Guiltless in Seattle: A Guide to Fast, Healthy Food
April 5, 2010
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Seattle
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Guiltless in Seattle: A Guide to Fast, Healthy Food
Now that we know all you have to do is eat at Subway or Taco Bell to lose weight and stay healthy there’s probably not much reason for this article. Or is there?
According to CBS news:
- Two-thirds of Americans, more than 190 million people, are overweight or obese.
- Obesity-related diseases are a $147 billion dollar medical burden every year.
- Childhood obesity has tripled in the last thirty years.
There’s no doubt that America’s waistline is expanding at the same time the organic food movement, which emphasizes a move away from processed and packaged foods, is growing in popularity. What can we do about this contradiction? With our work weeks not ending at 40 hours and kids’ schedules as busy, or even busier, than ours, how can we grab a quick bite and not add that additional 500 calories per day?
Fortunately, America’s restaurants are trying to help us solve that dilemma. While you can still grab a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese at McDonalds, you can also grab a salad or a yogurt parfait.
Healthy Fast Food Restaurants
With all of the grease and high-fructose corn syrup available at most burger joints this may sound like an oxymoron, but Health Magazine published a list of America’s 10 healthiest fast food restaurants. They judged 100 of the largest restaurant chains (according to number of locations) against criteria such as use of healthy fats and preparations, healthy sodium counts in entrées, availability of nutritional information, and the use of organic produce. Here’s how they scored:
- Panera Bread
Judges rate Panera well due to menu variety and reasonable portion sizes. Whole grain breads and fresh soups and salads are featured on the menu. Don’t fall trap to the sweets, though.
- Jason’s Deli
This chain found mostly in the West, Midwest, and South grabbed the number two spot due to devotion to organic ingredients. Approximately 1/5th of its menu feature organic ingredients.
- Au Bon Pain
As one of the pioneers of healthy fast food, Au Bon Pain now offers a new menu of 14 nutritious small plates. Stores also feature kiosks where diners can look up nutritional info on all menu items.
- Noodles and Company
This is not your typical neighborhood noodle house. Diners are given the choice of portion sizes that are made with lean proteins that are both hormone and antibiotic free. To cut down on the fats, all dishes are cooked with soybean oil.
- Corner Bakery Café
Corner Bakery Café scores big because of smart breakfast choices like the Farmer’s Scrambler (only 260 calories) and Swiss oatmeal. Smart salads and soups are combined with fresh roasted chicken.
- Chipotle
Long before Taco Bell tried to do something about their menu, Chipotle has been serving fresh, locally sourced, organic ingredients to its customers. Be careful, however, when walking down the buffet line; there are more calories in that cheese and sour cream than you might think.
- Atlanta Bread
Hearty whole grain breads; delicious, healthy soups; and fresh salads combine with their innovative muffin tops (1/2-sized servings) to give diners a great alternative to burgers and fries.
- McDonald’s
Yes! McDonald’s, the home of the Big Mac. If you haven’t been to one lately, you might not recognize portions of the menu. Grilled chicken sandwiches, snack wraps, yogurt parfaits, and kid’s meals that offer juice and apple slices instead of fries have taken center stage at the Golden Arches.
- Einstein Bros. Bagels
Not such a good choice for you low-carbbers out there, but Einstein Bros. provides plenty of alternatives to that high fat, high calorie cream cheese with hummus, reduced-fat shmears, and peanut butter. You can also order any salad in half-sizes.
- Taco Del Mar
Baja-style Mexican food has been growing in popularity in recent years. Taco Del Mar combines fresh ingredients with whole grains and lard-free beans. Taco shells are also baked instead of fried like most Mexican restaurants.
As we noted for some, each of these restaurants can be just as health dangerous as that Double Whopper sitting beside your King-sized coke, but each also makes great effort to provide busy diners with healthy choices and tasty alternatives to their normal rut of calorie and fat indulgence.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Seattle. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Seattle offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in the Seattle, Washington area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit http://Chefs.edu/Seattle for more information.
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