Healthy Fast Food Takes Another Hit

I think the most telling part of the article is the brief discussion of the fact that when people go out to eat, they are less conscious of the healthfulness of food choices, particularly in the case of fast food.

Just to throw out a few ideas based on generalizations. I'm stating now, up front in big letters so nobody misses it, NOTHING I AM ABOUT TO SAY HERE CAN POSSIBLY APPLY TO ALL PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.

Common sense indicates that people who see healthy eating and nutrition as important goals in their daily lives, for whatever reason, are unlikely to eat at fast food restaurants on a regular basis to begin with. It is much more likely that the majority of the food they consume will have been purchased from a grocery store and prepared at home. If they do need a quick lunch on the go, it is also unlikely they will be frequenting establishments that specialize in and have a reputation for providing big greasy burgers and fries to get a salad. They are more likely to find an alternative, such as Subway or a deli salad bar or a Japanese food kiosk that serves fresh vegetables with rice and lean beef/chicken (one of my favourite fast lunches), that ROUTINELY offer healthy choices and have spent effort in developing a nutritous menu that tastes good, not just some token salad to appease their social conscience.

It is also then reasonable to suspect that when people who are focused on healthy eating and nutrition do go out to eat at a place that specializes in and has a reputation for serving greasy burgers and fries, that's what they want - greasy burger and fries. Why would they order a salad or yogurt parfait from McDonald's or Ruby Tuesday's when they make salads at home on a day to day basis that are fresher and taste better than some token wilted lettuce at a fast food chain? No, they want to splurge on that one greasy "treat" a month, or whatever.

I would venture to say that people who are truly conscious of health and nutrition tend to avoid fast food places as a rule, which probably explains why those places aren't selling more token "healthful items" on the rest of their greasy and nutritionally deficient menus. I'm sure they do get the occasional order from someone who's been dragged their by his or her kids/date/family.

But the "healthful options" will not attract customers who care about nutrition that weren't eating there in the first place.

If I want a salad, I'll go to my grocery store and buy lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onions, croutons, peppers, low-cal dressing and a chicken breast. I won't go to Wendy's. If I want a burger, I'll go to Wendy's.

This article isn't telling us anything that common sense doesn't tell us.

All this menu changing hasn't been necessary. You can low fat, low cal. or low carb, for yourself, any burger chain menu. Just stay away from the meal deals and customize your order. Burger King is famous for "have it your way".

Fast food is all about... well... fast. It's a convenience thing, and I eat fast food because I'm lazy in the kitchen and often pressed for time.

When I do, it'll be a sub from subway, or a salad from McDonald's. The places that have few or poor options I avoid (typically KFC, Burger King). In our busy fast culture, fast food is a way of life. If you travel a lot - you will know what I mean.

My kids are 8,5,and 2. They can spot the golden arches from miles away.

I would agree with KiKi that when we make the decision to go to McDonald's or other fast food joints, we aren't there for the salads, we're there for the grease.

Of course, these days we aren't there at all. I still haven't gotten over the shock of the documentary, Super Size Me.

I know for me it is easier to eat healthy by NOT going to those places. I'm not going to order a salad when I have a double cheesburger with bacon and ranch on it staring at me from across the page. That is just the way I am, so I avoid them. See no evil, eat no evil.

I too avoid fast food for the most part. More often since I saw Super Size Me.

Most critics center on the fact the he was eating excessive amounts and deserved what he got, but the shocking truth is many Americans eat that stuff just like he was doing for more than just 1 month.

Its pretty much the cause of childhood and adult obesity in this country. Mainly because fast food is an easy way of feeding our fat and sweet tooths and its addictive.

Though, I'm happy to note that my child doesn't like fast food that much. Though he'll eat an occassional fry or breaded chicken finger. But I keep those to a minimum and make sure that he has eaten healthier foods first so he only eats a little bit of the bad stuff.

Here's a tip to sneak in the veggies: Cut up zucchini to look like fries. Bread and fry or bake. They taste great with ketchup or ranch dressing. I haven't tried this with carrots but it might work.

Everything in moderation. Even fast food but there are alternatives at most fast food establishments that are downright healthy. Subway has some subs that are really good and nutritious. You can always get a salad at mcDonalds as well.

