Less Than 400 Calories at Micky D's

When people think of McDonald's most automatically think yummy but unhealthy, when in reality there are plenty of items on the menu under 400 calories. 


McDonald's for dinner...
Hamburger = 250 calories
Cheeseburger = 300 calories
McDouble = 390
Filet-O-Fish = 380
Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich = 350
Premium Grilled Chicken Ranch BLT Sandwich = 380
McChicken = 360
6-piece Chicken McNuggets = 280
Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich = 350
McChicken = 360
3-piece Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips = 380


McDonalds has a wide selection of snack wraps that also contain under 400 calories.
 
Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap = 330


A few items you should stay away from if you want to watch your calories...


Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon Burger = 800
Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese = 740
Sharable Size Chicken McBites = 1050


You especially want try healthier options if you want an order of fries. The medium size contains 380 calories. But if you must satisfy your french fry craving, order the kids size which only has 100 calories.


There are also many salad options at McDonalds that have a fairly healthy calorie count.

Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken has 290 calories. Choosing grilled over crispy chicken will always save you a lot of calories no matter where you go. Eating crispy chicken on a salad defeats the point of eating a salad in the first place.


For a quick breakfast under 400 calories try...
Fruit and Yogurt Parfait = 160
Egg McMuffin = 300
Hotcakes = 350
Sausage Burrito = 300
Fruit and Maple Oatmeal = 290


And a few you should for sure stay away from...
Big Breakfast with Hotcakes = 1090
Sausage Egg and Cheese McGriddle = 560 (substituting bacon shaves it down to 420 calories)
The Hashbrowns only have 150 calories, but be sure to watch what you pair them with!


To go with breakfast, the iced coffee's are very hard to give up so if you have to give in always choose the smaller size.

A small Hazelnut Iced Coffee only contains 130 calories whereas the large contains 270.


Don't think dieting means giving up fast food. Feed your cravings but watch for portion size and you save a lot more calories than you think!

Eat Healthy and "EAT MOR CHIKIN"

A lot of people have been in the situation where they were trying to eat healthy but their favorite fast food restaurants just kept calling their name.  I know from personal experience temptation is always stronger when you’re trying to eat right. But just because you are trying to eat healthy doesn't mean you have to completely cut out all of your favorite foods.  Many fast food restaurants have become more health savvy by providing low fat meal choices on their menu.  

Going to Chick-fil-A?  Instead of giving in to the popular Chicken Sandwich, try the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich.   
Healthy Option 1:                                                         
       



                                                                       

Greasy Option 2:

The Classic Chicken Sandwich (Option 2) has a total of 430 calories and 17 grams of fat.  If you add a side of Waffle Fries, you will altogether consume 820 whopping calories!  Is this meal that will only take you about 10 minutes to eat really worth that number?  

The Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich (Option 1) is marinated in special seasonings, grilled, and placed on a whole wheat bun.  The combination of the lettuce, tomato, seasonings and grilling adds a ton of flavor to this sandwich that only contains 290 calories.  If you can't seem to completely cut a side item from your meal, Chick-fil-A has many yummy options such as...
The Hearty Breast of Chicken Soup


A hearty soup with chunks of chicken, celery, carrots and noodles only containing 140 calories!

Or try the Fruit Cup...


...which contains mandarin oranges, strawberries, apples and red grapes; a total of only 70 calories!

Since these delicious and nutritious menu items are much more healthy for you, you can leave this popular restaurant feeling completely satisfied and without the guilt!

Something Better Than Sex for V-day

Want something better than sex this year for Valentine's Day?  Whether you have someone special to spend this annual love-filled day with or not, you will for sure be pleased.  

If you've ever heard of Better Than Sex Cake and fell in love with it but ran away from it due to the calorie count? Well here is my special Valentine's Day gift to you; a recipe for Better Than Sex Cake with half the calories of the normal recipe!  So go ahead and feel free to stuff your face with this chocolaty goodness without the guilt.

You will need...

1 (12 ounce) can Diet Coke (Coke Zero is better)

1 (18 ounce) box devil's food cake mix

1 egg white

6 ounces fat free caramel topping

7 ounces fat-free condensed milk

1 english toffee-flavored candy bar, chopped up

8 ounces fat-free whipped topping

Then you'll have to...

First preheat the over to 350 degrees.

Mix together the cake mix, egg white, and soda.

Pour mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.

Bake for 35 minutes.

During the last few minutes of baking, put the caramel and condensed milk in a saucepan on low heat and cook until it is smooth.

After 35 minutes is up, remove cake from over and pour caramel over the top.

Sprinkle half of the candy bar on top.

Let is sit and cook completely.

Lastly, cover with whipped topping and sprinkle the remaining candy bar bits on top.

Now you have the exact same delicious recipe with half the calories!  The original recipe has 384 calories per serving, while this lightened up version only has 143.  Choosing the fat-free caramel, milk, and whipped topping has a lot to do with the decrease in calories.  The diet soda also adds flavor without the addition of extra sugar.

  

After having my mom try this masterpiece, she said "It almost is better than the original recipe because it has a lighter taste to it so there's no guilt!"  What more could you want than something that is better than sex, and without feeling bad about it afterwards! This desert is the perfect treat for Valentine's Day if you are in love wanting to share something special with their lover, or if your that person who absolutely dreads this time of year. 

       

Low Calorie and Cheesecake Factory DO Mix

Many people think that going out to eat is the perfect way to ruin a healthy diet.  Some people also think it gives them an excuse to splurge, especially if they have no other choice but to go out for dinner (choice of a birthday girl).  Many resturants are becoming more health concious and adding healthy options to their menu, so no excuses allowed!   

Last week I went out to dinner for my friends birthday to the Cheesecake Factory.  The sound of "Cheesecake" and "healthy diet" don't seem to mix but because of their new Skinnylicious Menu, this popular resturant is becoming the choice of people who like to watch what they eat.  Burgers, pizza and tacos can now be eaten without one feeling guilty afterwards.  There are plenty of tasty choices to choose from on the healthy alternative menu with each item all under 600 calories. 

After looking at the menu and seeing choices such as, Crispy Crab Bites, Fresh Baked Flatbreads and BBQ Chicken, I finally decided to go with the  BLT Sandwich; bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo inbetween two pieces of toasted brioche bread.  The lettuce and tomato gave it a fresh crunch, while the bacon gave the sandwich an explosion of flavor.  The toasted bread also gave the sandwich extra texture.  This delicious sandwich, along with the side salad of tossed greens and vinagarette dressing, altogether contained 590 calories.  Even though my meal had fewer calories, it still was a full plate and filled me right up.

My friend, Caitlin DeMarco (aka Birthday Girl), ordered the Skinnylicious Hamburger that contained mayo, lettuce, onion and tomato.  Caitlin loved her 570 calorie meal and stated, "It had the same toppings on it as a normal burger so suprisingly it still had the full flavor of a normal burger."  570 calories is nothing campared to the Classic Burger my friend Britiany Privette ordered that contained 1305!  Even though everyone else that went to dinner with us didn't order from the Skinnylicious menu, we all enjoyed our meal.  I'm not sure what the restaurant does to make the items on their Skinnylicious menu healthy (and also tasty) like the items on the original menu, but they definitely do!

If you're like me and think this new menu can't get anybetter, think again! The Cheesecake Factory gives you the option to make certain drinks, such as a Cosmopolitan, Long Island Iced Tea, Sangria, Mojito and Margaritas, half the calories.  See your favorite cocktail? Ask for it to be made "Skinny Style" and your drink will arrive with less than 150 calories!
Sounds...  
  
and looks like heaven to me!