Like you care right? Well, I face a lot of criticism from would-be health-advisors on a regular basis. I think it is kind of ironic that I eat fast-food almost every day and the people who are telling me that it is horrible for me!!! are normally not in as good of shape as I am. However, i'm not gonna lecture anyone. Do what you want as long as it doesn't hurt someone else is my logo.
Yes, fast-food has more preservatives than most other restaurants as well as other things that we know are terrible for us, however there are three things I really like about fast food
- it's fast
- it's consistent
- it's cheap
As soon as a non-chain restaurant can offer at least two of these things, i'll eat there instead. That being said, here are my favorite fast-food chains and you need to keep in mind that I am an American living in Thailand so I haven't tried just everything.
3: Subway
The best thing about Subway is that the choices are pretty endless due to customization options. Although I normally order some variety of the same thing every time I go in there, I have the option of creating something completely different. I think you would have to visit Subway hundreds of times to have EVERYTHING they sell there. Also a foot-long sub is perfect for "half now / half later as a snack." Subway is a bit more expensive than the others and it loses points there.
My go to sandwich is the BMT with everything except carrots and cucumbers because i don't believe those things belong on a sandwich of any sort.
2. Arby's
The main reason why this is on my list is because I am normally looking to get a bunch of protein in what I eat as well as taste. The sandwiches at Arby's are loaded with this. You can easily accomplish 25-30g of protein in an Arby's sandwich and while some people say they think it is nasty tasting, i disagree. I think it is delicious. As far as I know this chain doesn't exist outside of USA but it is one of the main places I am looking for when i visit.
My go-to is the French Dip, which isn't even on the menu at most places but they always have it.
1: Taco bell
Taco Bell in my mind will always be the grand champion of fast food. It is one of the cheapest, I like almost everything on the menu, and the classics always hit the spot with me. Some people think that because it comes in a tortilla instead of bread that it is somehow better for you and you couldn't be more wrong. Tortillas have about the same amount of carbs in them as bread does. I don't go to Taco Bell for a low carb delight, i go to KFC for that :P
I fell in love with Taco Bell when i was in college. This was one of the few places that was open super late and myself and my friends were regulars in the drive through, many times a week. The introduction of the Doritos Locos Supreme was a wonderful addition to their already sterling menu and while Taco Bell has been recently introduced to Thailand, I am yet to eat there... but will. Mostly I have been hearing bad things because they adjusted the menu to appeal to Thai palates, which is understandable since Thais constitute 98% of the population here.
My go-to : Doritos Locos Supreme and the always wonderful Meximelt... which many places don't even have on the menu anymore but they still sell it!
you may have noticed that McD's, Burger King, and KFC are not on the list. These guys are the biggest in the world but why are they not there? For me, this is because they are everywhere and to be honest I don't have much enthusiasm when i go to eat there - it is just too "normal."
I have looked at the nutritional information on most of what I eat at these places and it really isn't as bad as people are made to believe. Cooking at home is obviously better for you but other than sodium, which i don't really worry about (yet), if you skip the coke and fries the ever dangerous carbs aren't really that bad either. It works for me, but I also exercise every day, and that might be part of the reason why it isn't as dangerous for me as it might be for other people.