Archive for the ‘Health Debate’ Category

I read an interested article yesterday at health.com.  The authors listed 10 of what they considered to be the “healthiest” fast food restaurants in America.  And much to my surprise McDonald’s actually made the cut and Subway wasn’t even listed!

Here is the list of the “healthiest” fast food restaurants:

1.  Panera Bread

2.  Jason’s Deli

3.  Au Bon Pain

4.  Noodles and Company

5.  Corner Bakery Cafe

6.  Chipolte

7.  Atlanta Bread

8.  McDonald’s

9.  Einstein Bros. Bagels

10. Taco Del Mar

The irony of this list is that I personally have been trying to all but eliminate fast food from my life.  I really did eat it like it was going to be gone tomorrow.  And I am convinced that the stuff I was eating was filled with all kinds of addictive crap.  Not to mention I never felt good after eating it.  My body felt sluggish and tired.

With that said, I think that most fast food straight off the menu is extremely unhealthy (except for maybe the salads without dressing).

With modification, it could be okay.  But it takes modification to make it that way.  For instance, I used to LOVE the Premium Grilled Chicken Club sandwich from McDonald’s.  To make it “healthier” I would have to remove the bacon, cheese and mayo.  And so basically that still puts me at 350 calories for one sandwich.  Technically speaking the sandwich would no longer be a *club* sandwich and at that point I might as well order the Premium Grilled Classic Chicken Sandwich minus the mayo.

So at this point I am saying that in my humble opinion, I do not think that there is such a thing as a “healthy” fast food restaurant.  At least, not right off the menu without modification.

What do you guys think?  Is there such a thing as a healthy fast food restaurant?  Does the fast-food label always have to equal unhealthy?