McDonalds southwest salad with grilled chicken and the southwest dressing is around 500 calories.  Love it.

I have a McChicken with medium fries once in a while, which is about 740 calories, and Turkey Breast or Roasted Chicken sandwich from subway.

At Subway, I never add dressing or mayo to my sandwich: only avocado if it's available. Little changes like that help me keep better control over my calorie intake.

This is ridiculous, as are most of the articles that CC is vomiting up at the moment.

Fast food should never be part of a diet, it is revolting.  It can't be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Anyone who think that this article is informative and helpful is deluded.

Another win for diabetes, heart disease, obesity and Big Food.  CC's moral back bone is nothing but a pile of PUFA mush.

really guys? fast foods meals? filet o fish?? chicken from McDonalds?

i love the veggie sub at subway with southwest chipotle dressing. i add every veggie they have (minus the avocado) and, without the meat,  i  have no guilt about the dressing!

The only meal at McDonalds is a cup of coffee. The rest of the fast food junk is just that - JUNK! Agree with "goosejuggler" - this is ridiculous...

Original Post by: topset

really guys? fast foods meals? filet o fish?? chicken from McDonalds?

+1

Original Post by: goosejuggler

This is ridiculous, as are most of the articles that CC is vomiting up at the moment.

Fast food should never be part of a diet, it is revolting.  It can't be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Anyone who think that this article is informative and helpful is deluded.

Another win for diabetes, heart disease, obesity and Big Food.  CC's moral back bone is nothing but a pile of PUFA mush.

+1

I completely agree with the above comments "Another win for diabetes, heart disese, obesity...." and "really guys?"......... yea, REALLY??? I am no expert but I know it's not always about the calories! Did you take a look at the FAT and carb. content of those meals??? Come on.... your saying that ONE meal with 20 grams of FAT is good for you??? And I can say with certainty that most of those are saturated fats... your arteries will be thanking you for that! .... it's ridiculous to think that all you have to worry about is calorie intake!!!!

I don't usually comment on these. But I just have to say I am really unimpressed. Surely the best thing to do is stay AWAY from junk food. You'll note I'm calling it junk food not fast food because they are entirely different. You can make something healthy and fast at home - you don't need to eat the rubbish described above.

CC you should be writing articles about how to pack/ breakfasts lunches and dinners to take with you if you are on the road, rather than even calling into places like this.

Very disappointing.

What an uplifting comment.  Love the positive thinking.  No wonder you are FAT!!!  Go juggle a goose!!

the veggie egg white flat bread sandwich (whole grain) at dunkin donuts used to be my 'safe' meal when on the road, but now that i'm eating vegan style, there's not much unless i can prepare food at home to take with me.  i hear chipotle's has some decent offerings but there isn't one near me.  when you're very busy or on the road, it can be tricky!

I really wish people would stop trying to take the calories out of my food. Portions are becoming smaller for the same price. Foods are being made with fewer calories for the same price. It is making food more expensive for everyone.

I eat around 5 to 6,000 calories a day. I'm very active. My weight has hardly fluctuated over the last 30 years.

Fast food is not something I eat a lot. Sometimes I get a taste for it and I induge with the most fattening thing I can get.

PS: I also want my gluten.

I must be doing something right. I haven't been sick in at least 20 years. All my numbers are right.

 

 

Snobby, holier-than-thou attitudes aside...the opening line of the article is what makes it valid "As much as we hope fast food is not a part of our everyday fare, we calorie counters and our families may pick up something from the drive thru at some point."

My family just made a long road trip and even though I packed healthy snacks, my husband insisted on stopping at fast food restaurants (quick in and out) for meals. Sometimes we're out and about for longer than we plan to be and the family gets hungry. Sometimes people head out to work and forget or don't have time to pack a lunch, or they want to be sociable and join their colleagues.

When these things happen, being able to identify the lesser evil is very helpful.

