America's Worst Lunches—And What You Should Eat Instead
PANERA
- Italian Combo on Ciabatta sandwich
- 1,050 calories
- 47 g fat (18 g saturated, 1 g trans)
- 3,050 mg of sodium
Fat equivalent: Like eating 6 slices of Papa John's cheese pizza!
You were on the right track in choosing Panera, but don't be sidelined by the allure of the Italian Combo. Ciabatta bread may sound sophisticated, but you won't look so refined when you're lugging that spare Pirelli around your midsection.
Eat this instead:
Smoked Turkey Breast on Sourdough sandwich
- 470 calories
- 17 g fat (2.5 g saturated)
- 1,680 mg sodium
CHIPOTLE
- 13” tortilla with steak, black beans, rice, cheese, sour cream and lettuce
- 955 calories
- 38 g fat (18 g saturated)
- 1,600 mg sodium
Calorie equivalent: Like eating 37 Hershey’s Kisses!
The good news about this tortilla is that it contains 56 grams of protein, but that's hardly worth the outrageous calorie and carbohydrate load—with 94 grams of carbs, you've already covered a third of your recommended daily intake, plus you're taking in nearly a day's worth of sodium and saturated fat. Downsize to drop pounds.
Eat this instead:
Three hard tacos with steak, pinto beans, sour cream and lettuce
- 615 calories
- 24 g fat (11 g saturated)
- 710 mg sodium
(Another hint: When it comes to Chipotle chips, just say "no." They add an outrageous 570 calories and 73 extra grams of carbs.)
HARDEE'S
2/3-lb Monster Thickburger
- 1,420 calories
- 108 g fat (43 g saturated)
- 2,770 mg sodium
Saturated fat equivalent: Like eating 43 strips of Oscar Mayer bacon!
It's called Monster for a reason. It's a monster load of saturated fat (more than two days' worth). The good news is that it has a friendlier, healthier cousin in the 1/3-lb Low-Carb Thickburger, with 1,000 fewer calories and a third the amount of fat. Even better, the Low-Carb Thickburger is true to its name—it only has 5 grams of quick-burning carbohydrates, compared to 46 grams in the Monster.
Eat this instead:
1/3-lb Low-Carb Thickburger
- 420 calories
- 32 g fat (12 g saturated)
- 1,010 mg sodium
BURGER KING
Triple Whopper Sandwich with cheese and mayo
- 1,250 calories
- 84 g fat (32 g saturated, 2.5 g trans)
- 1,600 mg sodium
Fat equivalent: Like eating 10 slices of Papa John's cheese pizza!
You should know by now not to order a triple anything. In this case you're getting egregious calorie, fat, and sodium overloads. It's not bad, though, compared to the shockers on our list of the trans-fattiest foods in America. Choose a regular cheeseburger instead and slash 920 calories, 68 g of fat, and save yourself from the judgmental stares of your co-workers, who are three times as likely to be grossed out!
Eat this instead:
Cheeseburger
- 330 calories
- 16 g fat (7 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
- 780 mg sodium
And once you've navigated lunch's landmines, don't blow your day with a bad dinner. Check out these 15 fast and easy ways to get more from your microwave dinner.
Read more on MSN Health & Fitness:
Provided by Men's Health
As long as its not an everyday occurance, a couple of these lunches a week won't kill you. But unfortunately for far too many people this kind of diet is routine.
Regarding smoking, I loved to smoke, from the age of fourteen until two years and three months ago (I'm 39 now). I feel great! I get more done, I can breathe (!!), I exercise now, I can taste food better, I don't cough up crap every morning, I smell good, my apartment smells good, I'm not poisoning people around me---the benefits are amazing. I would encourage anyone to keep trying until you quit! Don't be a slave to the tobacco companies! I wish everyone health, physical and mental.
And fast food tortures animals, strips the land, and is in part causing the epidemics of obesity and diabetes, not to mention how food affects our moods. Peace!
I am 53 years old Black man with high blood pressure. Two years ago my weight was 525lbs. I joined a gym with 24 hour access. I follow my doctor instructions and went to work on changing me. It was no one's job but mine. I am the only one accountable for changing me, the way I eat , what I eat , when I eat, where I eat . It's & all decision about me are on me. So I started with working out seven days a week. I know everyone will say that is too much. I think you know what you will need to do just like I know after all I am the one at 525lb. There are a lot of diets , you will have to find one that you feel works for you. For me it the following , Seven days in the gym for at least an hour, stop eating out, cook you food at home, leave the red meat alone, cut down the polk and fish three times a week and vegetables five days a week. Drink milk and very little alcohol and reduce your soda in take to three a week. When you want some fired chicken eat it and stop. 2000 calories a day and seven days a week in the gym I am now at 380lbs. Check your weight daily you have too. Control what you eat daily, you have too, And above all pray to your GOD TO WHOM YOU SERVE for a long life and time to work the weight off. It can be done you have too I know I will. With God's GRACE.
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