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     Siloan Side Hero Username: Siloan Post Number: 6042 Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 155.201.35.54 Rating: N/A |
if youâre like two thirds of working Americans, you pick up lunch from a fast food joint or restaurant at least once a week. Sure, itâs not as healthy as packing your own celery sticks, but eating out every once in a while canât hurt, right? Not so fast: There might be trouble in the drive-thru lane. Not only could the window worker pile an entire dayâs worth of calories through your car window, but you might also be sapping your energy and productivity: Carb overloads lead to energy spikes and crashes, and studies have shown that the bigger your waistline, the lower your cognitive functioning and the more sick days you take. Kind of ironic, considering "convenience" is the most common reason people give for buying lunch during the workday. In this economy, itâs hardly convenient to snore through the 2 oâclock meeting, or miss a few crucial days when the boss is looking for you. A healthy lunch can help you maximize your afternoon performance, but if youâre in a hurry to grab and go, you might not take the time to sort through the menu hits and misses. Let the Eat This, Not That! folks be your efficiency experts: DONâT order the following items. Opt instead for less outrageous alternatives (also below), and reap the benefits at bonus time. QUIZNOâS Large Prime Rib Cheesesteak Sub 1,770 calories 116 g fat (25 g saturated, 2.5 g trans) 2,895 mg sodium Fat Equivalent: Like eating 5 Dunkin Donuts cheese danishes! Itâs hard enough to make the argument for one cheese Danish, but five? And weâre just talking fat, here â with more than 1,000 calories of the stuff in just one sandwich. Youâre also be filling up with more than a dayâs worth of sodium and saturated fat. While this is one of the worst items you could choose, the rest of the Quiznoâs menu has hazards, as well. But if your coworkers insist on eating there, order this: Regular Turkey Ranch and Swiss Sub with reduced fat Ranch 590 calories 18 g fat (2.5 g saturated) 2,235 mg sodium CHILIâS Crispy Honey Chipotle Crispers 1,890 calories 99 g fat (19 g saturated) 3,470 mg sodium Calorie Equivalent: Like eating an entire medium Pizza Hut 12" pepperoni pizza! If you have the time for a sit-down meal, you have the time to think this through. Chicken Crispers are fun, but account for almost a whole dayâs worth of calories and almost two days' worth of sodium. Your smarter choice is to eat this instead: Classic Chicken Fajitas 330 calories 11 g fat (2 saturated) 2,080 mg sodium And another hint for a healthy sit-down lunch: forgo the appetizers. Chiliâs Texas Cheese Fries with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing made the top of our list when we rounded up the worst appetizers money can buy. Check out the other appetizer land-mines here. You'll be shocked. ARBYâS Roast Turkey Ranch and Bacon Sandwich 818 calories 38 g fat (11 g saturated, 0.5 g trans) 2,146 mg sodium Calorie Equivalent: Like eating 23 Thin Mints (one whole sleeve)! Just because you could prepare it at home doesnât mean itâs good for you when you order it away from home â the Roast Turkey Ranch and Bacon Sandwich packs nearly half of your daily allowance of calories and almost an entire dayâs dose of sodium. Doesnât leave much room for anything else, does it? Eat this instead: Sourdough Roast Beef Melt 355 calories 14 g fat (5 g saturated, 1 trans) 1,047 mg of sodium DAIRY QUEEN Wild Buffalo Chicken Strip Basket (4 piece) 1,340 calories 96 g fat (18 g saturated) 4,820 mg sodium Sodium Equivalent: Like eating 14 large orders of McDonaldâs French fries! Talk about a value meal: one Chicken Strip Basket gives you two days' payload of sodium! If thinking about it doesnât elevate your blood pressure, eating it might. Take a peek at this list of the 20 saltiest foods in America to learn about other high-sodium restaurant meals that contribute to our countryâs increasing daily salt intake. Donât become a statistic. Eat this instead: Crispy Chicken Sandwich 530 calories 29 g fat (4.5 g saturated, 3 g trans) 1,020 mg sodium PANERA Italian Combo on Ciabatta sandwich 1,070 calories 50 g fat (19 g saturated, 0.5 g trans) 3,010 mg of sodium Fat Equivalent: Like eating 6 slices of Papa Johnâs cheese pizza! You were on the right track in choosing Panera, but donât be sidelined by the allure of the Italian Combo. Ciabatta bread may sound sophisticated, but you wonât look so refined when youâre lugging that spare Pirelli around your midsection. Eat this instead: Smoked Turkey Breast on Sourdough sandwich 470 calories 17 g fat (2.5 g saturated) 1,680 mg sodium CHIPOTLE 13â Tortilla with steak, black beans, rice, cheese, sour cream and lettuce 1,005 calories 40 g fat (17 g saturated) 1,948 mg sodium Calorie Equivalent: Like eating 40 Hersheyâs Kisses! The good news about this tortilla is that it contains 57 grams of protein, but thatâs hardly worth the outrageous calorie and carbohydrate load â with 100 grams of carbs, youâve already covered a third of your recommended daily intake, plus youâre taking in nearly a dayâs worth of sodium and saturated fat. Downsize to drop pounds. Eat this instead: Three hard tacos with steak, pinto beans, sour cream and lettuce 633 calories 25 g fat (11 g saturated) 854 mg sodium (Another hint: When it comes to Chipotle chips, just say "no." They add an outrageous 570 calories and 73 extra grams of carbs.) HARDEEâS 2/3-lb Monster Thickburger 1,420 calories 108 g fat (43 g saturated) 2,770 mg sodium Saturated Fat Equivalent: Like eating 43 strips of Oscar Mayer bacon! Itâs called Monster for a reason. Itâs a monster load of saturated fat (more than two daysâ worth). The good news is that it has a friendlier, healthier cousin in the 1/3-lb Low-Carb Thickburger, with 1,000 fewer calories and a third the amount of fat. Even better, the Low-Carb Thickburger is true to its name â it only has 5 grams of quick-burning carbohydrates, compared to 46 grams in the Monster. Eat this instead: 1/3-lb Low-Carb Thickburger 420 calories 32 g fat (12 g saturated) 1,010 mg sodium BURGER KING Triple Whopper Sandwich with cheese and mayo 1,230 calories 82 g fat (32 g saturated) 1,590 mg sodium Fat Equivalent: Like eating 10 slices of Papa Johnâs cheese pizza! You should know by now not to order a triple anything. In this case you're getting egregious calorie, fat, and sodium overloads. Itâs not bad, though, compared to the shockers on our list of the trans-fattiest foods in America and our dishonor role of the fattiest restaurant foods. Choose a regular cheeseburger instead and slash 900 calories, 66 g of fat, and save yourself from the judgmental stares of your coworkers, who are three times as likely to be grossed out! Eat this instead: Cheeseburger 330 calories 16 g fat (7 g saturated, 0.5 g trans) 780 mg sodium And once youâve navigated lunchâs landmines, donât blow your day with a bad dinner. Check out these 15 fast and easy ways to get more from your microwave dinner or how to build the ultimate entrée salad. For other simple, fast and effective ways to change your body one meal at a time when eating out, learn these 15 smart swaps. Have other tips, tactics or tricks? Please share them here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Want the most up-to-date nutrition secrets and breaking research science from Eat This Not That? Sign up for the free weekly newsletter. Also, try out Eat This, Not That Mobile! Now get the exclusive healthy-eating info you need at any market, restaurant, or roadside standâinstantly! More nutrition, personal finance, health, and fitness secrets from Men's Health: Subscribe today with this special offer and save 50% off the cover price. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/19522/americas-worst -lunchesand-what-you-should-eat-instead/ |