I choose subway whenever possible because my daughter likes a lot of veggies on her sandwich. But if we end up at McDonalds (hubby's favorite) I get her a chicken nugget happy meal (her favorite) with white milk and a mcDouble and unsweetened ice tea for me and we split her kiddie size fries. It may not qualify as healthy but each meal comes in right around 400 calories and is filling enough to keep us going for several hours so I consider it a reasonable choice in a pinch.

I'm disappointed with some of the comments...life happens and if by chance we are out with friends and for a quick meal we all stop by fast food place and it's great that CC helps us makes better choices, we all know it's not the best choice but it's still OUR CHOICE.  It's like everything else in life, you do what is best for you and don't judge others.

I sometimes go to Wendys and I have a side garden salad no dressing with a small side chili

I would just say that if you can plan ahead and bring a meal with you, do it, but if you get stuck and you have to eat out (and fast) go to Chick Fil A and get their grilled chicken sandwich- skip the fries, have a water, and forget about getting dessert- it's a good choice when you're on the go.

I apologize for my previous cutting comment to goosejuggler.  I should have kept my mouth shut.  I am just troubled by the complete negativity we are seeing in our country, and now it is coming to this site.  Everyone has bad things to say about politics, our government, each other, even Snookie!!!  I don't want to be part of that scene and should have not joined in the negativity.  This site has some terrific people all working to better themselves and it hurts when some people have nothing good to say.    If you don't want fast food, don't go there.  If you don't like the content of the site, don't look at it.   If you've never been on the road trying to eke out a living, you may not realize that drive thrus and fast food are necessary to some of us in the working class.  People looking for the best alternatives in fast food should be praised instead of ridiculed.   

Even if the fast food will be like "0" calories I will never use it for my diet, It is not the caloric intake, the most important is the quality of the micro / macro nutrients that the food is giving to you body.

There is nothing better that whole natural food's!!!!!!

Wow!  All I can say is ease up folks. Nobody suggested that you should make fast food a regular thing. I took it as if your stuck, here are some suggestion.

There are always times when the better food options are'nt avilable. For me the only option that was really viable is Subway. It is my go to place for a safe meal option.   Because I know what goes into the chili at Wendy's it is also a safe bet!

I think there is a place for fast food, MdDonalds Burger King KFC etc as long as it is an occasional meal (for me that means once a month) not a regular choice.Um have to admit on the rare occasions we do 'Fast Food' I have a coffee..but that's because (honestly) the smell turns me off completely. I am also soooo fed up with 'spending so many calories to feel hungry half an hour later. I guess it helps that my husband is diabetic and I am vegetarian. I choose to pass it by for now...One fast food we do enjoy is Indian food and we 'treat' ourselves every couple of months at the takeout/restaurant, on these occasions we tend to go for just what we fancy, because it is occasionally. 98% of the time we eat healthy at home, and i honestly find it quicker these days to cook from scratch it just takes a bit of planning and organisation.

Original Post by: gershonbenfranja

I really wish people would stop trying to take the calories out of my food. Portions are becoming smaller for the same price. Foods are being made with fewer calories for the same price. It is making food more expensive for everyone.

I eat around 5 to 6,000 calories a day. I'm very active. My weight has hardly fluctuated over the last 30 years.

Fast food is not something I eat a lot. Sometimes I get a taste for it and I induge with the most fattening thing I can get.

PS: I also want my gluten.

I must be doing something right. I haven't been sick in at least 20 years. All my numbers are right.

 

 

lol

@gershonbenfranja  Man Alive I wish I had your metabolism :)

Jimmy John's sandwiches are great for counting calories if you get them as unwiches with lettuce instead of bread and leave out the mayo.

Well I am a little jealous of you that are commenting negatively about this article.  It seems like your life is perfect.  Don't worry about the working parents, shuffling around kids, or people whose family members may be hospitalized and limited in their food choices. Let's not forget that sometimes fast food is needed in some circumstances.  Although it should not be an everday thing (as stated in the article), sometimes it does happen.  When it does, it helps to be informed about what is the "lesser among the evils" food choices at a fast food chain.  So please get off your high horse and have some grace for those whose lives may not be as put together as yours.

