Fast Food: Are You Making the Right Choice?

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McDonald's

McDonald's now have a range of food options that are better for you than their traditional burgers and fries. Choose items from their Lighter Choices range, as these have 10g fat or less. Some of their Tick-Approved Meals are also good choices. But beware of some of the items in their Deli Choices range. For example, the Chicken Caesar roll has more calories than a Big Mac and nearly as much fat (Big Mac: 481 cals, 2010 kJ, 25.5g fat; Chicken Caesar, multigrain, 573 cals, 2390 kJ, 21.7g fat)

Make better choices by consulting the table below.

	Calories	Kilojoules	Fat
Better choices
These Tick-Approved Meals:
McNuggets (3pc), sweet chilli sauce, Garden Salad w chilli & lime dressing	232	971	9.2g
Hamburger, Garden Salad w chilli & lime dressing	278	1160	9.1g
Lean Beef Burger, Garden Salad w chilli & lime dressing	294	1230	8.3g
Herb Fusion Chicken Salad w chilli & lime dressing & Berrynice Yoghurt Crunch	356	1490	5.8g
"Lighter Choices" range:
Garden Salad, no dressing	19	80	0.2g
Herb Fusion Chicken salad, no dressing	102	428	1.3g
Lean Beef Burger	251	1050	8.1g
Deli Choices, Turkey and Cranberry Roll, multigrain bread	376	1570	6.8g
Deli Choices, Thai Chicken Roll, multigrain bread	388	1620	7.8g
Deli Choices, Chicken Tandoori Roll, multigrain bread	397	1660	9.4g
Not-so-good choices
Tick Approved Meal, McChicken, Garden Salad w chilli & lime dressing	459	1920	18.9g
Deli Choices, Bacon & Egg Roll, multigrain bread	522	2180	19.8g
Deli Choices, Sweet Chilli Chicken Roll, multigrain bread	589	2460	19.7g
Deli Choices, Chicken Caesar Roll, multigrain bread	573	2390	21.7g

Meal: Big Mac, small fries, small Coke	837	3497	39.2g

Hungry Jack's – Baguettes and Salads

Like McDonald's, Hungry Jack's have expanded their menu in recent times. As well as selling burgers and fries, they now have a range of baguettes on offer. The question is, are these any better for you? Well, only one of their baguettes stacks up, and beware choosing the Country Chicken baguette. At 662 calories and with nearly 35g fat, it has more calories and almost as much fat as a Whopper (656 cals; 2744 kJ; 39.3g fat).

	Calories	Kilojoules	Fat
Better choices
Spicy Chicken Baguette	394	1645	8.2g
Not-so-good choices
Caesar Salad w chicken and dressing	425	1772	27.4g
Grilled Chicken Baguette	443	1850	16.9g
Veggie Supreme Baguette	538	2249	23.2g
Ocean Catch Baguette	568	2379	25.5g
Country Chicken	662	2764	34.6g

Meal: Whopper, small fries, small Coke	1042	4354	52.4g

Boris also points out the 'salad trap'. While salad can be a healthy choice (eg. Caesar Chicken Salad: 309 cals; 1296 kJ; 15g fat), when you start adding full-fat dressings the figures change dramatically - 425 cals; 1772 kJ; 27g fat. That's more fat than a Junior Whopper!