How to Make Healthy eating Choices at McDonald’s

If you’re on a diet, you are probably trying hard not to even think about the food at McDonald’s, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Although McDonald’s is thought to be one of the most unhealthy places to dine, you can make smarter choices and healthier decisions. Here is a list of the good and the bad, I will tell you to EAT THIS NOT THAT!

Breakfast: McDonald’s may not be the best spot to stop for breakfast, but if its your only option, some choices are better than others.

Eat This- Egg McMuffin- 310 calories, 12g fat, 4.5 sat. fat, 0g trans fat, 860 mg sodium, 2 g fiber.

Not That- Sausage, egg and cheese McGriddle-560 calories, 32g fat, 11g sat. fat, 1.5g trans fat, 1300mg sodium, 1g fiber.

Now the egg mcmuffin isn’t the best breakfast choice, but compared to the other McDonald’s fare, it looks pretty good. If you pick the McMuffin over the McGridddle, you will save 250 calories, and 20g fat, not to mention get an extra gram of fiber. In addition, you will take in about 400mg less sodium.

Sandwhiches: McDonalds is world famous for their burgers, but you may have to think outside the beef, for healthier options.

Eat This- Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich- 420 calories, 9g fat, 2g sat. fat, 0g trans fat, 1240mg sodium, 3g fiber.

Not That- Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese – 730 calories, 40g fat, 19g sat. fat, 3g trans fat, 1330mg sodium, 3g fiber.

If you’re used to eating big burgers from McDonalds…STOP! McDonald’s burgers are loaded with artery clogging saturated fat. On the other hand, McDonald’s grilled chicken sandwich is trans fat free, and has only 9g of fat total. Unfortuantely both of these choices are high in sodium, but overall you would do yourself a huge favor to order the chicken sandwich instead of the greasy burger next time you’re in the McDonald’s line.

Salads: Salads…at McDonalds?! Thats right, Mickey D’s has a wide variety of salads to choose from, some of which have more fat than a double cheeseburger. Choose the lowfat dressings to save lots of calories and fat.

Eat This- Asian Salad without Chicken with lowfat dressing- 200 calories, 9.5g fat, 0g sat. fat, 0g trans fat, 765mg sodium, 5g fiber.

Not That-California Cobb with Crispy Chicken and Cobb dressing- 490 calories, 27g fat, 8g sat. fat, 1.5g trans fat, 1700mg sodium, 4g fiber.

At McDonald’s choosing a healthy salad may be harder than you thought. Crispy chicken and dressings adds extra calories and fat which counteract the benefits of a salad. Choose the asian salad with a lowfat dressing to keep the calories low. In addition, the McDonald’s asian salad has almonds, which are full off heart healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats.

Dessert: you may think that if you’re watching your weight you should skip dessert altogether, but I believe there is no shame in small indulgences. McDonald’s offers some terribly unhealthy desserts, as well as some which aren’t as bad. I think you know which choice to make.

Eat This- Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream (dish)- 130 calories, 3.5g fat, 2g sat. fat, 0g trans fat, 45mg sodium, 0g fiber.

Not That- Oreo McFlurry- 560 Calories, 16g fat, 9g sat. fat, 2g trans fat, 250mg sodium, 0g fiber.

McDonald’s ice cream is low in fat, and if you put it in a dish instead of a cone, it has only 130 calories. Unfortunately if you upgrade to the McFlurry, with Oreo cookies mixed in, fat skyrockets from 3.5g to 16g, not to mention 2 added grams of the worst kind of fat, Trans fat. The vanilla ice cream is tasty enough by itself, try to refrain from getting the sundae or McFlurry, and you’ll thank yourself at weigh in time.