Time Out for Fast Food

Even though you know it’s not the healthiest decision, there are times when you just can’t resist zooming off to a fast food joint or a restaurant for an enormous greasy hamburger or a plate of spicy fried chicken wings and a bathtub-sized container of creamy sauce for dunking. Before you take a bite out of an order of temptation, navigate yourself to one of my Determined Dieters’ Best Buys:

McDonald’s — Yes, really. The Golden Arches now houses some of the nicest nutritional options for those counting calories and/or carbs. We’re not talking double quarter pounders with cheese, of course. But with salads galore to choose from (opt for low-calorie dressing and use only half the packet), not to mention the luscious fruit and yogurt parfait, you can enjoy a meal that won’t leave you with that guilty taste in your mouth. The McDonald’s Web site includes calories and carbs for all their foods.

Taco Bell — Say no, no, Nanette to Nachos Bell Grande, and opt for one of the delicious Fresco style soft tacos. A grilled steak taco ordered Fresco Style, for example, has about 170 calories. Visit the Taco Bell Web site for nutritional details.

Subway — Feeling like there’s no substitute for an indulgent sub? Then dive into the nearest Subway. Skip the Meatball Marinara and go for a turkey breast or Veggie Delite if you’re counting calories. You say you’re Carb Conscious? You’ll love the Carb Conscious wraps, like the Turkey & Bacon Wrap. Visit the Subway Web site for details.

Pizza Hut — A piece of pizza without guilt can be yours if you head toward Pizza Hut. Avoid the 3 Cheese Stuffed Crust and go for the Fit’n’Delicious menu, from which you can choose your own toppings for a pizza fit for a diet king or queen! More details are on the Pizza Hut Web site.

Applebee’s — This casual restaurant is great for the family, especially when one or more members is on a diet. The Weight Watchers menu includes all the nutritional information, with options ranging from soup to salad to main dishes to desserts. Don’t miss the delicious cheesy onion soup or berry lemon cheescake!

TGI Friday’s — If you’re on the Atkins or other low-carb diet, head to the nearest TGI Friday’s. Their Atkins-approved menu includes fish, steak, and even cheesecake.

Quizno’s - Here’s a quiz: what has healthy options, selections just for the kids, and reasonable prices? Answer: Quizno’s! Lots of healthy options from which to choose, and the friendly folks behind the counters are usually more than willing to substitute or leave off ingredients such as cheese. If you’re counting calories, try the turkey sandwich. Counting carbs? The only problem will be deciding which low- carb option to choose, such as the roast beef with low-carb flatbread. Check out the Web site for details.