Brooks recipe for food intake. To have someone be on 90% of the time is not realistic, and will just set them up for failure. I like his 80/20 rule. Eat clean and healthy 80% of the time and the other 20 percent live a little. Unless you are competing in a competition or needing to lean out for a model shoot, I have to say, most our population will enjoy 80/20 versus 90/10. I have seen too many clients, friends & loved ones fail to follow food intake programs because the variety of options was limited by a strict guideline of food choices and where and where they cannot eat.

Thanks,
Kisar

I agree with you Kisar and watched your video (I've subscribed to your channel!)


Luckily the health care reform bill that the President signed into law requires that chain restaurants post the calorie content of their meals as well as
how a certain menu item's calorie content stacks up against daily calorie requirements. This won't go into effect until next year although there are a choice few that already posting nutrional values like Subway.

Something that looks healthy, like a salad, can be loaded with calories.
Posting calorie counts could make people think twice before chowing down on that (540 calories, 29 grams of fat) Big Mac !

I pack my own "feed bag" every evening for work the next day. Fruit, nuts, a sandwich (turkey or PB on 2x protein bread, a Cliff bar, greek yogurt and a protein drink for example.

The point is that some people are going to find themselves making a choice to go to or go with people who are going to fast food. So the answer must be what are the best choices out there IN fast food restaurants.
Yes, we are dealing with processed foods and high salt and sneaky calories but if you are looking for the lessor evils at certain places you can find them. Taco Bell has a bean burrito you can order without cheese and Burger King has a veggie burger you can order without mayo and McDonalds has their apple snack and salads. Captain D's has grilled fish and sliced tomatoes as a side dish choice.
Any place you go you have to learn to evaluate what the food is and how you can make a healthier choice. Diets that say never do this or you can never eat that are just setting you up for failure.
The middle brain hears the word "never" and puts up its dukes!It's fight or flight mechanism can work for you or against you. Educating yourself on what you are really eating and making better choices as consistently as you can will help you be successful for the long term. Small moves consistently over time will keep the middle brain passive and create long term change.
please hit the thumbs up if you like my answer.

Personally Id argue against "fast food" and try to get people into a "fast restaurant" style of snagging food.

It may take a few extra minutes, but the added benefits of purchasing food really helps.

I like Stephen's suggestion I also use it as well. The top two I would go for is Subway and Chipotle. But whichever fast food you end up choosing make sure you are checking the caloric amount and most important the food ingredients. If there are too many or you can’t pronounce them, then it's probably not the best choice to have.