Six Easy Ways to Make Healthier Fast Food Choices

Fast food is an American meal staple. McDonalds, Burger King, and Taco Bell are everywhere, the space between filled with Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Sonic. Even Little Caesar's drive-thrus make dinner a quick indulgence. For the price of five dollars, you can get a large pepperoni pizza without even getting out of your car.

Unfortunately, the fare offered at these types of food venues isn't always conducive to a healthy diet. Even though many offer low fat salads, our taste buds already associate these places with greasy fries and burgers. While cutting back on fast food is highly recommended, many individuals rely heavily on it for a quick meal and show no signs of stopping.

Salads can get boring and no matter how hard many will try, the thought of a salad from McDonald's will never be a savory one. Take heart though. Little things can make big changes when it comes to eating fast food. Here are six ways to up the health factor and still enjoy a meal on the run.

1. Downsize the fries - French fries are not only full of trans fats, but the ease with which they can be eaten in a vehicle can lead to overindulgence. Your best bet is to cut the fries completely when having a fast food meal. Substitute them with a small order of chicken nuggets or a side salad. If the fry craving is too strong, stick to the smallest order possible.

2. Opt for diet soda - Drinks, especially the large sized ones, are much bigger than we perceive. A large regular soda at most fast food restaurants is likely to have as many, if not more, calories than the meal itself. Save some of those calories and switch to diet. If you don't like the taste or have an aversion to aspartame, go for a water or a small jug of milk.