The least healthy fast foods can be determined by asking ourselves one main question: “Is what I ordered deep fried or greasy?”
Healthy fast foods can be found with minimal deep-fried menu items. Below is a list of the least healthy fast foods. These should be avoided if your looking to follow a healthy lifestyle.
It’s good to remember that a general rule of thumb for looking for non-oily/greasy fast-foods is to look for Spanish-influenced fast-food chains like Taco Bell, Moes, Cabo Fresh, and Chipotle. We also see even healthier options at sandwich-based fast-food places like Subway, Jersey Mikes, and Quizno’s.
This is not to say that places like Taco Bell are healthy and should be eaten regularly. But when compared to places like Wendy’s and McDonald’s, driving towards that big bell off the freeway is always our best bet.
Cheese Burgers
As mentioned in my previous article, the chicken should be the meat of choice.
Check out our list of the healthiest high-protein fast-food chicken sandwiches here!
This is because chicken is lean and provides a greater energy source throughout the day. Red meat is usually harder to digest for our bodies and much higher in fat.
Anything with Heavy Cheese or Mayo
Even though Taco Bell and Subway are healthier options, there are still items on the menu that are by far a bite away from a clogged artery.
McDonald’s has a Nutrition Calculator, which can show you the benefits of removing the cheese and mayo.
For example, when looking at McDonald’s Fillet-O-fish, which has both tartar sauce (soybean oil is the first ingredient) and cheese, if you remove both, according to their nutrition calculator, the calories drop from its original count of 390 to 270 calories. That means we save 120 calories just by removing the mayo-based sauce and cheese!
When it comes to Taco Bell, it’s no secret that many (okay, most) of their menu items come with cheese either on the food, in the food, or on the side of the food. Though it may be a surprise that removing the cheese is not difficult, in fact, it is a very common request at Taco Bell. You can even substitute something else in there instead, like beans, rice, or guacamole, for a small upcharge, usually under $1.
French Fries
Anything fried in oil should generally be avoided. This goes for vegetables (I mean starches) like potatoes. Try opting for a side of something heartier like mashed potatoes (Boston Market).
Corn Dog or Hot Dog
Meat that does not share the animal’s name is usually a rule of thumb of what should be avoided. Because if you don’t know exactly what you’re eating… don’t eat it. But taking that mystery meat, soaking it in batter, and then deep frying adds fuel to the fire.
Again, when it comes to your choice of meat, even in places that aren’t fast food, it is best to avoid meats that are not white meat or ones where the animal is not specified (ex: baloney, pepperoni, sausage, hot dog). Places like Boston Market are great for hearty meats like rotisserie chicken and turkey.
Shakes, Sweets, and Soda
Advances in science and health have taught us that sugar is the enemy. Gone are the days when just fat and carbs were the factors to watch. Now, sugar has made it to the top of the nutritionist’s list when it comes to the ingredients that should be avoided.
I haven’t even gotten started on the “empty calories.” This is a rabbit hole I could talk about for hours. But in short, it basically causes our body to pack calories onto our fat cells without any sort of registering to go on in your energy sector.
These calories surpass your stomach and energy cells and go straight to the fat cells. So, you can accumulate an entire day’s worth of calories, and your stomach will still be growling as if it received nothing. Because technically, it did. However, our fat cells will beg for a break and a mere sip of water.
Oil is the Enemy
Oil and grease are the unhealthiest parts of eating at fast food places. Places that serve generic American foods like burgers, French fries, and hot dogs are normally what we should avoid the most when considering healthier options.
What Now?
Whether you are looking for healthier options or a list of the least healthy fast foods to avoid, know it is easy to make small changes in a practical way. We no longer have to bite on celery sticks to be “healthier.” Minor changes are just fine and will go a long way for our bodies.