Group Names Worst, Best Fast Food

PHILADLEPHIA -- There is more news from the group that blasted movie popcorn and told us that fettuccine was a "heart attack on a plate."

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is at it again. This time, they've named what they think are the best and worst fast foods in America.

Most of us are guilty of grabbing fast food when we're on the go, but according to CSPI, some of them are just terrible for us, but some of them are not so bad.

The group said that it is a good thing Burger King has added some healthier additions to its menu. Burger King's old-fashioned ice cream shake tops the CSPI's worst fast food list. The large shake has 1,200 calories and 42 grams of fat.

"(With) just that one shake, you are way over halfway to meeting your needs for fat right there," said registered dietitian Deanna Mandell.

Here are the fast foods on the CSPI's worst list:

Burger King's shake
Burger King's fries
Burger King's hash browns
Burger King's double cheese whopper
Burger King's value meals

Here are the fast foods on the CSPI's best list:

Burger King's chicken whopper junior
Burger King's veggie burger
Wendy's mandarin chicken salad
Subway's low-fat subs
McDonald's fruit and yogurt parfait

The organization said that junior-sizing is a good way to cut back on the portions and the calories and the percentage of fat, especially when you are out and don't really have control over how things are cooked.

"There is better alternatives than choosing burgers or fries," said a health-conscious consumer, Dawn Delaney. "That's the main thing -- getting away from the fried foods."

While salads are usually a healthy choice, beware of the dressing if you want to be careful about calories and fat, according to CSPI. The group recommends keeping the salad dressing on the side and then dipping your fork into the dressing so you can control how much fat you get.

In response to the best and worst list, Burger King corporation said it "has long been committed to giving customers a choice by offering a variety of menu options and providing the nutritional values so customers can make informed decisions."

To calculate the calories and fat in your favorite fast food, try our fast food calculator.

More details about the worst and best fast foods can be found at the Web site for the Center for Science in the Public Interest.