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Salads have become synonymous with dieting over the years, as they're a popular and convienent way to fill your body with healthy, nutrient-dense foods for weight loss. But dieters should know that not all salads are healthy, especially the ones that you get from fast food restaurants. In fact, health experts advise customers to avoid the salads from McDonald's due to their unhealthy ingredients and fatty dressings.
[Photos: McDonalds.com]
"Salads can be loaded with dressing, adding hundreds of calories and saturated fats," nutrition consultant Stacy Goldberg of Savorfull tells SheFinds. "There are hidden sugar sources in salads including salad dressings (especially sweet ones like raspberry vinaigrettes and poppyseed), as well as dried fruit and caramelized nuts. The grams of sugar can add up very quickly."
This especially rings true for the salads offered at McDonald's. Most of their salads feature unhealthy ingredients like bacon and tortilla strips, which are then drenched in fatty dressings. Plus, their main source of protein comes from McDonald's grilled or crispy chicken patties, which are loaded with sodium and fat.
[Photo: Instagram]
If you're still tempted to buy a salad from McDonald's, know that there are some healthy hacks that nutritionists swear by to make their fast food salads kinder to their waistline.
To start, Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, recommends always opting for grilled chicken as a protein instead of the chain's crispy chicken. Then, she suggests making some little modifications. "I'd have the Premium Southwest Salad with grilled—not crispy—chicken. I like that the beans and corn in the salad offer up some fiber. To lighten it up a bit, I'd have them hold the cheese and tortilla strips and use only half of the dressing," she tells Eat This, Not That!
Libby Mills, MS, RDN, LDN, and Lauren Minchen, MPH, RDN, CDN, both suggest requesting the Mickey D's Low-Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing for your salads to skip the calories from their heavier dressings.
But if the chain's Ranch Dressing or Cilantro Lime Glaze are still what you're after, the health experts at CNN suggest only using half a packet on your salad. Or, you can try our healthy hack by dipping your fork in the dressing before each bite. Trust us, this is a great way to enjoy your favorite dressing while still making smart choices for your waistline.
Are there any foods that you always avoid when you're trying to eat healthy at McDonald's? Let us know your healthy fast food hacks in the comments below!
[Photos: Shutterstock]
