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 By: Shannon Clark
Possibly the most well-known fast food establishment around the globe, McDonald's has been known for it's less than healthy fare. New changes to the menu are bringing about healthier options for those watching their health, but a little knowledge about the menu will also help you make the smartest decision when it comes to creating a meal that fits within the overall structure of your diet plan.
  Click To Enlarge. McDonald's Is Possibly The Most Well-Known Fast Food Establishment Around The Globe. Let's dig a little deeper through the menu to make your selection easier.
If you're in need of a fast meal to start your day, McDonald's will cater. Some of the items on their breakfast menu can easily put you over your calorie budget for the day (their Deluxe Breakfast without syrup and margarine contains 1150 calories - hate to factor in what it would be with butter and syrup), so it's vital you're choosing wisely. If you make a smart decision, you can get away with a lighter breakfast that won't have you sleeping your way through your mid-morning meeting.
If you really want to try and lighten it further, order a plain English Muffin (160 calories, 3 grams of fat) and then add on scrambled eggs but ask if they can make it using only egg whites. They may or may not do this depending on the location. If they won't, then this will be about the same total calories as the classic Egg McMuffin, so you might as well just go with that choice.
 Click To Enlarge. Ask If They Can Make It Using Only Egg Whites. The Sausage Burrito is another lighter option on the menu, which contains 300 calories, 16 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbs, and 12 grams of protein. It's not quite as well balanced as the Egg McMuffin, but won't completely destroy your diet.
Next we move onto their sandwiches. Almost all of us have craved a cheeseburger at one point or another, but how much will these set you back?
 Click To Enlarge. Almost All Of Us Have Craved A Cheeseburger At One Point Or Another.
With everyone growing more health conscious, more fast food chains are introducing salads to their menu and McDonald's is no different. Choosing a light salad dressing or forgoing the dressing altogether will make the greatest difference with the calorie intakes so that's the first thing to keep in mind at all times.
After that, generally the salads will be created fairly equally, the main thing to remember is you're better off choosing one that's made with grilled chicken rather than crispy chicken or one that has no protein sources at all (since this will be a very lacking meal nutritionally speaking). Most of the grilled chicken salads on the menu range from 220 to 320 calories, 9 grams of fat, 12-30 grams of carbohydrates, and contain around 30 grams of protein (values given without dressing).
Finally we come to desserts - everyone's favourite. If you do venture over to this side of the menu, you can make some smarter choices than others, but realize that typically speaking, if you're looking for maximum fat loss none of these will be an ideal option.
The choice on the menu that most people will likely look at and think is healthiest is the Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait. While this menu item definitely won't tally up the same calorie count as their McFlurry (which comes in at 550 calories, 17 grams of fat, 88 grams of carbs, and 13 grams of protein), it still does contain 21 grams of sugar, which can cause issues. You'll only take in 160 calories (130 if you forgo the granola), but from an optimal health standpoint, it's still too high in sugar to really be considered a good choice. In fact, if you choose to order their vanilla cone, you'd take in fewer calories and sugar grams than you will with the parfait. If it's just a small ice cream craving you're fighting, order a kiddie cone for maximum portion size control. This will only contain 45 calories and one gram of fat - hardly a dent in any fat loss diet.
 Click To Enlarge. For A Small Ice Cream Craving, Order A Kiddie Cone.
So, next time you're in a hurry and are making a trip to McDonald's, keep these points in mind. Choosing wisely will definitely make a difference in the results you get, so it's worth your time and effort.
 Check Out McDonald's Complete Nutritional Details Here.Recommend this article to a friend by e-mail here!
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