• Ordering low-calorie meals when eating fast foods, is as simple as asking to read a menu nutrition pamphlet.fast food image by Shannon Workman from Fotolia.com
  
  People live hectic, frenetic and over-scheduled lives. Many of us are on the go for longer than 12 hours a day and have very little time to think about what we eat. Fast food constitutes a solution for not having time to fix and eat food at home. Most fast food businesses have listened to the media and health food complaints about the health problems caused by eating it on a regular basis. Most of them have added low-calorie options to their menus.
  
  

Salads

• Many fast food restaurants offer several different kinds of salads with a variety of salad dressing options. When considering what kind of salad to buy, think about how many calories meat adds to the salad and whether the meat is grilled or fried. Frying meat in oil adds calories. You also need to consider the type of salad dressing you choose. Ask for a low-calorie dressing when buying a salad. If this is not an option, ask to see information about the nutritional status of the menu items and select a dressing that is low in calories. Use only one packet of dressing on a salad.
  
  

Sandwiches

• For people on the go, choosing a sandwich over a salad often makes an easier way to proceed, especially when they need to eat while driving to the next meeting or appointment. Fast food restaurants generally offer several kinds of grilled or oven roasted sandwiches with low-calorie options. Ask to have the sandwich made without bacon, cheese or mayonnaise to reduce calories even further. Several deli-style fast-food restaurants offer low-calorie deli sandwiches made with low-fat meat and veggies.
  
  

Desserts

• Desserts often contain loads of calories, so making wise dessert choices from a fast food menu may prove difficult. Some fast food restaurants offer low-fat yogurt with fruit and granola. Other restaurants may serve apple slices served with caramel sauce. Look for fudge bars and low-fat ice cream with no added sugar. Ordering the kiddie size reduces the amount of calories and may satisfy a craving for something sweet.