Showing posts with label fast food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fast food. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Start the school year with good nutrition: tips, tricks and recipes!

Two weeks ago I discussed school lunches and last week was snacks. With many of you actually STARTING school this week, I thought I would end the theme of school nutrition with a round-up of my best blog articles relating to meal prep and eating during this crazy time - many focusing on dinner. Here they are:

How to Eat a Healthy, Quick Dinner Every Night
A step-by-step how-to for each day of the week to be able to have a good dinner every night with minimal prep for the week as a whole. Includes ideas such as crock pot, batch cooking and smart shopping.

Wondering What You Will Eat Tomorrow? [Recipes]
One recipe each: breakfast, lunch and dinner. All quick and SUPER tasty. The breakfast recipe is cookies, so how can you go wrong there???

Eating Fast Food: Meals that Work
Because sometimes you don't have a choice, when you HAVE to hit fast food, here are the best options. Establishments include Starbucks, Panera, McDonalds, Chipotle and more...

3 Quick and Health Recipes You Will Love [Recipes]
Psst...one is for French fries. Check it out!

Be Extraordinary,


RDKate


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

5 Breakfasts Ready in 5 Minutes or Less


When it comes to breakfast, many of my athletes would rather sleep than bother with the perceived "hastle" of making a meal. However, eating breakfast doesn't mean adding an additional 15 minutes to your morning routine. Here are 5 breakfasts ready to travel in 5 minutes or less. Ready...go!

The Classic Oatmeal
1. Add quick-cooking oats and milk in microwave-safe bowl according to container cooking time and amounts.
2. Heat (we'll guess 1:30 minutes)
3. Drizzle with honey and top with fresh blackberries and almonds.
4. Take in bowl or transfer to coffee travel mug to take with you.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Snacks for the student-athlete: for the home, car, dorm or workout bag

It's that time of year - back to school time! That means many student athletes are back in full swing with training as well. Crucial to success in workouts is timing of intake before and after practice. Eating only three meals per day is not enough. Snacks are a must to ensure muscles are fueled pre-workout and recovering post-workout. Whether at home, in the car, in the dorm or heading to practice, here are is a list of great performance-enhancing snack components to have on hand (both perishable and non-perishable).

Perishable
Cheese sticks
Babybel cheese
Individual yogurt containers (non-fat...Greek or regular)
Fresh fruit - especially packable fruit such as apples, peaches, pears, oranges and nectarines
Baby carrots
Better yet just buy a pre-cut veggie tray and put at eye level in the fridge
Individual containers of hummus & pretzels (available at most grocery stores)
100% fruit juice boxes
Low-fat chocolate: both large container and individual sized to take out the door

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Eating Fast Food: Meals that Work

Try as we might, there just comes a time when fast food may be the only option. Perhaps it is when you are running from one practice to the next with only 15 minutes to eat or when you have 20 minutes to eat dinner before a late-night meeting. Knowing what to order can ease your confusion, worry and stress. Fast food doesn't have to ruin your training, provided you choose wisely and stick to only one time a day only once in a while. So here are some options.............

Breakfast
McDonalds: Egg McMuffin, snack-size fruit & walnut tray, black coffee [510 Kcal, 61gm carb, 21 gm protein, 20 gm fat (6gm saturated)] 

Starbucks: Turkey bacon and white cheddar classic breakfast sandwich, 16 oz. caffe latte with nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup (if desired) [460 Kcal, 63 gm carb, 30gm protein, 7gm fat (2 gm saturated)]

Panera: Steel cut oatmeal with strawberries & pecans, 16 oz. cappuccino [440 Kcal, 57 gm carb, 14 gm protein, 18.5 gm fat (4.5 gm saturated)]

Lunch
McDonald's: Premium grilled chicken classic sandwich, fruit & yogurt parfait, side salad with oil-based dressing on side (i.e. Balsamic Vinaigrette), water [520 Kcal, 75 gm carb, 33 gm protein, 11gm fat (3 gm saturated)]

Subway: 6" roast beef on 9-grain wheat with Swiss cheese, plenty of veggies and olive oil blend; pair with 1 pkg apple slices, water [455 Kcal, 54 gm carb, 28 gm protein, 14 gm fat (5 gm saturated)] 

Einstein Bagels: Tuscan chicken pesto bagel thin sandwich, fruit and yogurt parfait, water [510 Kcal, 66 gm carb, 32 gm protein, 14 gm fat (4.5 gm saturated)] **this place has terrible food from a nutritional perspective; it was hard to find a meal that worked here!

Dinner
Noodles & Co.: Small Bangkok Curry with sauteed shrimp, side salad with fat-free Asian vinaigrette, side of edamame, water [475 Kcal, 60 gm carb, 28 gm protein, 13 gm fat (5 gm saturated)]

Chipotle: Burrito bowl with chicken, brown rice, tomato salsa, fajita veggies and lettuce; water, and bring a piece of fruit from home... [395 Kcal, 56 gm carb, 37 gm protein, 11 gm fat (3 gm saturated)] **Do not recommend eating here if you are watching your sodium intake!

Wendy's: Large chili, side salad with pomegranate vinaigrette dressing and no croutons, 1 pkg apple slices, unsweetened iced tea [430 kcal, 53 gm carb, 27 gm protein, 13 gm fat (4 gm saturated)] **Again this is also relatively high in sodium compared to other choices listed above!

In order to keep the macronutrient and sodium levels reasonable, notice that overall total calories often is low at only 400-500 Kcal. Your needs per meal are dependant on your body weight, current training regimen and performance goals. So, only use these meal options as a guideline. What I often tell my athletes is to keep healthy sides with them - in the car or office - so that they can start with one of the base meals above and then add things like fruit, veggies or unsalted nuts to increase the overall caloric intake without overdoing it on sodium and saturated fat.

