Healthy Fast Food Alternatives

Excerpted from Yahoo Health and written by:  David Zinczenko, Matt Golding
Restaurant food doesn’t have to be bad for us. Oh sure, much of the time it is: The monstrous portion sizes you’re served are often spiked with added sugars and dangerous fats, and with misleading names that suggest that you might even be getting something healthy and nutritious. Fat chance. And the scariest part is that today the average diner in this country underestimates his or her caloric intake by up to 93 percent when eating out—meaning you’re probably eating twice as much as you think!
Make a Burger Healthy
Burger King Whopper
680 calories
40 g fat (11 g saturated fat, 1.5 g trans fasts)
1020 mg sodium
A hamburger smothered in the wrong sauce can instantly sabotage your meal—and your weight-loss goals. At 160 calories a schmear, BK’s mayo is the worst in the fast food world. Replace it with barbecue sauce to instantly save 17 grams of fat. Ketchup and mustard are also better picks than mayo and secret sauces—no matter how “special” they may be. Make these swaps and save 160 calories and 17 grams of fat.
Make Pizza Healthy
Pizza Hut Two Slices Supreme Pan Pizza (12′)
620 calories
32 g fat (12 g saturated fat)
1,440 mg sodium
The caloric-blow of pizza depends on two things: crust and toppings. Want to be thin? Always opt for thin crust. As for what to put on your pie, nix the pepperoni. Heavy on sodium and fat, just four little discs can add 108 calories to your Pizza Hut slice. Pick toppings like spinach, ham, and pineapple not only to cut calories and fat content in half, but also for hefty doses of vitamins and minerals that help ward off cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Make these switches and save 260 calories and 20 grams of fat.
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April 1, 2009 | Filed Under Health Tips | Leave a Comment 

Asian Grilled Pork Chops

This recipe serves:  4   
Preparation time :   5 minutes
Cooking time :   10 minutes

Ingredients
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons minced ginger
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
salt,to taste
freshly ground black pepper
4 center cut pork loin chops, about 1/2 inch thick
Cooking Instructions
1. Mix the oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, mustard, salt and pepper, and brush on the pork chops. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

2. Preheat the grill.

3. Grill the chops for 5 to 8 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness. Let the chops rest on a plate for 1 or 2 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 chop

Calories 195

Protein 17 g

Total Carbohydrate 1 g

Sugar 0 g

Total Fat 13 g

Saturated Fat 3 g

Monounsaturated Fat 8 g

April 1, 2009 | Filed Under Healthy Recipes | Leave a Comment 

  • Tip of the Month

    January 2012

    Smart Starbucks and Steakhouse Choices

    Starbucks Choices
    • Peppermint Choc Mocha- 520cals, 20g fat
    • Pumpkin Frappuccino- 420cals, 13g fat
    • Flavored Latte- 360clas, 16g fat
    • Latte- 220cals, 15g fat
    • Coffee w/cream and sugar 180 calories
    • Cappuccino- 120cals, 4g fat
    • Coffee w/sugar 90 calories
    • Coffee w/cream 90 calories
    • Coffee w/whole milk 60 calories
    • Coffee w/skim milk 30-50 calories

    Order a coffee with cream and sugar every work day?  Add 900 calories per week to your diet.  That is over 13 pounds in one year.

    Enjoy a cappuccino every day instead, and you save 300 calories per week, and cut 4 pounds per year from the above diet.

    Go to coffee with skim milk and Splenda?  Now you are only adding 250 calories per week, and under 4 pounds per year in coffee weight.

    Enjoy a flavored frappucino or latte once per week?  That could add up to 26,000 calories, and another 7.5 pounds per year.

    Just your coffee could account for 20 pounds of caloric intake annually!

    Steakhouse Choices
    • Caesars Salad- 800cals
    • Chopped Salad, 320cals
    • Spinach Salad, 170cals click here for more »

    click here to read past tips

  • Recipe of the Month

    January 2012

    Drink alcohol a little more wisely!

    Drink Choices
    • Eggnog, 350cals
    • White Russian, 260cals
    • Riesling, 160-200cals
    • Shot of liquor, 70-125cals
    • Tonic or Soda, 100cals
    • Winter Beer, 150-200cals
    • Beer, 150cals
    • Bloody Mary, 130cals
    • Wine, 120cals
    • Light Beer, 55-85cals
    • Champagne, 85cals
    Enjoy a small glass of eggnog and two gin and tonics, and you have drank 750 worthless calories.
    Or, start with some champagne, and enjoy two glasses of wine and you only have drank 330 calories, less than half of your first choices.