Wow, some people need to relax here, it's just food. Diabetes isn't going to be your problem, a heart attack is from freaking out every time you read an article. I mean really a win for Big Food? You think everyone who just read this article is like "OMG I'm gonna eat out at all my meals now!!!" C'mon, grow up Peter Pan.

Did you notice nothing was ever mentioned about the sodium content in all the food? Even a chicken breast sub at Subwayvis loaded close to 1500 mgs of sodium. Fast food is nothing but poison and people need to break the habit of going to these places for a quick meal. There is an App for the iPhone that gives you the nutritional value of all the fast food served at every restaurant. Checking out what you are about to eat first on this App serves as a good deterrent.

You are absolute correct. Maintaining a healthy weight involves living a healthy life style. It's not going to happen eating this garbage. Once a person breaks themselves of this habit, they won't miss it one bit.

Yes - some people need to "lighten up" their attitude.  Fast food happens..

I'm a fan of Wendy's salads.  I thrilled to find a yummy, and I think healthy option when I'm jammed between meetings. 

I go for the Chicken-pecan-blue cheese salad with the fat free dressing as delicious meal under 500 calories.

My suggestion is a foot long Chicken sub with everything (but no dressing or oil).  Yeah it has 1/3 carbs, but live a little!  McD's has the fruit and walnut yeah, but also the chicken mcnuggets are packed with protein (minus the dipping sauce of course).  It is really hard to get a low calorie salad dressing anywhere but the supermarket unfortunately (can you believe that the Wish Bone fat free Italian dressing has 15 calories per serving? -what is in that stuff?? -I don't care, it is less than 1/4 calories of "normal" salad dressing).

BTW, I suggest the CRdiet - the only proven way to extend life (in all animal subjects yet tested).  It is tough, and losing weight is incidental to the purpose of the diet (life extension), but the rewards are worth the (sometimes superhuman) effort.  Cheers.  You ought to know that in about 2 score years there will probably be life extension technology that will allow us to live a lot longer, so the CRdiet could ultimately aid you in living centuries longer (if that is what you want).

I am shocked with the nasty comments and how some people want to display their opinion in such a negative way. 

You are right, fast food should be avoided, however both parents work 40+ hours a week....there is baseball practice, guatiar practice, dentist and doctor appointments...fast food can be a savior.  But never McDonald's!!!

Subway has great choices. Chic-fil-a, we even eat Pizza Hut thin crust, veggie pizza.  I have raised my kids to choose the healthier choices.  Because habits start at a young age.

 

Fast food and rude people are a given.  Learning to deal with both is priceless.

Did any of the negative commenters even read the options available? I avoid fast food because I am dedicated to providing home cooked meals for my family, but we still get fast food occasionally either because of unexpected circumstances (emergency vet visit, no time to make dinner before the kids have to get to bed) or even as a treat. When I go, I am able to get a salad and a couple other choices that aren't all that far from things I make at home. Same with Subway (did you see the list of vegetables on the exemplar sandwich?) and even starbucks has some options that aren't fried and full of sugar. 

When I started my weightloss journey, one of the main ingredients I had to cut out was fast food. I'd cry everytime I passed a fast food restaurant, because I knew I'd never visit again. It was like when I quit smoking years ago!

While some people can manage to curb their desire for the fast food by only visiting once in a great while, I knew I'd fall back into my old pattern if given a good excuse.

Since losing nearly 50 lbs, I must be doing something right.

Any restaurant, fast food place, or grocery store is good & bad. The trick is to understand exactly what is in the food you eat!

@davepennst: you're so right about the sodium content. Way too much! If the food tasted good by itself, they wouldn't be putting so much sodium in it.

Just my 2 cents....

It's great that you post lower fat options to these fast food places but you're missing one VERY important component when making your choices, low sodium.  These options are all really high in sodium and actually not very good options at all. 

