400 cal. Fast Food

I hate fast food. Don't like it at all, but notice some of you do. For those who are fast food junkie, here is a list of 400 calorie meals (or less) which can easily be obtained without leaving your car. I came across these while answering another post. Thought it more responsible to post them here than on the main board. 400-Calorie Lunches Two dozen ways to get your midday energy boost. McDonald's: Chicken McGrill (400 calories) or four Chicken McNuggets plus a small fries (420 calories total). Burger King: Four Chicken Tenders and a small fries (400 calories total). Or, for 50 calories less, swap the fries for a small order of onion rings. Wendy's: Large Chili with Cheddar cheese and saltines (395 calories) or Grilled Chicken Sandwich (300 calories) and side salad with low-cal dressing (125 calories). SubwaySubway: Any "7 Under 6" sandwich (230 to 320 calories), Subway's Select Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich (380 calories) or Subway's Select Red Wine Vinaigrette Club Sandwich (350 calories). Bu****ch out: The moment you add mayo, oil, or cheese, the calorie count starts climbing. Dairy Queen: Grilled chicken sandwich (310 calories) or DQ Homestyle cheeseburger (340 calories). Stay away from the fries: At 350 calories for a small order, they're over 100 calories more than McDonald's and Burger King fries. Taco BellTaco Bell: Two soft tacos with chicken (190 calories per taco), two soft tacos with beef (210 calories per taco) or taco salad with salsa, without the shell (420 calories). Be very wary of the burritos: The plain bean burrito is a healthy 370 calories, but the Grilled Stuft Beef Burrito takes a giant leap up to 730 calories! Generally, the simpler the dish, the fewer the calories. KFCKFC: Tender Roast Sandwich without sauce (260 calories), Tender Roast Sandwich with sauce (390 calories) or individual Popcorn Chicken (450 calories). Steer clear of the "classic" KFC meals: One Original Recipe fried drumstick is 140 calories, and one wing is 150. And you've got to ask yourself: When's the last time anyone ate just one wing? Arby'sArby's: Regular Roast Beef sandwich (350 calories) or Light Grilled Chicken sandwich (280 calories). Careful with the curly fries: A small order starts at 310 calories -- more than the entire chicken sandwich! Boston MarketBoston Market: Marinated grilled chicken (230 calories per breast) with new potatoes (130 calories) or quarter-pound skinless white-meat chicken (170 calories) with butternut squash (150 calories). Look out for the Chunky Chicken Salad -- it sounds healthy, but at 480 calories per three quarters of a cup, it's a little bit of bird for a lot of calories. Pizza Hut: Two slices of Thin 'n Crispy Cheese Pizza (200 calories per slice). The golden rule of pizza eating: Thinner crust and fewer toppings equal fewer calories (except vegetable toppings, which are virtually calorie free).

Not even in my dreams could I eat any of the items mentioned above for 400 calories, nor would I want to. I think at most I take a bite here and there occasionally of anything I would consider junk food, other than the Wendy's chili, which I can get a small portion, nixing the cheese and onions, and usually I can't finish the whole thing. My question on this would be, why would anyone want these things? Most of us eat pretty healthy about 90 percent of the time, and the other 10 percent we are just human. Just my 2 cents.

I don't find the list so appalling. While I don't love fast food and rarely eat it--sometimes people need to grab a quick something. I very rarely have breads so I'll sometimes just eat the grilled chicken breast. Wish I like chili--but I don't. I found the list interesting.

I travel for a living and have to eat "fast food" just about daily. For the most part, all of the fast food restaurants have food that is or can be made to be a decent meal. Most have a grilled chicken selection, and whatever it is, ask for no sauce or very very lite sauce on it. Or get a salad with their lo-calorie dressing option. Toss the bun if you get a burger or chicken sandwich. Michelle

this is a helpful post. I would like to say I NEVER eat fast food, but I live in the real fast paced world and sometimes life is just busy. A 400 cal lunch on the run beats passing out from low blood sugar, or getting so hungry that I grab anything with out thought. Knowing what the "better" choices are helps, to have a plan in place for those days increases the chances of long term success.

I go to Mc Donalds and get a grilled chicken breast ($1.00), a side salad ($1.00) and a pack of Newman's Own Balsalmic Vinagrette dressing. Works for me, I'm sure less than 400 calories. Sue O.

Pat: Thank you for this post. I rarely eat fast food, but sometimes it just happens to be the only possible choice, and it's good to know what some of the better options are. I'm going to print this out and keep it in my car! Thanks for the info! Carlita