A Guide to Fast Food – Good and Poor Menu Choices
When eating fast food is it particularly difficult to select foods which satisfy your nutritional goals. However, it is possible, with extra care, to select healthier foods from take-away outlets using our guide below.
McDonalds Restaurants
Eating MaccasBetter Choices
- Hot cakes and syrup (no butter)
- Muffins and jam (no butter)
- Junior burger
- Fruit juice
- Roast Chicken Salad
- Garden Mixed Salad
- Chicken Foldover
- Vege Burger
- Muffin Lite
- Berrynice Yoghurt Crunch
Poor Choices
- Other burgers
- McNuggets
- Fillet O Fish
- Fries
- Apple pies
- Thickshakes and sundaes
Pizza Restaurants (e.g. Pizza Hut)
Eating PizzaBetter Choices
- Thick crust vegetarian with small quantity of cheese
- Thick crust seafood with small quantity of cheese
Poor Choices
- High fat toppings, eg salami, olives, ham, bacon, cheese
Pancake Restaurants (e.g. Pancake Parlour)
Eating pancakes in The NetherlandsBetter Choices
- Crepes/pancakes with vegetables (tomato sauce) or lean chicken or seafood
- Crepes/pancakes with fruit fillings, syrup or lemon and sugar (no whipped butter)
Poor Choices
-
Crepes/pancakes with cream sauces
- Whipped butter on dessert crepes
- Ice cream
Subway Restaurants
Eating SubwayBetter Choices
- Ham roll
- Roast beef roll
- Subway club
- Turkey breast roll
- Garden salad
Poor Choices
-
BMT roll
- Meatball roll
- Oven roasted chicken roll
- Seafood roll
- Tuna roll
- Spicy Italian roll
- Subway melt
Hamburger Bar
Eating a burgerBetter Choices
- Plain hamburger, no margarine on bun, raw onions, salad
- Low-fat fruit smoothie
- 100% fruit juice
Poor Choices
- Cheese burger
- bacon burger
- the "lot"
- fries / potato chips
- thickshakes
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Restaurants
KFC RestaurantBetter Choices
- BBQ chicken (no skin or stuffing)
- Spicy skinless chicken
- Bread rolls
- Corn (no butter)
- Mashed potato
- Salads
- Gravy
- Fruit juice
Poor Choices
-
Fried chicken (skin and stuffing)
- Tender roast/BBQ chicken
- All burgers
- Hawaiian Pack
- Chicken nuggets
- Chips and wedges
Burger King (Hungry Jacks) Restaurants
Milkshake at Hungry JacksBetter Choices
- Chicken Fillet Burger
(no ranch sauce)
- Ocean Catch Sandwich
- Cheese burger
Poor Choices
-
Other burgers
- Nuggets
- Onion rings
- Fries
- Thickshakes & sundaes
Fish and Chips
Eating Fish and ChipsBetter Choices
- Grilled fish
- Souvlaki
- Bread rolls
- Salad
- Fruit juice
Poor Choices
-
Chips
- Potato cakes
- Deep fried fish
- Dim Sims
Related Pages
- A Guide to Dining Out – Good and Bad Menu Choices when eating at restaurants.
- Tips for Eating Out — how to make a good choice when getting take out.
- Substituting Foods — to make dishes healthier
- Restaurant Healthy Eating — getting the most out of what they have to offer.
- Fast Food Marketing Strategies: Can We Protect Our Kids From It?
- Food Safety — Foods and water can be a source of contamination and have the potential to make you sick if care is not taken.
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
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