You’re eating better, exercising more and you even quit smoking to protect yourself against heart disease. Congratulations, you deserve to wear red on Feb. 5, National Wear Red Day, to help raise awareness of heart disease prevention.
But what else can you do in the fight against heart disease, which is predicted to kill about 400,000 Americans in 2010 alone? For starters, you can learn about which fast-food restaurants have healthy dining options, in case you’re traveling and have to stop somewhere for a quick bite to eat.
Of course, since fast food is often high in sodium, the best option is to bring along your own food. But if you have to stop for fast food and only eat it occasionally, the following options are healthiest in terms of fat and calories.
Panera Bread:
• Half turkey-artichoke on foccacia with a bowl of black bean soup or garden vegetable soup.
McAlister’s:
• Chipotle Chicken Wrap
• Build-Your-Own Deli Sandwich: Smoked Turkey on Wheat or Harvest Wheat (no cheese or mayo) with any mustard and lots of vegetables
• Spud Ole’ (no cheese)
• Grilled Chicken Spud (cheese is ok)
McDonalds:
• Egg McMuffin
• Sausage Burrito
• English muffin, 1 packet of grape jam, Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfait
• Two regular hamburgers (no cheese, no mayo) with a side salad, snack size Fruit and Walnut salad or Apple Dippers
• Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich with mustard or barbecue sauce
• Caesar salad with grilled chicken, Newman’s Own Balsamic Vinaigrette, Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfait
• Big Mac, side salad or Apple Dippers
• Quarter Pounder (no cheese), side salad or Apple Dippers
• Vanilla reduced fat ice cream cone
Kentucky Fried Chicken:
• Grilled chicken breast and wing
• Grilled chicken thigh and drumstick
• Original Recipe Sandwich without sauce
• Triple Crunch Zinger Sandwich without sauce
• Tender Roast Sandwich without sauce
• Honey BBQ Flavored Sandwich
• Colonels Crispy Strips, three pieces
• Spicy Crispy Strips, three pieces
• Honey BBQ Strips, three pieces
• Blazin Strips, three pieces
• Mashed potatoes with gravy
• Corn on the cob
• BBQ baked beans
• Green beans
Chick-Fil-A:
• Chicken breakfast burrito
• Two scrambled eggs, two bacon slices, medium fruit cup
• Two scrambled eggs, 1 breakfast filet, medium fruit cup
• Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich (no sauce), carrot side salad
• Chargrilled Chicken Cool Wrap with one packet light Italian dressing, medium fruit cup
• Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad, one packet Reduced Fat Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette, small bowl of Chicken Soup
• Southwest Chargrilled Salad (no tortilla strips), one packet fat-free honey mustard dressing or low-fat ranch dressing
• Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich on wheat bun without butter, side salad, fat-free honey mustard dressing
• Chargrilled Chicken and Fruit Salad, one packet Reduced Fat Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
• 8-count Chick-Fil-A Nuggets, one packet buffalo sauce, side salad, light Italian dressing, small Icedream cone
Taco Bell:
• Fresco Bean Burrito
• Two Fresco Soft Tacos with Pintos (no cheese) as a side
• Three Fresco Crunchy Tacos with Pintos (no cheese) as a side
• Two Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Tacos with Pintos (no cheese) as a side
• Two Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Tacos with Pintos (no cheese) as a side
• Grilled Chicken Burrito
• Fresco Burrito Supreme with Chicken with Pintos (no cheese) as a side
• Fresco Burrito Supreme with Steak with Pintos (no cheese) as a side
• Fresco Fiesta Chicken Burrito
Wendy’s:
• Junior Hamburger with a small chili on the side
• Grilled Chicken Sandwich and a side salad
• Large chili with saltine crackers
• Baked potato, broccoli and cheese
• Baked potato, sour cream and chives
• Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Arby’s:
• Hot Ham ‘N Cheese
• Baked potato
• Market Fresh Santa Fe Salad with grilled chicken
• Market Fresh Martha’s Vineyard Salad
• Market Fresh Mini Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
• Market Fresh Mini Ham and Cheese Sandwich
• Junior Roast Beef Sandwich
As with anything, moderation is key in losing weight and preventing heart disease. But it’s nice to know that healthier options are available when you have to grab a quick meal outside your Detroit apartment.
For more information on preventing heart disease, visit the American Heart Association or the Center for Disease Control.
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