If you are crunched for time, but need a quick, healthy meal on the go, salads at the nearest fast-food joint may seem like the best option. Before you speed through another drive-through window, though, it may be beneficial to investigate the facts behind your favorite salad choices. The results may surprise you.
McDonald's
America's number one fast-food chain has launched several new and enticing salads in hopes of catering to a health-conscious population. The Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken is just one of these new "healthy delights." Without salad dressing, this 10.8-oz. salad is a mere 230 calories, with 9 g of fat, 30 g of protein and 10 g of carbohydrates. However, pouring the creamy ranch dressing packet over this healthy meal will add 130 calories and 23 g of fat.
Burger King
Burger King has done its best to maintain the original spirit of the fast-food industry: over-sized, multi-patty burgers and salt-drenched French fries, quick and easy. Yet with America's population anxiously fretting over their health and size of their waistlines, the King now offers salads. The Tendergrill Garden Salad is just 230 calories, 7 g of fat, 33 g of protein, and 9 g of carbohydrates. But toss this salad with a packet of Ken's Honey Mustard dressing and you quadruple the fat grams and more than double the total calories.
Wendy's
If you prefer Dave's version of health, you can try Wendy's BLT Cobb Salad. Without dressing, Dave's salad is 440 calories with 26 g of fat, 46 g of protein, and 9 g of carbohydrates. However, when you add the recommended avocado ranch dressing, your meal swells to 650 calories with 46 g of fat.
Sodium
Take away the salad dressing and you're choosing a pretty healthy meal. The problem is that all of these salads are loaded with sodium. Many contain almost half of the recommended sodium intake for one day. So, if you think there is not much difference between a healthy, grilled chicken salad you prepare at home and the one served out of a drive-through window, think again -- it just might save your heart.
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