Other issues of Nutrition Advisor

Does fast food have to equal fat food?

No. Fast food does not have to equal fat food as long as you know what is in the foods you are eating and how to make the best choices! Why is fast food so popular? Mainly because it is fast, inexpensive and tastes good. The downside is that most fast foods tend to be high in fat, calories, sodium, cholesterol and sugar.

More eat fast food today
Eating away from home is becoming more common, particularly at fast food restaurants. Many adults rely on fast food daily for lunch because it is fast, predictable and inexpensive.

As the pace of the American lifestyle increases there is less time to prepare a home-cooked meal, which leads many families to stop at the drive-thru on their way home. This rise in fast food consumption may be one contributing factor to the rise in obesity among Americans, especially among children and adolescents.

High fat fast food meals take a toll
High fat diets, typical of fast food meals, contribute to a variety of negative and costly health outcomes, including obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease and some cancers. With the increase in consumption of high fat and calorie foods, there’s usually a decreased intake of foods rich in nutrients such as fruits and vegetables.

This doesn’t mean that all fast food is bad, and it would be unrealistic to recommend totally eliminating it altogether. If you choose to eat fast foods, try to limit it to once every few weeks. Most fast food establishments have nutrition guides available. Use this information, because if you know what you are ordering, you can occasionally fit fast food into a well-balanced diet.

When eating at fast food restaurants, follow these tips:

• Don’t “super-size” and save hundreds of calories.
• Skip the bacon, mayonnaise, sour cream and other high calorie toppings.
• Order items that are grilled and avoid the fried foods.
• Order a side salad with low-fat dressing along with your meal.
• Ask for extra vegetables on burgers and sandwiches.
• Pick broth-based soups and avoid the cream-based ones, which have lots of fat.
• If you order a baked potato, go light on the sour cream and butter.
• Choose low fat frozen yogurt or ice cream for dessert.
• Visit your favorite fast food restaurant’s website for their nutrition guide.

The Yale-New Haven Nutrition Advisor is created by registered dietitians and dietetic interns who staff the Nutrition Clinic at Yale-New Haven Hospital. For information, contact the Nutrition InfoLine at (203) 688-2422.

Related links and other online resources:

• Tips for eating fast food, American Heart Association
• The Fast Food Nutrition Fact Explorer

Other issues of Yale-New Haven Nutrition Advisor:

• The truth about trans fats
• Understanding yogurt
• Vitamin C for better health
• Thinking about going low-carb?
• What’s to drink?
• Delicious meals for half the fat
• Obesity—it's not just for grown-ups anymore
• Fruits and vegetables: Always in season
• Calcium: Not just for bones anymore!
• Mercury Rising
• A powerful B vitamin: Folate
• Vegging out

Last revised: March 10, 2005 (jj)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.