 

I don't know whether I should be disappointed in the article or in the comments. First off, I'm not sure I get the point of providing such an article on CC. Shouldn't we be learning how to avoid these sort of meals? Second: I'm pretty sure McDonalds and Subway provide nutritional value on their websites. Is the average CCounter so lazy that he/she can't just browse the a company's  site and keep in mind a few options they prefer, should they want a treat?

Yes, there are moments to indulge, but this article (and most of the commenters) is refering to meals that are simply "easier".

Second, I find the point that "negativity is killing us all" invalid. The point is not being negative, but learning to make enlightened choices, which is why we are on this site in the first place. Is we were truly negative, we'd let unhealthy people deal with themselves while we criticize. This is a tool for empowerment. "YES BUT LIFE HAPPENS" What kind of sad life must you have? So you have children? and then what? You can be bothered to run your kids around their extra-curricular activities, help with homework, but god forbid you can't simply tell them that this food choice is not the best? That is a question of parental authority and education, not "life happening". If you have the time to read this article and its comments and use the site to monitor your caloric intake, you have the time to make A FULL MEAL that suits your lifestyle/diet for your trip or "when life happens", as opposed to packing snacks. 

 

Carolyn_r,

Thank you for bringing this subject to Tips & Updates. The reality for most people is we have busy lives. Not all of us have the luxury of lazily wandering through Whole Foods looking for the perfect wholesome meal to prepare or strolling through our backyard organic garden picking baby lettuce and sun ripened tomatoes. Many of us are just trying to survive and make the most of a tenuous economy.

Truth is, there are "faster food" establishments (Rubio's, Chipotle) out there that are picking up on the cues from society - given a choice most of us don't want fried or highly processed foods. The more loudly the public speaks (contact corporate headquarters) about these nutritional issues the more corporate food will listen.

I log on to CC to find solutions to everyday nutritional dilemmas facing me and my family. If you disagree with an idea or it's not something you feel would work for your life that's cool. I agree that our fast food nation sucks....it evolved to serve and fill the coffers of corporation America and has made us a nation of the fat and sick.

But, instead of bashing try offering real, viable suggestions and alternatives. Pontificating and denigrating another's ideas serves no purpose other than to turn the CC site toxic and drive people away.

Remember, change begins with you- so "be the change you wish to see". 

Peace everyone

Original Post by: topset

really guys? fast foods meals? filet o fish?? chicken from McDonalds?

I don't think for one minute that anyone is promoting a diet of only fast food.  Rather, if you are on the road have no time and are in a pinch, this article might help you make quick smart choices from what is available to you.  I might add that some people's comments on here are vicious and over the top.  I have found alot of inspiriation and information on Calorie Counter.

What is the app?

Also... My guess is that most people who frequent this site are, or have been overweight at some point. That probably means they are no stranger to fast food. I did find it odd that they include fries and some desserts above, but other than that... It is very helpful information. In fact, I'd like to see more. Most fast food places have some healthier options now-a-days. It would be nice to see a breakdown of all those options. Sure, it would be nice if I were a Betty with a perfectly clean home, a fridge full of macrobiotic healthy foods, a degree from a top culinary institute, an addiction to exercise and a doctorate in nutrition. But if that were the case I probably would not be overweight... And I am overweight. So yes, this article helps a lot. Thanks for writing it cc. By the way, I LOVE this site and have been scoring almost all A's and B's since I started. It is NOT all about calories. Take a look at the analysis page.

There is no way that a ceasar salad AND a yogurt treat are 350 together.  They must not be counting the dressing or this is a typo.

Sure fast food isn't very good for you, but sometimes it is the option you are presented with. You're not going to instantly keel over and die, or ruin your diet/life, if you stop with your friends once in a while for McDonalds.
This article IS helpful to those of us doing exactly what this website exists for-- counting calories. It's extremely helpful to know how to minimize the caloric intake from those moments when we end up at the drive-thru window.
Chill out, people.  

