It is the time of year again to pile the family in the car over the bridge to grandma’s house (or through 4 states in my case). Many of you will be driving several long trips to family’s houses for the holidays that will consist of at least one meal on the road. Usually, I will make sure our family eats a nice healthy breakfast before we leave and pack us some healthy sandwiches and snacks for the trip. This has always saved us money and kept us from eating disgusting, greasy fast food.

If you do not have the time to pack some food, I have created a list of some healthy fast food options to fit your Skinny Mom lifestyle.

McDonald’s Hamburger

260 calories
9g fat, 3.5g saturated fat
This less-than-two-ounce burger is pretty small, so it’s one of the diet-friendliest sandwiches in the biz. Pair it with a Side Salad drizzled with a packet of Newman’s Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette (60 calories total) and a bottle of water.

Taco Bell Fresco Style Crunchy Taco

150 calories
7g fat, 2.5g saturated fat
When you ask for your meal Fresco Style, you get fresh salsa (packed with cancer-fighting lycopene) instead of fatty cheese and sauce. Pair your taco with a safe but filling side (like beans or rice), so you won’t be hungry again before you leave the parking lot.

Wendy’s Ultimate Chicken Grill

360 calories
7g fat, 1.5g saturated fat
It has half the fat of Wendy’s other non-burger sandwiches, thanks to Honey Mustard Sauce instead of mayo and grilling instead of deep-frying.

**Your family should start getting apple slices or other fruits as sides instead of the greasy, calorie-packed french fries!

Just because it’s leafy and green, doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Also REMEMBER that salads can be filled with much-needed nutrients, but many seemingly-smart choices are actually loaded with as much fat and calories as a cheeseburger—or more. Oily dressings, extra cheese, deep-fried chicken and extras, like croutons and corn chips, are just a few of the unhealthy spoilers lurking in some of the worst fast-food salad offenders.
Here are some UNhealthy salad options:

Premium Southwest Salad with Crispy Chicken with Newman’s Own Creamy Southwest Dressing (530 cal, 26 g fat)

  • Taco Bell
Chicken Ranch Taco Salad (910 cal, 54 g fat)
  • Wendy’s
Southwest Taco Salad (680 cal, 39 g fat)
When you and your family hit the road for the holidays, you can still remain a Skinny Mom! Take a look at the menu options and choose grilled, no sauce, and smaller portions to help you keep to your healthy eating habits!