Can Fast Food Be Good For Your Diet?

Yes it can. I never could have said this 10 years ago, but the fast food industry has tried hard to accomodate those of us that want to eat healthy and still go to our favorite fast food joints. When my son David first graduated from college, he managed Koo Koo Roo Restaurant in Los Angeles. This was a healthy fast food restaurant, and the food was great. One young man we knew decided to go on the Koo Koo Roo diet, where he ate only food from that restaurant for lunch and dinner everyday for a few months. The result was that he lost 20 pounds!

Now the big chains are all promoting their healthy food as a way to lose weight. Just look how successful the add campaign from Subway, with their spokesman Jared was. He ate Subway everyday, lost weight and kept it off. So now everyone is getting into the act. I just tried a new product from Taco Bell (I never go there, but I had a free coupon) from their Drive Thru Diet Menu. I had the chicken fresco taco. It was delicious and filling, and only about 180 calories.

So here are a few other players in the Diet fast food arena. El Pollo Loco has a skinless grilled chicken breast meal (no tortillas) for only 275 calories. Their tacos al carbon is 150 calories, although you'll need two of these to fill you up.

Would you believe KFC is really the leader in providing nutritional information to its customers? They have introduced grilled chicken, breasts for 180 calories, thighs for 140. They also offer complete meals with mashed potatoes and veggies for around 350 calories. One of their more inovative ideas is the introduction of exchange lists for diabetics. With 25% of the adult population either diabetic or pre diabetic, this is a fantastic idea. For example, the roasted caesar without dressing or croutons= 1 vegetable exchange + 3 1/2 lean meat exchanges. This may not make much sense to you if you're not diabetic, but to diabetics this is great information.

For years, Wendy's has offered a baked potato with sour cream and chives, a pretty filling lunch, for 320 calories.

Subway continues to show the way with many 6 inch subs under 350 calories and very low in fat. They also serve frest fruit as a side. I love their sandwiches and they are very filling. What could be better than a turkey breast sandwich piled high with veggies for 280 calories?

I'm on a diet, and many of you probably are too, so don't forget that dieting doesn't meant you can't go to these fast food places anymore. It only means you have to make sure you order properly. Each company has their nutritional guide on their website and posted in their store. So you can eat fast food if you do it right. No, Jan, you cannot go to Long John Silvers and get the fish and chips. Sorry.