Can fast food really be healthy food?

Can fast food really be healthy food?

We all lead busy lives and finding the time to eat right can often be a challenge.

Can going to a fast food restaurant be a healthy choice if you're looking for a nutritious, hearty meal?

You may be juggling taking the kids to school, working an eight-hour day, taking the kids to after-school activities, going to the gym, and this often means having to forage for food on the run.

If you haven't taken the time to prepare a packed lunch (as have the kids!), it's very likely that you'll end up visiting a fast food restaurant at some point.

Most people know that fast food does not mean healthy food, and the typical dishes served by these establishments are real nutritional and health food. Huge burgers with cheese, bacon and dressings, fried chicken and steaks, cheese-loaded pizzas, burritos and tacos, all washed down with large or extra-large sodas and milkshakes.

Some meals can contain so much fat and sugar that a single meal exceeds your recommended daily intake for the entire day!

If you are a healthy eater and rarely visit fast food restaurants, the occasional burger or slice of pizza won't hurt you. However, if you're like 40% of Americans and consider the local fast food joint your second kitchen, it's time to watch what you eat and keep your health in check.

When you find yourself at a fast food restaurant, careful choices and common sense can still mean finding a tasty, healthy meal. The best rule of thumb is to avoid foods where calories from fat make up more than 30% of the total product. To calculate this percentage, multiply the fat grams by nine (the total fat calories) and divide the result by the total calories.

To avoid having to bring a calculator every time you eat, you can quickly get used to recognizing the types of foods and cooking methods that should be avoided. If the food has been breaded, fried or grilled many times, it is safe to say that it is probably high in fat. Be aware that it's not just burgers, but also chicken and fish.

Many modern fast food restaurants also have salad bars. Therefore, choose a fresh green salad that goes with your main meal. But again, be sure to add fattening extras like cheese, dressings and mayonnaise. Low-calorie dressings, if available, are the best alternative.

Restaurants now provide nutritional information for their meals and foods so that the health-conscious eater or dieter can find out what's in their food and what calories and fats it contains. If the nutritional information is not clearly visible or available, don't be afraid to ask a staff member as they can provide it for you.

Eating on the run is something we can't avoid at some point in our lives, but luckily we can make healthy choices instead of keeping fast food restaurants off limits.