Monday, April 19, 2010

Looks May Be Deceiving

Recently, KFC's "Double Down" sandwich has gotten a lot of press. For those of you who don't know, the Double Down takes two pieces of fried chicken fillets and use them to sandwich two slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese, two slices of bacon, and a special sauce.
A friend of mine posted an article on Facebook last week entitled, "10 Common Fast Food Sandwiches Way Worse Than KFC's Double Down." (http://www.weightymatters.ca/2010/04/10-common-fast-food-sandwiches-way.html) I was instantly intrigued.
Now while I don't expect anyone of you to be ordering burgers from fast food joints, I was surprised to see some of the sandwiches on the list. My biggest surprise? Ruby Tuesday's Avocado Turkey Burger. Sounds healthy? I thought so too. Here are some numbers:
Ruby Tuesday's Avocado Turkey Burger: 1,234 calories and 2,691mg sodium
KFC's Double Down: 540 calories and 1,380mg sodium
I urge you to read the full article. It's a quick read and some of the facts may surprise you! (Who knew a Big Mac was healthier than the Au Bon Pain Southwest Tuna Wrap?!)
I hope this posting and it's associated article will encourage you to read the nutritional facts restaurants are offering their guests. If you know where you're headed then check out this website before you go: http://www.dietfacts.com/fastfood.asp  Don't let the URL fool you. A variety of restaurants are listed here, not just fast food. Click on the restaurant, the menu will pop up and then you just need to click on the item to see it's nutrition facts.
Now it's your turn! I would love to hear your comments on this article. Is there a sandwich listed here that you've eaten before under the impression it was good for you? If you are short on time and need to eat at a fast food restaurant, do you think you know what the healthiest foods to order are? Share your thoughts with the Body by Kelly community!