From Cleveland Clinic
Are you a fast-food foodie?
You’ve got plenty of company. A recent Cleveland Clinic survey found almost half of Americans admitted they buy fast food at least once a week, with younger generations doing it the most. And while fast food may be convenient, it’s not exactly healthy.
“Sometimes, we can convince ourselves that some fast foods are healthy,” says Julia Zumpano, RD, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic. “I wouldn’t classify fast foods healthy by any means, but there are certainly choices that we can make that are definitely superior to others.”
Zumpano says that fast food provides very little nutrition and is mostly made up of processed ingredients – which can include saturated fats, trans fats and salt. And of course, all of those things can be bad for your blood pressure and cholesterol.
It’s best to avoid fast food or at least limit how much you are eating on a weekly basis. However, if you do have to get fast food, Zumpano recommends being mindful of where you’re going and what you’re ordering. She also says it’s best to avoid anything that is fried or breaded and instead, stick with grilled meats, salads and soups.
“Depending on where you’re going, if there’s more of a broth-based soup, or a baked potato, or maybe even a chili, something more along the soup aspect where you’re getting in maybe some vegetables, some leaner proteins, some beans, those would be another great way to go,” she advises.
if you keep a busier schedule and aren’t sure what to cook at home, consider buying frozen vegetables, salad kits or mixed greens, she says. Those won’t take long to make. The same goes for precooked meats and other side dishes, like beans, whole grain rice or noodles.
