Skip the fast food line...

I see people try to make healthy choices when they eat fast food.  They get salads.  Sure, it's got some green in there - but unfortunately that doesn't make it a healthy option.  The healthy option is to go home and fix dinner.  Plan that into your schedule and stick to it. Everyone benefits. If you can stop at McDonald's or any other fast food joint, and spend 15 minutes in line after work to get dinner (because we all know those lines are packed after work and that's realistically how long it takes - is it really that fast after all?  I think of it more as 'lazy food')  why couldn't you just go straight home and fix a healthy dinner??

Anyways, here's the nutrition information for some salads from some popular fast food places.  All of this information can be found on their websites, most people just don't care to look.  Some people may see the calories and not think too much of it -- take a look at the sodium & cholesterol!  So scary.  Keep in mind, there is sodium in almost everything we eat, and the recommended daily allowance for sodium is 1500mg!

McDonalds

Premium Bacon Ranch Salad w/Crispy Chicken *Without Dressing*

390 Calories

22g Fat

70mg Cholesterol

870mg Sodium

24g Carbs

4g Fiber

26g Protein

Premium Bacon Ranch Salad w/Grilled Chicken *Without Dressing*

230 Calories

9g Fat

85mg Cholesterol

700mg Sodium

10g Carbs

4g Fiber

30g Protein

Newman's Own Ranch Dressing (1 Pack)

170 Calories

15g Fat

20mg Cholesterol

530mg Sodium

9g Carbs

1g Protein

Wendys

Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad *Without Dressing*

460 Calories

25g Fat

85mg Cholesterol

1410mg Sodium

27g Carbs

6g Fiber

33g Protein

Lemon Garlic Caesar Dressing (1 Pack)

110 Calories

11g Fat

180mg Sodium

2g Carbs

2g Protein

Chick-Fil-A

Chick-N-Strip Salad *Without Dressing*

470 Calories

23g Fat

1340mg Sodium

27g Carbs

41g Protein

Fat Free Honey Mustard Dressing (1 Pack)

60 Calories

5g Fat

210mg Sodium

14g Carbs

Chick-Fil-A Sauce (1 Pack)

140 Calories

13g Fat

170mg Sodium

6g Carbs

0g Protein

Compare this to a salad you could make at home.... 

4oz Skinless Chicken Breast, 2.5cups baby spinach, 1oz shredded carrots, 1cup sliced mushrooms, 1/4 cup peas, 1/4 cup onion 

203 Calories

1.52g Fat

70mg Cholesterol

62.3mg Sodium

15.8g Carbs

4g Fiber

30.2g Protein

Add 2Tbsp Fat Free Ranch Dressing (for example) -- and you only add -- 

45 Calories, 0g Fat, 0mg Cholesterol, 350mg Sodium, 10g Carbs, 0g Protein

Less than half the sodium, fat, & calories, and close to half the carbs - and considerably less Cholesterol!  And you could fix that salad in 15 minutes - same amount of time you'd spend waiting in line at a fast food joint after work! AND to top it all off - you'll make your own salad for probably less than half the price of the bad for you salad you'll get at a fast food place.

Just something to think about...