Fast food is not the best choice for the expecting mother, since it is usually packed with sodium, fat, and sugar. But it does not have to be a nutritional disaster. Here's what to order - and what to avoid -. In the fast-food chain popular when you're pregnant
By Bonnie RochmanReviewed by nutritionists Jessica Corwin
Mickey D's is not exactly known for health food, although recently it has made an effort to serve up a better option
the best bet :. Each salad with grilled - not crispy - chicken (such as Premium Southwest salad with grilled Chicken); Egg McMuffin basis; or hamburger and small fries is a good choice. For drinks, unsweetened iced tea, low-fat milk, and nonfat milk chocolate making class. For dessert, try a fruit and yogurt parfait, apple slices, or small cone vanilla
Avoid :. Chicken McNuggets - they are sky-high in calories, fat, and sodium. ten pieces has almost half the fat you should eat in a day; 20 pieces have almost 1,000 calories. A Quarter Pounder With Cheese has 750 calories and 43 grams (g) of fat, and Big Mac has 29 g of fat. McFlurrys positive shakes and groaning with calories and sugar, and sugar bomb smoothie
Chipotle is one of the friendliest fast food options. Many fresh and tasty as well. But extras like sour cream and cheese made it easy to go overboard on the calories and fat unless you pay attention
The best bet :. Crispy corn tacos with steak, romaine lettuce, fajita vegetables, and green tomatillo salsa is one of the lowest-sodium picks on the menu, and features a taco shell wheat and semi-lean protein. Plus, he owns one-third of your daily fiber needs. Selecting beef - this or other menu choices - is a great way to get protein, zinc, and iron you need during pregnancy. A small scoop of guacamole was fine: It's high in fat, but it's healthy, monounsaturated sort. And guac contains lutein, which is very good for your baby's eyes, plus vitamin E and a surprising amount of fiber
Avoid :. A burrito with flour tortillas, carnitas, rice, sour cream, cheese, guacamole and fresh tomato salsa. This meal will set you back 1,110 calories and add up to 60 g of fat -. Gosh
Pizza has some redeeming features (! Cheese has a protein), but it is high in calories, fat, and excess sodium. Caution: Pizza Hut defines a "portion" as one slice of pizza, but when was the last time you order a pizza and have only one slice
Best bets :? Slices with Thin 'N Crispy crust is lower in fat and calories - especially if you go for Cheese Veggie Lover Only or version. (Two pieces of Veggie Lover Thin 'N Crispy is a respectable 360 calories with 12 grams of fat and 14 g protein.) If you love the original crust Pizza Hut, stick to two pieces. (Chicken Supreme is a good choice, with 24 g protein in two slices.)
Avoid: The version of The Stuffed Crust and meat lovers are not your friends. A single piece of 3 Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza Meat Lover has 440 calories, 25 g fat, and eye-popping 1,150 milligrams (mg) of sodium. The Meat Lover's Personal Pan Pizza has 850 calories and 48 g fat.
Quickie Mexico can be cheap and tasty, and Taco Bell offers Fresco menu, with meals under 350 calories and 10 g fat. Order items on the menu "Fresco-style" and you will cut off the excess fat and calories
The best bet :. Soft taco with chicken or grilled steak. Chicken soft taco has only 160 calories and 5 grams of fat; Fresco colleague who has 20 fewer calories and only 3.5 g of fat. Even if you get some, it's a good nutritional choices. The Cantina Bowl is another. Order with chicken or steak to increase the protein content, add a side of black beans for fiber and protein, and ask cilantro cream sauce on the side
Avoid :. The restrained Beef Burrito: 700 calories, 35 g fat and 2,260 mg of sodium confusing. (The Fresco Burrito is a better choice.) And do not be fooled by the Fiesta Taco Salad :. More than 700 calories and up to 42 g fat
For a place famous for fried chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A has several choices surprisingly decent for expecting mothers
best bet :. with grilled chicken menu items. Chick-fil-A chicken breast is 100 percent beef with no fillers or additives. Choose grilled chicken sandwich to 30 g of protein and only 320 calories and 5 grams of fat. Salad Grilled This new market is also low in fat and calories and high in proTein. If you crave Chick-fil-A in original, classic fried chicken sandwich is high in fat and calories but not terrible. Think of it as a treat and pair it with a fruit cup
Avoid :. They tease Waffle Fries: A big orders add 520 calories and 27 g of fat for your food (small is not great either, with 310 calories and 16 g of fat). Just have some, or go for a cup of fruit or a side salad instead.
Subway has made a name for itself as a selection of healthy fast food. But for pregnant women, there is tons of options for warning unless reheated until steaming hot. Even then, processed meats containing sodium nitrate, which some experts say to avoid or limit when you are expecting
The best bet :. Chopped salad with grilled chicken for protein. The Veggie Delite sub combine lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, and onions, plus your choice of spices and dressed (plain olive oil and vinegar is a good choice). Adding cheese to more protein
Avoid :. Each sub with deli meats, unless you ask for meat to be reheated until steaming or can be microwaved yourself before you eat
Panera is a bakery first and foremost, but skip the sticky buns and scan the menu for healthy options. If you order a sandwich, choose whole wheat bread. And go for an apple instead of chips on the side, or at least baked chips over fried
Best bets :. The Power Chicken Bowl Hummus is a healthy choice, with a generous 330 calories and 33 g protein. Pair it with a grain baguette and steaming cups of decaf black tea ginger peach. The "You Pick Two" option gives half sandwich and soup (! Only 6 g fat) Try half Mediterranean Veggie Tomato Basil Bread with several Low-Fat All-Natural Chicken Noodle. The Black Bean Soup is high in protein and fiber
Avoid :. Treats at the bakery counter. Cupcakes, cakes, cookies, and scones are a nightmare calories (the worst was pecan roll, with 740 calories and more fat than a Big Mac). Wild berry smoothies and low fat packs 68 grams of sugar - that's 17 teaspoons
Starbucks has some great, healthy options, but a lot of minefields as well. Watch out for: Many drink Starbucks exceed the limit of 200 mg a day for pregnant women. (A 16-ounce brewed coffee can have 330 mg of caffeine, an 8-ounce cup has 180.)
Best bets: The Protein Bistro Box is a good snack pregnancy, featuring boiled egg, cheddar cheese, honey, peanut butter spreads, multigrain bread, apples, and grapes. Peanut butter contribution of protein, such as eggs, which also contains choline for brain development. Couple that with the Evolution bar Harvest and high (12-ounce) latte, which has only 75 mg of caffeine
Avoid :. Most of the taste of coffee and Frappuccino drinks are loaded with calories and sugar. The Grande Caramel Frappuccino, for example, has more fat than a cinnamon roll (15 g) and almost as many calories (410) when prepared in a standard way. Swap in skim milk, a drop of whipped cream, and you will cut fat and calories but still have to consume 59 g (almost 15 teaspoons) of sugar. If you indulge, choose the smaller size.
Marcella Gates is a writer and editor based in Northern California.
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