While fast food isn’t particularly known to be healthy, some menu items at your favorite joint can be more weight loss-friendly than others. When it comes to healthy weight loss, this is often hindered by consuming inflammatory foods.
We checked in with registered dietitians, nutritionists and other health experts to learn more about one common fast food side in particular to avoid if weight loss (and preventing bloating) is your ultimate goal.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet and Katie Tomaschko, MS, RDN, registered dietitian and contributor at Sporting Smiles.
Why yes, Dairy Queen regional menu, I WOULD like to try some deep-fried cheese curds pic.twitter.com/HF3H4svJYn
— mary gumport (@metalmaryo) August 5, 2013
Inflammatory Effects Of Fast Food Cheese Curds
Fried cheese curds (often found at fast food chain locations like Dairy Queen, A&W and Culver’s) are one of the worst sides out there to choose from if you’re working to lose weight, Richards warns. “This fried cheese side item is calorie dense and high in fat and carbohydrates. If consumed on a regular basis they are likely to lead to weight gain and inflammation,” she says, adding regarding Dairy Queen’s menu item, “Just one (large) serving is 1,000 calories and 67 grams of fat.”
Dairy Queen’s cheese curds are delicious little morsels. 10/10 pic.twitter.com/hEQUWp0M7S
— JY (@Joyosaur) January 7, 2020
This amount of calories, Richards stresses, is over half the recommended intake for a day in just one side dish. “Even if you were to order a small in place of a large it is still at least a quarter of your daily calorie needs,” she notes, adding, “When combined with a calorie dense hamburger and soft drink you are looking at nearly 2,000 calories in just one meal.”
Portion Control, Ingredients And Other Important Factors That Hinder Weight Loss
Tomaschko notes that while “fast food portion sizes can make weight loss very difficult,” other factors “definitely can play a part in it.” Another important component, she says, includes the “ingredients that are commonly used in fast food.” These ingredients are “calorically dense, like oils, mayo, aioli, cheese, etc., and do not have to be presented to you in large portions to make them a potential hindrance to weight loss,” she points out.
They are rather easy to "overdo," Tomaschko says, noting that another common ingredient— salt— can "make you feel thirsty and more inclined to drink a soda or other sugary beverage." In addition, discounted meals or bundles that include drinks and sides can also "tempt you to overdo it on the calories." This isn't meant to lead you on a restrictive diet, but rather, to become more mindful of what you eat, she emphasizes, as well as how it could be causing inflammation, and how to eat less without making drastic changes to your lifestyle.
"Stick to lighter options," Tomaschko advises, adding that there is often a "healthier or lighter menu" that may be smaller in portion size. She also recommends "keeping the sides to a minimum" if you are trying to lose weight. "Opt for diet soda or reduced sugar drinks— ideally water," she concludes, noting that most importantly, you shouldn't completely restrict fast food if you enjoy it. "Moderation, not deprivation, is key."
