Fast-Food Places Offer Low-Fat Options

CLEVELAND -- When you're on the run, fast food is sometimes your only choice when you're really hungry.

But if you're watching your weight, it's probably the worst choice.

However, you can hit the drive-thru and not eat too many calories and fat grams.

Nutritionist Mary Beth Cavanaugh of University Hospitals in Cleveland is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to calories and fat grams.

"When you're going through the drive-thru, you're in a hurry, and you're usually starved, and so a little damage control and thinking about what you're going to order before you get there would be a good idea," she said.

The mistake most people make when they're hungry is that they order what sounds good, not what seems the lowest in calories or fat.

At McDonald's, a Quarter Pounder with cheese, a medium Coke and supersize fries add up to 1,350 calories and 59 grams of fat.

Supersize, by the way, is not your friend.

"The fries, they supersize the sandwiches, and that's where a lot of extra calories and fat grams can really rack up quickly," Cavanaugh said.

But if you get the Happy Meal, you might be happier later. It has only 475 calories and 20 grams of fat.

At Arby's, a roast beef with cheese, curly fries, a Coke and Horsey sauce totals 1,055 calories and 44 grams of fat.

Cavanaugh figured that the new Market Fresh Turkey Swiss would be better, but it turned out that the sandwich is 760 calories and 33 grams of fat all by itself.

Opt for the light grilled chicken instead -- it's 280 calories and 5 grams of fat. Also, go for the regular fries instead of the curly ones, and get a Diet Coke. That meal would total 580 calories and 18 grams of fat.

At Wendy's, a double classic cheeseburger, fries and a small Frosty add up to 1,500 calories and 64 grams of fat.

"Right away, that extra amount of meat adds an extra 300 calories to your order," Cavanaugh said.

Instead, try a grilled chicken sandwich, an iced tea and a side salad, but treat yourself with the real Italian dressing -- not the low-cal stuff.

The grand total is only 555 calories and 27 grams of fat.

Cavanaugh said that the bottom line is to think before you order.

If you want to do a little research on your own, most fast-food restaurants will give you a nutrition guide if you ask for one.

There is also a lot of information on the various restaurants' Web sites.