That Has Too Many Calories, but Who's Counting?

Eating out- has become a way of life for many Americans. Our society has become busier than ever and Mom doesn't stay at home and bake cookies every day. In most cases it takes a two family income to just survive, so that leaves no one at home to prepare meals. The solution to that dilemma is that we choose to just eat out. We stop in the morning on the way to work or school and pick up a fast-food breakfast sandwich. How about the stop before work for that humongous cup of gourmet cappuccino? Yumm, I can taste it now. We work late or have after school activities and we stop on the way home to eat or bring food back to the family. The era of the family dinner made with love by Mom, is past. Now if Mom loves us she will bring us home the pizza with the extra cheese just the way we like it.

The result of all of this eating out is that we as a whole, are growing larger and more unhealthy. Most restaurants have increased the size of their meals by more than half, as the demand for larger portions is heeded. The size of the 'burger and fries' that we remember in our younger days has become just that, 'Kid's meals'. Adult meals have gone from a quarter pounder to a heart attack in a bun, with as much as four meat patties and four pieces of cheese along with special sauce and bacon. Health costs are soaring as we attempt to tend to all of the results of our 'fast' living or should I say, fast-food living? The most horrible result of our conquest for the biggest meal, is that we are passing our habits on to our children. Obesity in our children has become a major health problem. Our children are no longer playing outside or doing physical chores to burn off all those calories. Now they sit in front of the TV or play endless, mindless video games and become more and more unhealthy and overweight.

In the quest for a healthier lifestyle I have tried to give you some choices that are available while eating out. The ultimate choice is yours. Calories and fat add up when choosing those meals on the run. The names in this article have not been changed to protect the innocent. In most cases, restaurants will have healthy choices available to those who want them. You just need to ask. Let's start with what the fat-laden calorie loaded meals that most of us love and take for granted.

Burger King has 1,200 calories and 82 grams of fat in it's Triple Whopper Sandwich. A chocolate milkshake (king size of course) will cost you 1,260 calories along with 38 grams of fat. Think eggs sound healthier? The new Enormous Omelet Sandwich will send you over the top with 730 calories and 45 grams of fat. What a way to start the day. Adults are advised to eat not more than 30-35 grams of fat per day in their healthy diet.

McDonald's will serve you up a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese for 740 calories and 42 grams of fat. You can stop in before work and polish off a Deluxe Breakfast with Large Biscuit for 1,280 calories and 65 grams of fat. So what if it costs you two days worth of fat in your diet? The Hotcakes and Sausage Breakfast contains a mere 780 cals. and 33 g. fat. Now we're getting lower. The yummy Triple Chocolate Shake that is made with low-fat milk has a paltry 1,160 calories and 27 g. of fat. Last but not least you might want to order the most healthy sounding meal on the menu, right? Let's go for the Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips. This one will make you cluck with horror as you consume a whopping 1,270 calories for a 10 piece meal along with 66 g. of fat.

Wendy's has a few different options available with their large size Fries containing 540 calories and 26 g. of fat. Their Chicken Club Sandwich isn't quite as bad with only 650 calories and 31 g. fat. We all know that salad is a healthy choice right? Wendy's Chicken BLT Salad with Home style Garlic Croutons and Honey Mustard Dressing contains 690 calories and 37 g. of fat. Their new Southwest Taco Salad with Reduced Fat Sour Cream, Seasoned Tortilla Chips and Ancho Chipotle Ranch Dressing has 710 calories and 41 g. of fat.

Subway is advertised as having the healthiest menu available, just ask Jarod. They have the Double Meat Meatball Marinara Sub and it counts up to 860 calories and 42 g. of fat. The Double Meat Italian BMT has 620 calories and 35 g. of fat. These are for the 6" size sandwich. The Double Meat Meatball Marinara Sub contains more calories than a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonalds.

KFC should be a healthier choice right? Not necessarily so. The new Crispy Twister Wrap has 650 cals. and 34 g. of fat. The Famous Bowls which is one of my favorites, contains 610 calories with the rice and gravy choice and 27 g. of fat. I like the one with mashed potatoes. The Bowl that is my favorite has 720 calories and 34 g. of fat. It does contain corn however, and I say corn can be healthy.

StarBucks is known for it's White Chocolate Cappuccino Blended Creme with whipped cream. This concoction has 760 calories and no more than 21 g. of fat. It must be low calorie whipped cream. The Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino Blended Creme with whipped cream has 750 calories and only 15 g. of fat. One of these goodies and you have had all of your day's calories in a drink.

Pizza Hut is the last place on my list for fattening food and high calories though there are many,many more places that we could evaluate. For a Stuffed Crust Meat Lover's Pizza, only one slice will cost you 520 calories and 29 g. of fat. A Personal Pan 6" Pizza contains 890 calories and 49 grams of fat.

In all fairness to the above eateries, there are many other choices available and many of them are healthy. You must read available calorie charts and if you can't find them ask the Management. They should provide this information to you and do it in a gracious manner. Now days more and more restaurants are catering to the health conscious patron and are providing healthy choices. Make yours with your head and not your appetite. The ultimate choice is yours.