Best Eating on the Road11.19.2007 
By: Kati ChevauxIt’s a difficult task to find healthy fast food meals on the road. But for OTR drivers, obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease are major concerns. To stay healthy and fit, skip foods that are high in fat, sodium and empty calories. To help, remember these tips about the best choices next time you’re at the fast food counter. Don’t settle for the cheapest and most filling meal – make health a priority! Basic Tips for Choosing Fast Food 1. Just order a sandwich. Pass on the salty fries, meal deals, and high-calorie side dishes. Instead, add a fresh apple, banana, nuts or plain popcorn to complete your meal. 2. Limit your soft drinks. They are high in sugar and calories, especially the “supersize” fountain drinks found at fast food restaurants and truck stops. 3. Keep it simple. Order sandwiches without cheese and special sauces. These extras add fat and sodium. The Best Fast Food Sandwich Choices Subway – Flexibility and healthy ingredients make Subway a smart choice. Basic 6” sandwiches get good marks for fat and saturated fat. Ask for lots of peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce – they add healthy fiber and nutrients to your meal. Pass on the mayo and extra sauces. The best 6” sub options are ham, tuna, roast beef, turkey breast, and the veggie delight™. Taco Bell – Choose beans as your “meat”--- they are healthy and nutrient dense. The best choices are a taco, taco supreme, soft taco, gordita supreme, and gordita baja. Go light or pass on the sour cream and guacamole. The Best of the Rest McDonald’s – Hamburger, Chipotle BBQ snack wrap™ with grilled chicken, honey mustard snack wrap™ with grilled chicken, and cheeseburger. Wendy’s – Ultimate chicken grill sandwich, crispy chicken sandwich, and the Jr. hamburger. Burger King – Hamburger, cheeseburger, and Whopper Jr. without mayo. Arby’s – Popcorn chicken with buffalo dipping sauce, Low Carby’s super roast beef, Low Carby’s regular roast beef, Low Carby’s beef ‘n’ cheddar, Low Carby’s Ultimate BLT, Arby’s Jr. roast beef sandwich, and Martha's Vineyard Salad™. Jack in the Box – Hamburger deluxe, hamburger, chicken sandwich, and the hamburger with cheese KFC – Honey BBQ sandwich, KFC Snacker – honey BBQ, and KFC Snacker – Buffalo. (Sandwiches were chosen based on calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium.)  |
