Shop Smart’s 12 Rules Of Fast Food Ordering

You may have remembered me posting something like this back in January. However the July 2008 Shop Smart from the publishers of Consumer Report have published these 12 rules of ordering fast food. These are some rules to live by…literally. So take it in and try to remember them next time you pull up the the golden arches or any other fast food franchise.

The 12 rules of fast-food ordering:

1. Look up nutritional stats at a fast-food chain’s Web site before you go there so you can plan your meal.
2. Ask if you can order that burger, chicken sandwich, or other item without the cheese and sauce. Or ask if you can get the sauce on the side, or order a half-portion.
3. Pass up combination meals. They’re designed to be filling. (Read: larger with more calories.)
4. Choose grilled or roasted meats over fried ones.
5. Split appetizers or turn a side into a main course.
6. Skip the fries. Instead, get a baked potato or some veggies on the side. A large order of fries can set you back as many as 600 calories. If you can’t live without them, split a large serving or order a small one and save 300 calories
7. Stick with “original” or “traditional” burgers and sandwiches, which tend to be smaller than newer menu items. And stay away from anything crispy, like Burger King’s Tendercrisp Chicken Sandwich (790 calories).
8. Don’t eat the top bun or bread slice.
9. Steer clear of regular mayo and cream dressings. Instead, ask for mustard, salsa, and low-fat mayo.
10. Order a salad but not one that comes in a calorie-dense deep-fried shell or is covered with cheese, croutons, or deep-fried or breaded meats.
11. Have a glass of water or a sugar-free drink. Regular sodas can have up to 400 calories a pop.
12. For dessert, stick with frozen yogurt or light ice cream—the child’s cup or cone size.

“And don’t think that some fast-food restaurants are better for your waistline than others. A recent study found that at Subway—famous for its ads featuring Jared “The Subway Guy,” who lost more than 200 pounds eating at the chain restaurant—people ended up eating about 350 more calories than they did at McDonald’s.”

I just want to add that it is very important to eat a good breakfast in the morning. Not only is this important to keep your metabolism in line but it makes a big difference come lunch time. If you eat a good solid breakfast, chances are you won’t be as hungry come lunch time. Also for me a sugary breakfast seems to always make me hungrier early in the day as opposed to if I eat a low sugar breakfast.

The 12 Rules Of Ordering Fast Food can be found in July’s issue of Shop Smart magazine

Image Source: Smart Shop Magazine July 2008 Issue