Skinny Fast Food Hacks: 25 Ways to Cut Calories

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite fast food meals. With a few simple hacks, you can enjoy your favorite fast food meals while still cutting calories. In this article, we’ll explore 25 ways to cut calories when eating fast food. From ordering smarter to making simple swaps, you’ll find plenty of tips and tricks to help you enjoy your favorite fast food meals without sacrificing your health. So let’s get started!

Skinny Fast Food Hacks: 25 Ways to Cut Calories

Fast food can be a convenient and tasty option when you’re in a pinch, but it can also be loaded with calories. If you’re trying to watch your weight, you don’t have to give up fast food altogether. Here are 25 skinny fast food hacks to help you cut calories and make healthier choices.

1. Choose Grilled Over Fried

When you’re ordering, opt for grilled items instead of fried. Grilled chicken sandwiches, for example, are usually much lower in calories than fried chicken sandwiches.

2. Skip the Cheese

Cheese can add a lot of calories to your meal. If you’re trying to cut back, skip the cheese or ask for it to be served on the side.

3. Ask for Lettuce Wraps

If you’re ordering a burger or sandwich, ask for it to be served in a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. This can save you a lot of calories.

4. Go for the Smaller Size

When it comes to fries and other sides, opt for the smaller size. This will help you keep your portion sizes in check.

5. Choose Water or Unsweetened Tea

Skip the soda and other sugary drinks. Choose water or unsweetened tea instead.

6. Ask for Dressing on the Side

Salad dressings can be loaded with calories. Ask for your dressing on the side so you can control how much you use.

7. Skip the Mayo

Mayonnaise is high in calories and fat. If you’re ordering a sandwich, skip the mayo or ask for it to be served on the side.

8. Choose Whole Wheat Bread

If you’re ordering a sandwich, opt for whole wheat bread instead of white. Whole wheat bread is higher in fiber and other nutrients.

9. Ask for Extra Veggies

If you’re ordering a sandwich or burger, ask for extra veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. This will help you fill up on fewer calories.

10. Avoid High-Calorie Sauces

Many sauces are high in calories and fat. Avoid sauces like ranch, mayonnaise, and honey mustard. Instead, opt for low-calorie sauces like hot sauce or salsa.

11. Choose a Salad

Salads are a great way to get your veggies and they’re usually lower in calories than other menu items. Just be sure to watch your portion sizes and choose a light dressing.

12. Ask for No Butter

Many restaurants will automatically add butter to your meal. Ask for no butter to save some calories.

13. Skip the Bacon

Bacon is high in fat and calories. If you’re ordering a sandwich or burger, skip the bacon to save some calories.

14. Ask for No Salt

Many restaurants add a lot of salt to their food. Ask for no salt to reduce your sodium intake.

15. Choose a Fruit Cup

Fruit cups are a great way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals. They’re usually lower in calories than other desserts.

16. Ask for No Croutons

Croutons are high in calories and fat. Ask for no croutons on your salad to save some calories.

17. Choose a Wrap Instead of a Sandwich

Wraps are usually lower in calories than sandwiches. Choose a wrap instead of a sandwich to save some calories.

18. Ask for No Cheese Sauce

Cheese sauce is high in calories and fat. Ask for no cheese sauce to save some calories.

19. Choose a Side Salad Instead of Fries

Side salads are usually lower in calories than fries. Choose a side salad instead of fries to save some calories.

20. Ask for No Sour Cream

Sour cream is high in calories and fat. Ask for no sour cream to save some calories.

21. Choose a Veggie Burger

Veggie burgers are usually lower in calories than beef burgers. Choose a veggie burger instead of a beef burger to save some calories.

22. Ask for No Bacon Bits

Bacon bits are high in calories and fat. Ask for no bacon bits to save some calories.

23. Choose a Plain Bagel

Plain bagels are usually lower in calories than flavored bagels. Choose a plain bagel instead of a flavored bagel to save some calories.

24. Ask for No Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is high in calories and fat. Ask for no cream cheese to save some calories.

25. Choose a Fruit Smoothie

Fruit smoothies are a great way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals. They’re usually lower in calories than other desserts.

By following these tips, you can make healthier choices when you’re eating fast food. Remember, every little bit counts!

