There are those times when you simply forgot to pack a healthy lunch and had to rely on less than healthy junk food options. Or sometimes, you may simply want to satisfy your craving for a nice fatty burger without having to pay the price. However with a little bit of imagination and savoir faire, it is perfectly possible to make everyday junk foods healthier. Here are a few of them.
Change the Meat
Sometimes the meat we eat can easily be substituted for other options and give roughly the same result. For instance, instead of going for 80/20 ground beef, you could go for half 80/20 and half lean meat. You can make a patty out of the 80/20 half and put the lean meat right in the middle. This way, you get the texture and taste of a regular burger and the patty will still be able to stick together.
If you like hot dogs, you can apply the same principle as well. Instead of going for all beef polish links, which are usually on the fatty side, you could go for chicken hot dogs instead, which tend to be much healthier. If you need more imagination, you can always check for a good chicken hot dog recipe online.
Cut the Bread
There are many ways that you can reduce the amount of carbs you consume by way of bread. If you’re going to a sandwich shop, check if they have flat breads or pita wraps instead. You could also take one or both buns off your burger and use romaine lettuce instead. One great way to reduce carbs is to hollow out some of the bread inside so you can still get the same taste, minus the calories.
Refrain from Drinking Calories
A large coke at your average fast food restaurant could set you back 300 calories. Drink three of these and that’s nearly half of your daily recommended caloric intake right there. Switch to healthy options like tea or water with lemon if you still want a palate cleanser, but don’t want the excess calories.
And I’m not going to even mention options like milkshakes, lattes or frappuccinos, as all of these options can contain the same calories and fat as a whole meal while doing little to satiate your hunger.
Stay Away from Unhealthy Condiments
Did you know that a large portion of your burger’s calories comes from the condiments and toppings? If you can, try to skip the cheeseburger and go for a hamburger instead. If you’re making burgers at home, you can use a little bit of grated cheese to get the flavor, you’ll still get the same taste, but won’t have to use as much cheese.
Making fast food healthier is all about understanding how to reduce the amount of fat and calories by making a few minor changes. You can still enjoy your favorite foods every now and then, but make sure that you know what to avoid and make changes accordingly.
