iSpecialist

Dr. Walt Larimore

Walt Larimore, M.D. has been called “one of America’s best known family physicians.” He is a nationally-known and nationally sought after speaker and health expert. read bio

Fast food and your family

by Dr. Walt Larimore

Fast food may be inexpensive and convenient, but it is often high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Being highly processed, it may be low in many essential nutrients. And, it's typically very low in fiber. So, what's a parent to do when it comes to fast food? Some say avoid it completely. That's great, if you can do it. If not, definitely try to reduce your visits to fast food restaurants. But, if you go, here are some helpful suggestions.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions for choosing healthier options at fast food restaurants:

Choose smaller portions, or only eat half of your meal.
Skip the fries and choose fresh fruit, a salad or vegetables, yogurt or other healthy option as your side item.
Order sandwiches without mayonnaise, cheese, bacon or fattening sauces.
Ask for extra veggies on your sandwich, which may include lettuce, onions or tomatoes.
Choose lean, grilled meats such as chicken or turkey instead of a burger.
Skip breaded and fried meats, whether on your sandwich or salad.

For more on the topic of fast food and your family , read Dr. Larimore's articles: Obesity – Children and Fast Food and The Obesity Crisis – It's a Killer Epidemic.

For more about making wise food choices for your family, see Walt's book, SuperSized Kids: How to Rescue Your Child From the Obesity Threat.

To make healthy eating educational and fun, download our free nutritional game: GO, SLOW, WHOA! It will help your kids understand the importance of good nutrition and making wise food choices.

Fast Food Nutritional Info

To find the nutritional content of some of the more popular fast foods, visit these web pages.

Medical information within this site is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of any health condition. Please consult a licensed health care professional for the treatment or diagnosis of any medical condition.