How much time did you spend in your car last week? Ten hours? Fifteen maybe? Wow, that sounds like a lot. But it's still probably an underestimate: As it turns out, the average American now spends 21 hours per week stuck inside a mobile metal box.
No wonder the drive-thru is so appealing. All those hours spent in traffic leaves scarcely any time to sit and eat. Add to that the stress of daily life and the desire to feel like you're accomplishing something while you drive, and you've got a pretty good case for turning the center console into a dining table.
But that convenience comes at a cost. A 15-year study published in the British journal Lancet found that those who ate fast food two or more times per week gained an average of 10 more pounds than those who ate fast food less than once a week. But it doesn't have to be this way. In my latest book, The Eat This, Not That! No-Diet Diet, I teach you how to navigate fast-food menus and make sure the meal coming at you through your car window won't necessitate a loosening of your seatbelt. The first step: Avoid the 5 foods on this list.
1. WORST SIDE DISH
Taco John’s Potato Ole’s (Large)
770 calories
46 g fat (6 g saturated, 1 g trans)
2,200 mg sodium
Interspersed throughout the menu in various permutations, these glorified tater tots pack a serious one-two punch. The combination of saturated fat and sodium puts a heavy strain on your heart, and the 770 calories test the durability of your belt buckle. Not even the indulgent Meat and Potato Burrito touts numbers this abysmal. Instead, opt for a side of Refried Beans. Order it without cheese and you'll cut 60 calories, but you'll hold on to the amazing 11 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein.
Eat This Instead!
Taco John’s Refried Beans (without cheese)
260 calories
1.5 g fat (0.5 trans)
940 mg sodium
DID YOU KNOW? Grocery cart handles are dirtier than bathrooms, and half of them carry E. coli, says a new University of Arizona study. Discover more shocking health, nutrition, and weight loss secrets like this by following me on Twitter right here (where I'm giving a FREE iPad2 to a lucky follower) or by signing up for our FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter.
2. WORST DESSERT
Dairy Queen Double Fudge Cookie Dough Blizzard (Large)
1,350 calories
58 g fat (28 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)
133 g sugars
This dessert ought to be served with a life insurance application. The problem is, the rest of the Blizzards aren't much better—even the smalls tend to hover around 500 calories. Splitting one of those isn't so bad, but if you prefer to have your own treat, go for a sundae instead. The best approach is to pick the ice-cream flavor of the Blizzard you wanted, and then ask to have that topping added to your sundae. That way you get all the flavor, none of the belly.
Eat This Instead!
Dairy Queen Chocolate Sundae with Cookie Dough Topping (Small size)
360 calories
14 g fat (10.5 g saturated)
45 g sugars
Bonus Tip: Our take on dessert? Eat it! Just know what you're eating and limit your indulgence. You can find the best Eat This, Not That! options right here: 15 Desserts That Burn Fat!
3. WORST BURGER
Hardee’s 2/3 lb. Monster Thickburger
1,320 calories
95 g fat (36 g saturated)
3,020 mg sodium
At one-third pound of beef, the original Thickburger offers plenty by way of gluttony, but compared to this thing it appears positively conservative. Mashed between beef and bun are 4 strips of bacon, 3 slices of cheese, and a big gob of mayonnaise. That's how it earns nearly twice the saturated fat you should consume in an entire day! Go with the Little Thick Cheeseburger to you'll eliminate 65 percent of the calories.
Eat This Instead!
Hardee’s Little Thick Cheeseburger
450 calories
23 g fat (9 g saturated)
1,180 mg sodium
Bonus Tip: Some burgers are lean and healthy. Others are excessive and dangerous. See if any of your favorites made our list of The 15 Worst Burgers in America. And check out Cook This, Not That! to learn how to make delicious 400-calorie burgers (and hundreds of other delicious weight-loss meals) in minutes at home.
4. WORST BREAKFAST
McDonald’s Big Breakfast with Large Biscuit, Hotcakes, and syrup
1,330 calories
60 g fat (20 g saturated)
2,280 mg sodium
49 g sugars
This is the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink breakfast made popular by diners such as Denny's and IHOP. Consider these stats: This meal has as much saturated fat as 2 Sausage McGriddles, more sodium than 6.5 large orders of french fries, more sugar than 3.5 Hot Apple Pies, and more calories than 3 Double Cheeseburgers. We're all for eggs at breakfast, but not when they come flanked with pancakes, sausage, hash browns, and an oversized buttermilk biscuit. Pair a Parfait with an Egg McMuffin for 22 grams of belly-filling protein in fewer than 500 calories. Now that's a great way to start the day.
Eat This Instead!
McDonald’s Egg McMuffin with Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait
460 calories
14 g fat (6 g saturated)
905 mg sodium
24 g sugars
Bonus Tip: Smart snacking can work wonders on your waistline, curbing your cravings so you order less at the drive-thru. The key is finding snacks that are low in sugar and high in protein and fiber. Try any of our 50 Best Snack Foods in America—they'll help keep you lean and full all day long!
5. WORST SANDWICH
Quizno’s Large Tuna Melt
1,450 calories
98 g fat (20 g saturated, 1 g trans)
1,910 mg sodium
Tuna ought to be a healthy source of lean protein, but Quizno's suffocates its with so much mayonnaise that the original fish has been relegated to a mere texturing agent amid a wet slurry of fat and calories. We've called Quizno's out for this sandwich before, and we'll keep at it until they decide trim back on the excesses. In the meantime, go with the Honey Bourbon Chicken Sub. For the regular-size sandwich, you could eat a dozen without hitting the fat load of the Large Tuna Melt.
Eat This Instead!
Quizno’s Regular Honey Bourbon Chicken
520 calories
8 g fat (3 g saturated)
1,470 mg sodium
Bonus Tip: Learning which restaurants make it easiest to eat healthy can have a big impact on your body, and we've done the grunt work for you. Check out Eat This, Not That's list of America's Best and Worst Restaurants: 2011—and discover how to order your favorite foods, at your favorite restaurants, and still lose lots of weight without ever dieting again.