Are you ready to refocusonlife today? If not, let's get it started...stat! pronto!
Speaking on pronto, I've had several people ask me about food coaching and while I would love to help anyone out, I thought I'd give some ideas for quick lunches. I've compiled a list of the most frequent places you'll see on the road and some super quick, easy, and relatively healthy meals you can have without wrecking your entire plan. Remember, I'm living a "correct carbohydrate" lifestyle, which means I try to reduce the impact that foods have on my blood sugar. The foods I mostly eat are low on the glycemic index (or lowER). So, without further adieu, here's a partial list...if you have more you'd like to add or places I have not mentioned, let me know:
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Need Dessert? FroYo Places offer NSA FroYo.
Load up on fresh fruit (skip the chocolate I have on mine!) |
McDonald's: YUCK. Used to be my favorite, now it's by far my least favorite. I've even gotten Christian saying that their food is nasty. Hopefully, he'll continue to think that so he will not grow up loving it as much as I did! Your options at this abundant joint are fairly limited. Order a salad with grilled chicken (make sure you specify grilled or they'll throw on that crispy stuff). Make sure you skip the croutons and add only about half a packet of one of the lighter dressings. Remember the oil based dressings are always better and typically have fewer calories than the creamy dressings. Try to avoid sweet dressings like French or Honey Mustard.
Wendy's: I've found several options at Wendy's. Of course their salad's. Follow the same rules as above. Make sure it's grilled chicken. Kick the croutons and any "candied nuts". Eat light dressing. I also love Wendy's chili. Order a small chili and a side caesar salad (again avoid the croutons) and skip the crackers they will throw in the bag. Also, I've been known to order their grilled chicken sandwich and throw away the bread. It's quite tasty in a pinch.
Papa John's, Dominoes, Pizza Hut, Pizza in general: Avoid if at all possible. It's bad news. If I eat pizza, I only eat the toppings and throw away the crust. Do you know how difficult that is? Mark will take two slices, take the toppings off of one slice and put two toppings on a single slice cutting his bread intake in half.
Hardee's: Fabulous any time of the day! They will make ANY of their sandwiches "low carb" if you ask them too. Watch out though, these things are calorie bombs! Skip the fries. ALWAYS. For breakfast, order a low-carb bowl. While it's laden with 620 calories, it's very good in a pinch. If I have one of these, I'm set all morning, but I have to say, I eat them VERY sparingly because that's about twice what I normally consume in calories for breakfast.
KFC: They make it so easy! Order a combo meal of grilled chicken. Skip the delicious biscuit. Have them give you green beans for the side. If it comes with two sides, order 2 green beans! They are VERY good and it's fast and easy.
Bojangles: I've eaten at Bojangles for breakfast a number of times. I just order two pieces of sausage and two or three scrambled eggs. A perfect low-carb breakfast. But, I've just discovered some lunch and/or dinner options. They have roasted buffalo bites. Order those (they do not have breading) and a side of green beans. Perfect quick meal. I've also heard they have salads...but I have not eaten them, so if you try them, let me know.
Burger King: Order a salad. Same rules apply as above. My favorite BK salad is the grilled chicken caesar. It's probably the best salad of any of the fast food establishments. They've also gone back and forth on having sweet potato fries. I'm not sure the status of those currently, but if they have them, a small order is a nice treat. Make sure you skip the brown sugar and/or honey everyone wants to serve as a dipping sauce with the fries!
Subway: You think this place is healthy, right? I could not disagree more. Again, in a pinch, I will eat at Subway...but they practice trickery that upsets me. Their "whole wheat" bread is nothing more than white bread with some brown coloring to make you feel good about what you're eating. The meats are all pre-packaged and just gross. As are the veggies. Avoid Subway. If you must eat there, choose a salad following the same rules of skipping the croutons and light dressing.
Jimmy John's/Jersey Mike's: These places know how to make better subs. I loved Jersey Mike's back in my "eat anything" days. They had the best sub by far! But, their salad making capabilities stink. They have so few veggies. If you eat at Jersey Mike's, order a salad and have them make it as best they can. Jimmy John's will do a lettuce wrap. It's kind of messy, but a good option. Last time I checked, they did not make salads.
Zaxby's: Do I sound like a broken record yet? Order a salad with grilled chicken. We went to a Zaxby's recently and they had one of those fancy drink machines! I splurged and had a diet soft drink mixed with flavors. What a fun experience!
Chick-Fil-A: I have a personal beef with CFA and refuse to eat there, but if you decide to, they have two things that are fantastic: Grilled Caesar Salad and diet lemonade!
Cook Out: I have no idea if I could even order off their menu and be satisfied. I'm sure they have a grilled chicken sandwich. Ditch the bread. If you eat here and have suggestions, let me know.
Mexican Restaurants: While not technically fast food, these places serve up food so fast, it's sometimes easier than fast food. Order a chicken fajita. Skip the chips! Skip the tortillas that come with the fajitas and make sure you order beans instead of rice (or skip both). It's full of veggies and always delicious with some salsa!
Hope this is helpful information. If I've missed something that you think I should try, yell at me. I always love fresh ideas!