Be Extraordinary,


RDKate



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Fast Food Trivia - Which is the lowest in calories: Answers

Last week's blog featured a quiz created by Kelly White MS, RD, CSSD, LD. This week, check the answers below to see how well you did!

Kelly is a clinical, sports and wellness dietitian. Feel free to contact her directly at kwhitenutrition@gmail.com

Be Extraordinary,


RDKate
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How did you do?!
Which of the two choices has the most calories? Higher-calorie option is underlined; calorie totals follow.
Fast Food

1. Big Mac from McDonalds vs. Subway 12-inch Italian BMT sandwich: 600 vs. 900

2. Burger King Chicken Club Salad with Tendercrisp Chicken vs. Burger King Bacon Cheeseburger: 480 vs. 360

3. 2 McDonalds Quarter Pounders vs. Large McDonalds Chocolate Shake: 820 vs. 1160

4. Quiznos Chicken Bourbon Sandwich vs. Quiznos Classic Italian Sandwich: 320 vs. 950

5. Taco Bell Taco Salad vs. Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Steak Gordita: 840 vs. 270

Ice Cream/Beverages

1. Small Wendy’s Vanilla Frosty vs.Small Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard: 310 vs. 570

2. Starbucks Small Coffee Frappuccino vs. McDonald’s Medium Coke: 180 vs. 210

3. Sonic Tropical Fruit Smoothie vs. Smoothie King Strawberry Smoothie: 500 vs. 380

4. Coldstone Medium Chocolate Ice Cream vs. McDonalds Vanilla Ice Cream Cone: 520 vs. 150 

5. Starbucks Café Americano vs.Starbucks Medium Hot Chocolate with whipped cream: 450 vs. 30


Restaurants

1.Ruby Tuesday’s Kids Meal Macaroni and Cheese vs. Pizza Hut one slice of Thin n’ Crispy Pizza: 900 vs. 230

2. Chili’s Cheese Fries vs. Outback’s Bloomin Onion: 2070 vs. 1700

3.Chili’s NY Strip Steak vs. Chili’s Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken: 790 vs. 1010

4. Red Lobster's Cajun Chicken Linguini vs. Applebee's Chicken Wings (12 ct): 1828 vs. 1545

5. Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon dinner vs. Chili's Chicken Caesar Pita: 555 vs. 650


Of course many of these foods are okay in moderation, but you can see how eating out day after day can add to your waistline.There are many meals and beverages restaurants offers that are lower in calories and more nutritious.  Remember to plan ahead and look up foods before you go out to eat!

 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

As the holidays approach, be aware of your fast food splurges

The holidays are quickly approaching. As many of us expect to take in quite a few calories from holiday parties and gatherings, it becomes especially important to be cognizant of what we eat before we get to those parties. Lack of time and high stress often leads to an increase in fast food intake during the season. This week, enjoy a guest blog by Kelly White MS, RD, CSSD, LD, who will test your fast food nutrition knowledge to help you prepare and stay on track during the next couple of months! Kelly is a clinical, sports and wellness dietitian. Feel free to contact her directly at kwhitenutrition@gmail.com
 
Be Extraordinary,
 
 
RDKate
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Eating out can be healthy, but one meal can also provide one half to all of your total calorie needs for the day.  Even if you are athletic and burn a lot of calories, some of these foods can STILL take up to ½ of your total calorie needs for the day.  Many foods listed below may seem like a decent choice (well, not that many of them), but you will be amazed at the total calorie amounts they provide!   If you are a very busy person, and eat out a lot, take advantage of the Apps on your phone, or use www.calorieking.com to look up food items in your favourite restaurants.   

Take this quiz to see how much you know about fast food meals and beverages!    Below you will see three categories:  Fast food, Ice Cream/Beverages, and Restaurants.  Which of the two choices has the most calories?
 
Fast Food
1.  Big Mac from McDonalds   vs.       Subway 12-inch Italian BMT sandwich
2. Burger King Chicken Club Salad with Tendercrisp Chicken   vs.      Burger King Bacon Cheeseburger
3. 2 McDonalds Quarter Pounders    vs.   Large McDonalds Chocolate Shake
4. Quiznos Chicken Bourbon Sandwich    vs.     Quiznos Classic Italian Sandwich
5. Taco Bell Taco Salad    vs.     Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Steak Gordita
 
Ice Cream/Beverages
 
1. Small Wendy’s Vanilla Frosty   vs. Small Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard
2. Starbucks Small Coffee Frappuccino vs. McDonald’s Medium Coke
3. Sonic Tropical Fruit Smoothie vs. Smoothie King Strawberry Smoothie
4. Coldstone Medium Chocolate Ice Cream vs. McDonalds Vanilla Ice Cream Cone
5. Starbucks Café Americano vs. Starbucks Medium Hot Chocolate with whipped cream
 
Restaurants
 
1. Ruby Tuesday’s Kids Meal Macaroni and Cheese  vs. Pizza Hut one slice of Thin n’ Crispy Pizza
2. Chili’s Cheese Fries  vs. Outback’s Bloomin Onion
3. Chili’s NY Strip Steak vs. Chili’s Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken
4. Red Lobster's Cajun Chicken Linguini vs. Applebee's Chicken Wings (12 ct)
 
5. Applebee's Honey Grilled Salmon dinner vs. Chili's Chicken Caesar Pita
 
 
Come back next week to see the answers!