Not only are fast foods high in fat and sugar, they contain lots of calories with little nutritional value. Besides the typical burger joint and taco shops, coffee shops offer many foods that are just as high in calories and fat as typical fast food.
Burritos
Carne asada burritos are one of American's favorite Mexican food, especially in southern California. It contains chunks of steak with guacamole, salsa, cheese and sour cream. Depending on the restaurant, they can pack in as much as 900 calories, with one-third of those calories coming from fat. Other fatty burritos include chorizo (sausage and eggs), California (carne asada with french fries), carnitas (pork) and fish (fried).
Burgers
Chili cheeseburgers have one of the highest fat and calorie ratios. They have almost 900 calories per burger, with half of the calories coming from fat, mainly saturated. Other fatty burgers include those with bacon, cheese, onion rings and mayonnaise. If you want healthier burgers, select burgers that are loaded with vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Meat patties should be about four to six ounces of lean beef.
Pastries
Coffee shops sell various types of pastries and other baked goods that are high in fat and calories, rivaling those of typical fast foods. Coffee cakes (140 grams) have between 500 and 600 calories per piece, with almost half of the content coming from fat. Muffins of various types (150 to 160 grams) have between 600 and 850 calories, depending if it has nuts or fruits in them. Plain croissants have between 300 and 350 calories, with one-fourth of the calories coming from fat. If you want to reduce the calories, eat half of the pastry and save the rest for later or share it with a friend.
Pizza
Pizza that contains mainly meats (pepperoni, sausage, beef, etc.) has the highest fat content. Meat-lover versions have about 350 to 700 calories per slice, depending on the pizza's diameter. Like the previous foods, half of the calories are from fat. Choose pizza that has lean cuts of meat like white meat chicken, vegetables and smaller sizes for less fat.
Chinese Food
Even Chinese food, known for its healthy, traditional cuisine, also have some dishes that very high in fat. Orange chicken (16 ounces) contains more than 500 calories, and half of its calorie are also from fat. In fact, any Chinese dishes that are fried or lack vegetables often are high in fat. It is best to eat these in moderation and eat more of the traditional lean meats, vegetables and rice dishes.
References
- "Perspectives in Nutrition;" Gordon Wardlaw and Margaret Kessel; 2002
- "The Calorie King Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter 2009"; Alan Borushek; 2009
Member Comments