Ever surprise how some individuals appear to remain so slim with out slicing out their weekly lunches at Chick-fil-A? That enviable physique may very well be the results of genetics, a disciplined train routine, and/or smarter selections involving what these individuals eat for all of their different meals. Nevertheless, there’s additionally an opportunity these of us merely know learn how to make more healthy choices at a fast-food chain.

Imagine it or not, there are quick meals hacks fit-minded individuals have on the prepared. These easy tweaks can prevent a whole lot of energy at every meal, and there are dozens to be taught. We rounded up the most effective wholesome fast-food secrets and techniques. And to assist hold your waistline as slim as ever, be sure you check out these 21 Finest Wholesome Cooking Hacks of All Time.

Avocado wrap
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These paper-thin wraps that appear a lot more healthy than bread are nearly all the time loaded with energy, because of the added fats that is required to make them pliable. In truth, a big wrap can quantity to the carb and calorie equal of 4 or 5 slices of bread. Yikes! As a substitute, select bread that touts itself as 100-percent whole-grain or ditch the carbs altogether and order a protein-packed salad. Trying to increase your protein consumption much more? Get aware of The 29 Finest Sources of Protein for Weight Loss!

Dressing on salad
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When ordering a salad or a sandwich, the dressing you select could make or break the meal. Do not imagine it? Panera Bread’s Greek Salad has 410 energy, and topping it with a whole serving of Greek dressing provides one other whopping 230 energy and 25 grams of fats to the in any other case wholesome meal. Costume the salad with Panera’s Thai Chili French dressing as an alternative, which can price you simply 50 energy and 1.5 grams of fats. When ordering a salad or wrap at Chick-fil-A, the chain recommends you go for his or her mild Italian dressing, as a serving solely provides 25 energy to a meal.

veggie sandwich
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Subway, for instance, has a cavalry of tried-and-tested sandwiches on the prepared, however the chain additionally permits you to craft your personal creations. When making your personalised ‘wich, pile it excessive with fiber-packed produce equivalent to spinach, avocado, and tomatoes. Not solely are these dietary superstars filled with nutritional vitamins and minerals, however they’re going to additionally hold you satiated so you will not be tempted to achieve for unhealthy snacks. For make-your-own salads, use loads of colourful greens and high-quality proteins like grilled rooster.

loaf of unsliced fresh baked bread
Olha Afanasieva/Shutterstock

At fast-food and fast-casual eating places, particularly, it is easy to return throughout unhealthy breads being disguised as healthful ones. “Wheat” breads and “multigrain” breads all supply the promise of whole-grain goodness, however usually the truth does not match as much as what’s marketed. Many eating places equivalent to Panera make their “whole-wheat” bread with principally white flour. Search for the phrases “100% whole-grain” when deciding on an armature on your sandwich, and ensure there isn’t any belly-bloating added sugar.

Fast food combo value meal
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When grabbing grub at a fast-food restaurant the “combo” or “worth meals” are usually cheaper and make you are feeling such as you’re getting a greater deal, however oftentimes they’re additionally dietary nightmares. A examine within the Journal of Public Coverage & Advertising and marketing exhibits that in comparison with ordering à la carte, you decide up 100 or extra further energy by choosing the aforementioned low cost “worth meals.” That is as a result of, while you order gadgets bundled collectively, you are seemingly to purchase extra meals than you want or need, and find yourself overeating in consequence. To maintain your weight in examine, order your meals piecemeal as an alternative.

Butter
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If maintaining a healthy diet is high of thoughts, Chick-fil-A recommends you ask servers to go away out the butter on any of the chain’s traditional sandwiches. Omitting simply this one ingredient will shave a number of energy and fats grams off your meal, and it is a good tip to bear in mind irrespective of the place you eat out. Except for Chick-fil-A, diner-style eating places equivalent to Denny’s and IHOP have a tendency for buttering toast and pancakes earlier than serving them to you, so hold your eyes peeled.

