4 Ways to Eat Fast Food on a Diet

1. Research Your Orders

Drive-thru windows and fast food menus are hardly the place to find diet-friendly foods and can often be very difficult to navigate if you are trying to eat healthy. The typical greasy fare of fast food restaurants is notoriously high in calories, with certain burgers and French fry sizes reaching thousands of calories per serving. Although it may be hard to believe, you can blow a day's worth of calories on a single meal at the drive-thru. The first step to eating healthy fast food is to research menu items ahead of time. Try accessing a nutritional value menu that may be provided online, and investigate your order of choice. Be aware of what you are putting in your mouth and how many calories it contains.

2. Get Over That Burger

There are very few benefits to ordering a typical fast food hamburger or cheeseburger. Try choosing a children's menu burger instead or eat the hamburger patty without the bun. Any hamburger can be made better simply by skipping cheese or creamy sauces and adding extra lettuce and tomato. The best sandwich option when eating fast food is a grilled chicken sandwich, not the fried or breaded variety. Ask that all sandwiches be made without fatty cheeses, mayonnaise or sauces, and opt for ketchup, mustard and vegetables as toppings instead. When in doubt, always choose grilled chicken or fish over fried items. This includes chicken strips and salads.

3. Choose Sides Wisely

French fries are a long-lasting staple of the fast food world, but they do not take kindly to the average waist line. If you cannot resist the lure of the French fry, order a small serving, split a serving with a friend or simply choose a healthier side whenever possible. Healthier alternatives include fruit cups, apple slices, sweet potatoes or baked potato chips. If possible, simply bring your own piece of fruit as a side. Many fast food restaurants offer diet friendly choices such as small fruit and yogurt parfaits from McDonald's (without the granola), an apple and walnut salad or even a small Frosty from Wendy's. When in doubt, the less you "super size," the more calories you will save.

4. Turn To Healthy Substitutes

A variety of fast food restaurants offer healthier menu items. For example, Taco Bell has a Fresco menu of tacos and burritos that skip the beefy additives and cheesy sauces. Subway is helpful in providing the calorie content of its sandwiches and subs. Nevertheless, certain menu items are disguised as healthy when they are really high in calories and fat. For example, salads can be dietary traps that appear nutritious, but may contain calories equal to a cheeseburger. Ask for salads without croutons, bacon bits or fried meat, and opt instead for extra veggies, grilled protein, nuts or fruit. Try requesting salad dressing on the side to control portion size and check the calories noted on the label. Low-calorie, fat-free and vinaigrette dressings are always the best choice, instead of creamy high-fat varieties.