Comments on: Debate time: Is there such a thing as a “healthy” fast food restaurant?

By: Dr. J

Dr. J — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:13:05 +0000

You are absolutely correct! No such thing as a healthy fast food restaurant! Their mission is to addict you to their food, and therefore they cannot be trusted!

By: Zan

Zan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:47:48 +0000

While there are healthier choices at fast good restaurants, you really can’t call them healthy. The very nature of fast food usually precludes it from being prepared in any manner that might reduce the health costs. Along with the fact that no chef/fry cook/ whatever will ever prepare things the same way.

You hit the nail on the head here. In order to actually control what you’re eating, the no mayo, no bacon, no butter, no cheese route is usually the only way to go.

That being said, I do maintain a list of meals from fast food restaurants that I can eat in the regular course of the day without throwing myself off track.

By: Anonymous Fat Girl

Anonymous Fat Girl — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:23:36 +0000

I agree with you there’s no way you’re eating at McDonald’s healthy unless you just eat lettuce. LOL

I am surprised that Subway didn’t make it. I wonder if this study was funded by those that paid the most to make the cut? It wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

I am convinced there is something in McDonald’s fries/oil. Every time I have any of their fries it triggers me to eat and eat and eat…

By: tiffany

tiffany — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:42:08 +0000

I am with the others in that there is no way to say that these are healthy places to eat- they are by no means the ideal. However, I live in the real world where having to run through a drive through might just have to happen once a month and I appreciate the fast food’s industry *attempt* at making healthy alternatives. For example, today I woke up late so I couldn’t make my lunch, my lunch break got shot so I ran through Wendy’s and grabbed a large chili- it was yummy, filled with protein, cheap, fast, and under 300cals.

By: WaistingTime

WaistingTime — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:56:51 +0000

I think there are some reasonable options… but maybe never as good as eating as home. I would also love some frozen entrees that fit my eating plan for the moments of desperation in getting a quick meal cooked. The closest I have come is Kashi because of the whole grains.

By: Diane Fit to the Finish

Diane Fit to the Finish — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:50:10 +0000

I’m like your previous commenter – there are healthy options, but I don’t think any of those restaurants could be genuinely called “healthy” as a whole. That’s what makes it so hard to eat out because some of there healthy offerings aren’t nearly as appealling to the palette or the eye as some of their more standard offerings.

By: Happy fun pants

Happy fun pants — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:21:54 +0000

I think that there is healthy options at fast food places – it just depends on what you’re using as your criteria for “healthy.” Is is calories? Is it fat grams? Is it carbs?

If it’s food that actually has nutritional value, there are several on your list that have that. Chipotle, for instance, is pretty good about having higher quality ingredients. Since I follow Weight Watchers and the points system, I can say that it typically is higher in points…but again, that’s because I love guacamole and cheese.

If you’re looking for low point items, Taco Bell has many that are only 3 or 4 points a piece. When I’m trolling fast food places, that’s one of the options I always know I can have. Chick-Fil-A has plenty of options too.

By: DadShrinks

DadShrinks — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:20:25 +0000

Give me a Harvey’s chicken breast on a wholewheat bun, with a little lettuce, onion, pickle, and BBQ sauce – plus a bottle of Dasani, and that’s as close to fast food healthy eating as I ever get. Cheers!