I am disgusted with the unhealthy changes in Ruby Tuesday Salad Bar. I do not like the Romaine lettece having cheese and salad oil all over it. No RAW fruit in fruit bar now except for apple salad which frequently has spoiled apples - NO cole slaw anymore. I do NOT consider canned fruit and pudding fruit salads. Cherry tomatoes are frequently spoiled too. These changes seem to be standard fare now at Marley Station, MD and Urbanna Pike in Frederick, MD and Columbia, MD and some PA restaurants, too. What happened to the watermellon, grapes and other raw fruit in salad bar. The Low carb creole catch is gone -- now bread that we don't want. Ruby Tuesday used too much cheese -- no real vegetarian soups without cheese. We're to the point of just not going anymore.

The salads at McD's are so tiny and tasteless (no dressing of course). I agree with Kiki, when I have to have fast food, I'll just go to Subway's or else go to any ethnic food place that has lighter fare. I don't go to a burger place.

I must admit that I have never tried a McDonalds salad or fruit salad. Ditto for Wendys and whomever else is promoting them these days. Jan hit the nail right on the head when she said that they are "tasteless". I didn't even need to try one to figure that one out. Iceburg lettuce and hothouse (or mostly green) cherry tomatoes does not a salad make (in my opinion anyway).

During my seven year stint in England, I learned one thing - the use of different types of lettuce (many which, funny enough, look like weeds!) can make or break a salad. Radicchio, lambs lettuce, endive, romaine, etc. can add so much flavor, even before you add the 'extras' (and I don't mean oil and cheese!). Those lettuces also last longer than iceburg, which tends to dry out and turn brown very quickly.

If I want a quick salad, I simply grab a bag of Mediterranean mixed lettuce, some green onions, a nice, ripe tomato, a few mushrooms - throw them all into a large bowl and divide it as needed into a zip-lock baggie. Add a tablespoon of low-fat dressing if you want (or take a bit to work) drop it in the bag and give it a shake. Instant salad with much more flavor, less money per portion and the same convenience as McDonalds. Just an idea for you. :)

Alisha

I don't like the limited options of fast-food salads/healthy options either. I try to avoid fast food whenever possible, but my husband LOVES burger king, so I like that I at least have some sort of option. Let's face it, healthy delicious food is not their niche. They're better at the grease-ball stuff. If I want a decent salad, I do what Alisha does...go to the grocery store and buy a bag of fresh lettuce, a decent onion, some mushrooms, maybe some tomatoes if they're ripe, and use my own low fat dressing. Much tastier and healthier.

Super Size Me is just pro-"nanny state" propaganda. If you went to Subway for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and got a footlong said "yes" to every condiment and extra offered (including potato chips if offered), you would get fat and unhealthy too. Supersizing was great because my girlfriend and I could order one and split it for about 60% of the price of ording the same amount of food in two separate orders. Thanks to the food Nazis, we have to pay more now.

In the end, calling something "healthy" is an overly vague term. It is something that each of you probably define differently. Some of you define it as being nutritious and others would say it is low calorie. To those of you who are masochists (and admit it, many of you think vinegar tastes better than chocolate sauce), it is anything that tastes foul. But to an anorexic, low calorie is UNHEALTHY, and you would get a lot of nutrients if you ate a large pizza all by yourself. And lets face it, water and acetic acid (the two major components in vinegar) are not not exactly health food(and vinegar is not a good source for water, so no smart Alec comments).

But, just for the proof in the pooding, I used to commute to work and I ate fast food every day for lunch and maintained a healthy weight and was rarely sick. I've lived closer to work for the past couple years and eat a home cooked meal with vegetables and fruit and since I've gained about 40lbs and have this year racked up several thousand dollars in medical bills (much probably related to my weight change and resultant change in health). Why? Because at a fast food restaurant I got a "controlled dose" of food, but now I tend to fix more food than I should be eating. So, for me, fast food was "healthy" and a vitamin filled home cooked meal will probably kill me if I don't change my lifestyle.

Fast food only is fat on a bun all i am trying to say is that students should not eat fast-food all the time.

does eating fast food are always unhealthy?

I'm Katy, I'm 13, almost 14. I weigh about 112-114 and I'm 5'3... I'm pretty sure I'm no where close to being overweight, but I'm always concerned with my body fat which seems to be a bit much then I need... is it just all in my head? I try really hard to feel confident about myself and say 'your perfectly fine' but its just so hard seeing all these anorexics and stuff. My parents aren't necessarily obese, my mother's pretty skinny for having four kids, actually :P Should I just excercise? Any advice?

Thanks!!!