Fast Food Can Be Good For Your Heart

Many people are eating on the run in today's busy world. Eating at home is generally healthier than restaurant fare. But it's still possible to make healthy selections if you have to eat fast food. The next time you're eating on the run, keep these pointers in mind to help you make better choices.

A lot of fast food franchises are well aware of the poor reputation that fast food has for clogging up the arteries. To meet the challenge, they have introduced many food choices that are better for you. For instance, many fast food chains now have salads on the menu. But be careful that you don't load up on dressing that's full of saturated fat. And if your salad comes complete with deep fried chicken on top, you can be sure it's not as heart healthy as the one featuring grilled chicken.

With sandwiches, you need to choose chicken that's grilled instead of deep-fried. And you can't go wrong by requesting extra vegetables on your sandwich. Rather than using mayonnaise for a dressing, choose ketchup or mustard, which are low in saturated fat.

While you’re deciding on sides for your meal, choose a salad or fruit rather than French fries. So instead of a lunch laden with saturated fat, you'll be feeding your body the fiber and vitamins it needs. Instead of soda, pick juice or milk to drink with your meal. This can aid in maintaining normal blood sugar and give you additional vitamins and minerals.

When you're truly craving a hamburger and fries, it's ok to give in once in a while. However, watch out for the size of the serving. A number of fast food establishments give you portion sizes that are enough for a couple of meals. Choosing a kid's meal or a small burger with french fries will help to hold down the amount of saturated fat you consume.

If you're feeding fast food to your kids, remember that there are usually some healthy choices you can make such as mandarin oranges or apple slices. Opt for juice or milk over soda.

In fast food Mexican eateries, a simple burrito or taco could actually be quite healthful. Make a point to add on as many veggies as you can to increase the fiber. Even though a taco salad seems like a healthy choice, it's usually packed with calories and saturated fats.

Choosing fast food for the majority of your meals can take its toll on your heart health when you don’t make good choices. Eating at home is the best choice. However, if that’s not feasible, why not try the "better for you" choices that are out there.