Personally, I don't go near fast food places or Chinese take-outs when I'm serious about my health issues. I think fast and healthy is an oxymoron.  I know darn well if I go to to Burger King for a "salad", there will a Whopper there with my name on it.

If I were a "normal" eater, sure I could treat myself occasionally to a fast food meal.  But I am NOT a normal eater. I am a food addict. You wouldn't treat yourself to an occasional cocktail if you were an alcoholic serious about recovery.

Well, that's exactly the same mentality I have with junk and fast  food.

Just as there is a difference between a casual drinker who drinks too much and an alcoholic, there is a difference between someone who needs to rethink their food choices and someone who is a food addict.  Honesty with yourself will tell you which category you fall into and dictate whether it is wise to expose yourself to temptation.  For me, living in the real world is all about learning how to make the right choices when temptation comes...as it always does.

 

As a college student still living at home who has struggled with weight issues this article is very helpful. Because I am still living at home I don't always get to pick where we go to eat (although my family has pretty much given up McDonald's). This is also true when visiting or traveling with another family. It would be incredibly rude for me to tell them exactly where we need to eat every meal. This is a great article for those of us who aren't on our own yet. Sometimes we just have to make healthy choices where we are. :)

Original Post by: minny125

I don't know whether I should be disappointed in the article or in the comments. First off, I'm not sure I get the point of providing such an article on CC. Shouldn't we be learning how to avoid these sort of meals? Second: I'm pretty sure McDonalds and Subway provide nutritional value on their websites. Is the average CCounter so lazy that he/she can't just browse the a company's  site and keep in mind a few options they prefer, should they want a treat?

Yes, there are moments to indulge, but this article (and most of the commenters) is refering to meals that are simply "easier".

Second, I find the point that "negativity is killing us all" invalid. The point is not being negative, but learning to make enlightened choices, which is why we are on this site in the first place. Is we were truly negative, we'd let unhealthy people deal with themselves while we criticize. This is a tool for empowerment. "YES BUT LIFE HAPPENS" What kind of sad life must you have? So you have children? and then what? You can be bothered to run your kids around their extra-curricular activities, help with homework, but god forbid you can't simply tell them that this food choice is not the best? That is a question of parental authority and education, not "life happening". If you have the time to read this article and its comments and use the site to monitor your caloric intake, you have the time to make A FULL MEAL that suits your lifestyle/diet for your trip or "when life happens", as opposed to packing snacks. 

 

Life does happen and being flexible is the key to survival. It's not just about what's easiest. Packing healthy meals for three days on the road (not to mention preparing for the three days back without access to a kitchen) is not a realistic plan for most people.

I tell my daughter no all the time when she wants to go through the drive through when we're on our way home to the made from scratch healthy meal I prepare most nights. She takes a lunch to school that's full of fresh fruit, veggies, whole grains, and low fat protein, despite begging to be able to buy the school lunch of pizza, chicken nuggets, etc.

Telling my husband no is a different story. I don't live in a sitcom or tv commercial where I get to tell him what he's allowed to eat. Co-existing with a spouse who doesn't share my current health goals is a reality I have to adapt to and one in which I will occasionally find myself staring at a fast food menu trying to pick the least bad thing.

I do look up the calorie counts for any place I go to eat (and honestly, it's easier to put together a low cal meal at a fast food establishment than it is at a sit restaurant).

I think the point of the article is not to encourage people to go eat fast food but to remind them that you don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater on the occasions you do.

I wish they had included the sodium content of these meals....In defense of CC they didn't claim this was a health choice, merely a lower calorie choice.

well said Klif

Original Post by: topset

really guys? fast foods meals? filet o fish?? chicken from McDonalds?

your reaction is irrational and this is coming from someone with bulimia

Original Post by: kitschdalliance

Original Post by: topset

really guys? fast foods meals? filet o fish?? chicken from McDonalds?

your reaction is irrational and this is coming from someone with bulimia

oh hay this was actually directed at Topset's rather shaming comment above, I hit the wrong quote button. ;)