American Cheese
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One other Chick-fil-A advice is to skip the cheese when ordering salads and wraps. This simple omission can save a number of hundred energy and ought to be put to good use irrespective of the place you determine to dine. This easy hack may apply to burgers, sandwiches, and even an array of usually tacky breakfast meals equivalent to a McDonald’s Egg McMuffin or a Burger King Croissan’wich.

kids happy meal
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When you’re craving a burger and fries, indulge with out going overboard by ordering off of the children’ menu. Youngsters’s parts are considerably smaller than regular-sized orders, which suggests they may also help fulfill your cravings with out undoing these weight reduction wins. A McDonald’s Joyful Meal full with Hen McNuggets, fries, apple slices, and a bottle of one-percent milk incorporates simply 410 energy, which remains to be 130 fewer energy than one Huge Mac sans sides or add-ons.

impossible burger
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Although vegetarian choices at fast-food eating places are sometimes few and much between, there are plant-based choices making their technique to menus. White Fortress teamed up with Unimaginable Meals to create a vegetarian model of its well-known mini-burgers, Burger King has its’ Unimaginable Whopper, Starbucks has the Unimaginable Sausage Breakfast Sandwich, and McDonald’s introduced a brand new plant-based McPlant sandwich is coming.

KFC famous bowl
Courtesy of KFC

KFC’s Well-known Bowl historically comes layered with creamy mashed potatoes, corn, crispy rooster bites, gravy, and shredded cheeses, which quantities to 740 energy. Whereas this meal packs in additional than half the day’s fats and nearly an entire day’s price of salt, there isn’t any want for the bowl to be that unhealthy. When you ask properly, chances are high the waitstaff can be greater than keen to construct a customized Well-known Bowl. If that is the case, go for a cheeseless bowl constructed upon a mattress of inexperienced beans as an alternative of mashed potatoes; these two easy swaps minimize greater than 200 energy!

panera bread
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As with many fast-casual chains included on this record, Panera has a secret menu. And although lots of the chain’s conventional sandwiches and salads are deceptively excessive in energy, there are a number of choices on the hidden record of choices which might be truly fairly nutritious. Take, for instance, the Energy Hen Hummus Bowl. The dish incorporates a mix of antibiotic-free rooster; satiating hummus; fiber-rich veggies equivalent to child spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, crimson onions; and is garnered with fresh-squeezed lemon and chopped cilantro, each of which have been scientifically confirmed to blast stomach fats.

Taco bell quesadilla
Taco Bell India/Fb

Although Taco Bell lags behind many different fast-food eating places in relation to wholesome choices, the chain’s Shredded Hen Mini Quesadilla from the greenback menu will fill you up with out breaking the calorie financial institution. Why? As a result of the tasty providing boasts 200 energy and 10 grams of satiating protein. By asking the employees to go simple on the chipotle sauce and three-cheese mix, it can save you an extra 30 energy. And swapping shredded rooster for steak cuts one other 10 energy from the nonetheless protein-packed meal.

Protein style burger at in-n-out
Kaley Roberts/Eat This, Not That!

West Coast burger chain In-N-Out is thought for its juicy burgers, however because of a not-so-secret menu, the meat patties could be loved sans bun. By ordering your burger Protein-Type you may simply forgo the bun and have your burger wrapped in hand-leafed lettuce as an alternative. Except for conserving the carb depend low, this easy swap saves 150 energy.

burger lettuce wrap
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Shake Shack has taken a cue from its West Coast rival and also will make a burger encased in lettuce leaves as an alternative of a carb-heavy bun, if requested. Contemplating one of many chain’s potato roll buns boasts 150 energy and 25 grams of carbs, this can be a strong swap to make if you happen to’re attempting to slim down. What’s extra? Even Shake Shack’s vegetarian-friendly ‘Shroom Burger could be made Protein-Type for a totally meatless and low-carb meal.

chipotle veggie salad bowl
Jessica D./Yelp

Chipotle is thought for crafting massive burritos, however the Mexican fast-casual chain boasts more healthy choices, too. For instance, do you know you can order a salad that packs a taste punch much like the beloved burritos however for a lot fewer energy? With the salad, you skip the burrito shell and rice and are handled to some fiber-rich leafy greens as an alternative. You may then high your wholesome salad with the identical fixings you’d usually stuff in your burrito, equivalent to steak, black beans, grilled veggies, and contemporary tomato salsa. We would advocate skipping the chipotle-honey French dressing dressing although (only one serving incorporates 220 energy). When you want one thing to fill you up, select a small serving to of guacamole as an alternative. Although it has 230 energy, the avocado-based topping in loaded with wholesome fat and can assist hold you satiated till your subsequent meal.

