Fast Food That’s Good for the Heart

With the time pressures facing so many people these days, they are frequently eating on the go. You’re usually better off eating at home rather than dining in a restaurant. But it’s still possible to make healthy selections if you have to eat fast food. Keep these guidelines in mind as you choose your next fast food meal.

Most fast food restaurants are conscious of the reputation their food has for clogging arteries. In response, they now offer a number of menu selections that are a lot healthier. For instance, many fast food chains now have salads on the menu. But be careful that you don’t load up on dressing that’s full of saturated fat. Salads that are garnished with deep fried chicken aren’t as heart healthy as the ones containing grilled chicken.

For your sandwich, opt for grilled chicken over fried. Also, asking for lots of veggies on your sandwich is always a good idea. Go for dressings like mustard or ketchup instead of mayonnaise, which is high in saturated fat.

Choose fruit or salad as a side dish rather than fries. So instead of a lunch laden with saturated fat, you’ll be feeding your body the fiber and vitamins it needs. You might also choose milk or juice over soda as a beverage with your meal. This can aid in maintaining normal blood sugar and give you additional vitamins and minerals.

When you’re genuinely hungry for a hamburger and French fries, it’s alright to eat them now and then. However, watch out for the size of the serving. A lot of fast food restaurants provide servings that are big enough for more than one meal. To reduce the amount of saturated fat in your meal, choose a small hamburger and small fries, or even a kid’s meal.

If you’re feeding fast food to your kids, remember that there are usually some healthy choices you can make such as mandarin oranges or apple slices. You can also choose milk or juice rather than soda.

In fast food Mexican eateries, a simple burrito or taco could actually be quite healthful. Be sure to pile on lots of vegetables in order to up the fiber content. You might think a taco salad is a good choice, but frequently it’s high in calories as well as saturated fat.

If you’re having fast food for most of your meals, you’re putting your heart health at risk if you don’t choose wisely. Eating at home is the best choice. But if that’s not practical, take a look at some of the healthier choices available.

Keira Adams is publisher of Heart Health, where you can learn all about the causes, effects and treatments of heart disease.