Choosing Healthy

 
Being a college student who lives on her own, eating out or going through a drive through is most definitely the easiest thing to do. Cooking takes time, effort and skill and after a long day of classes and doing work in the library no one wants to go home and cook. Eating fast food is completely fine. But if you are going to do it a lot you need to be aware of what you are eating. Luckily almost every fast food chain has a website that lists nutrition information. Also for iphone lovers there is an app called “fast food” that tells you the nutrition information of almost every fast food place there is. Listed below are three commonly used fast food chains, some healthier options to try and some not so healthy options to stay away from.
 
Dunkin Donuts
If you get the multiple dunkin donuts gift cards for every holiday like me, you obviously want to use them right away! Choosing a healthy breakfast option at dunkin donuts may be a lot easier than you think.  Many people are under the impression that dunkin donuts only sells bagels and doughnuts. This is completely not true. Consider trying something new!
 
Choose:The egg white turkey sausage wake up wrap it holds only 150 calories, 5 grams of fat and 11 grams of protein. 
 
Stay away from:The bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel. This breakfast choice holds 530 calories and 19 grams of fat.

 
McDonalds
After a night of drinking every college student is craving grease. Having a McDonalds nearby at the Lee traffic circle can sometimes make it hard to avoid on the weekends. Although everything in moderation is the key here are some healthier options to think about trying.
 
Choose:If you need the grease, a basic hamburger without fries is the way to go. This greasy option only holds 250 calories.
 
Stay away from:The double quarter pounder with cheese and a large fry. You better be drinking water because this meal alone with no drink or dipping sauces holds 1,240 calories and 67 grams of fat.

Choose:The small strawberry banana smoothie, it holds only 210 calories.
 
Stay away from:The strawberry triple thick shake. This shake holds 1,110 calories which for most people is more than half of your daily caloric intake for one day!
 
Subway
Another very convenient option because it is so close to campus. Although subway is known to be a “healthy” fast food option, some food choices are just as high in calories and fat as McDonalds and other fast food chains.
 
Choose:My personal favorite, the 6” veggie delite. This sandwich is very filling and only holds 230 calories and 2.5 grams of fat.
 
Stay away from:The 6” chicken and bacon ranch. This sandwich is a whopping 570 calories and has 28 grams of fat.

 
Even though all of these numbers may not make since to some of you the take home message is everything in moderation. Eating fast food is okay. It just might not be okay to eat it for every meal. Be sure to not become too focused on calories and fat because we need those things in our diet!