Chipotle steak tacos corn tortillas
Chipotle Mexican Grill/Fb

If a salad does not do it for ya, go forward and get some tacos. Although they usually come three to an order, chipotle will truly allow you to order a single taco if you want. As nutritionist Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN informed us in our roundup of Nutritionist-Accredited Chipotle Orders, she’s keen on the mushy corn tacos with steak, cheese, fajita greens, lettuce, and contemporary tomato salsa. At round 340 energy for the pair, these infants present about 6 grams of fiber and 27 grams of protein. “The meal can be a wonderful supply of calcium, iron and nutritional vitamins C and A,” she explains.

Mayo
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Imagine it or not, each burger you order at Burger King comes with mayonnaise already slathered on the bun, however if you happen to’re trying to minimize some energy, you may merely ask on your meal to be made with out the fatty condiment. That straightforward transfer alone can prevent upwards of 90 energy and 10 grams of fats!

Turkey sandwich
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Shave some fats off your Arby’s order by ordering a Turkey Reuben. This off-menu merchandise has all the flavour of an everyday Reuben however with a barely much less indulgent calorie depend because of the protein-packed turkey. For one thing much more waistline-friendly, attempt the Turkey Basic—a tackle the chain’s ever-popular Roast Beef Basic that is made with 3-ounces of sizzling, lean turkey as an alternative of beef.

Chick fil a spicy sandwich
Courtesy of Chick-fil-A

The Spicy Char is not listed on Chick-fil-A’s menu, however it’s a fantastic possibility for these trying to shed a number of kilos. The sandwich is made with unbreaded, char-grilled rooster breast that is been sprinkled with metabolism-boosting spicy seasonings, and is served on a bun of your selection. The key merchandise additionally comes with toasted dill pickle chips, and bears a outstanding resemblance to Chick-fil-A’s Spicy Hen Sandwich, solely this model has fewer energy and fats as a result of it skips the breading and is not pressure-cooked in oil.

Salad seeds nuts avocado tomato
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In accordance with Subway’s former Senior Dietitian, Lanette Kovachi, MS, RDN, any of the chain’s scrumptious subs could be made right into a veggie-filled salad—even when it isn’t on the menu. This good swap can prevent about 170 energy, on common. “It should additionally up your vegetable consumption to about 2.5 cups, which is a day’s price,” Kovachi tells us in 10 Finest Subway Sandwich Ideas.

sliced sandwich bread on a cutting board
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Trying to save energy with out fully giving up your Subway sub? “One other hack to chop the energy and carbs from any sandwich is to ask to have bread ‘scooped’ out,” Kovachi explains. This particular request provides you with a sandwich with far much less mushy, fluffy bread under the crust, however it should nonetheless style nearly precisely because it was meant.

Starbucks coffee cup
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Starbucks is thought for serving drinks in Tall, Grande, Venti, and even Trenta sizes, however for the favored espresso chain, Brief can be an possibility. The 8-ounce Brief incorporates 4 fewer ounces than the following measurement up (Tall) and might prevent a whole lot of energy whereas additionally being simple in your pockets.

Soy milk
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When ordering at Starbucks, milk can have a big effect on the dietary profile of your order, as can calorie-dense toppings equivalent to whipped cream. When you’re watching your weight, go for 2% milk over skim. Although skim milk has fewer energy, Starbucks’ two-percent packs in a gram much less sugar and a strong dose of wholesome fat. When you want a plant-based milk, select the almond or soy over the coconut milk, which has only one gram of protein and no fiber per 12 ounces.

Spices in jars
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Starbucks’ array of sugary syrups is a part of its enchantment, however the sickeningly candy concoctions additionally play a serious position in packing the chain’s beloved drinks with a whole lot of further energy and grams of sugar. Whereas every flavored pump packs in about 20 energy and 5 grams of sugar, tasty spices equivalent to nutmeg and cinnamon are low-cal and wholesome in their very own proper, so season your drinks with them as an alternative. Along with balancing your blood sugar (an vital element for weight reduction) research have proven cinnamon could enhance ldl cholesterol, forestall towards food-borne sickness, keep at bay the results of Alzheimer’s, and supply remedy for ladies with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Iced coffee
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Whereas a Grande Iced Caffè Latte with 2% milk incorporates 130 energy, the steamed model of that very same beverage racks up 190 energy. Why such a giant distinction? It seems that ordering your favourite drink froze sizzling can prevent a number of energy as a result of, naturally, a number of the milk is changed with ice. In different phrases, go for cooler drinks if you happen to’re watching your weight.

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