With the time pressures facing so many people these days, they are frequently eating on the go. Eating at home is generally healthier than restaurant fare. But eating fast food doesn’t mean you have to make unhealthy choices. Keep these guidelines in mind as you choose your next fast food meal.

A lot of fast food franchises are well aware of the poor reputation that fast food has for clogging up the arteries. In response, they now offer a number of menu selections that are a lot healthier. For instance, many fast food chains now have salads on the menu. All the same, look out for the saturated fat in the dressing. And salads that come with fried meat on top are less heart healthy than those that feature grilled meat.

Choose grilled chicken instead of deep fried for your sandwich. Also, asking for lots of veggies on your sandwich is always a good idea. Go for dressings like mustard or ketchup instead of mayonnaise, which is high in saturated fat.

While you’re deciding on sides for your meal, choose a salad or fruit rather than French fries. So your lunch will be packed full of fiber and vitamins instead of saturated fat. You might also choose milk or juice over soda as a beverage with your meal. This can aid in maintaining normal blood sugar and give you additional vitamins and minerals.

When you’re genuinely hungry for a hamburger and French fries, it’s alright to eat them now and then. However, watch out for the size of the serving. A number of fast food establishments give you portion sizes that are enough for a couple of meals. Choosing a kid’s meal or a small burger with french fries will help to hold down the amount of saturated fat you consume.

If you’re giving your kids fast food, don’t forget that there are often healthy choices like apple slices and mandarin oranges available. Instead of soda, order milk or fruit juice.

In a Mexican fast food place, you can eat surprisingly healthfully by choosing a simple taco or burrito. By loading it up with lots of veggies, you’ll be able to raise the fiber content. Even though a taco salad seems like a healthy choice, it’s usually packed with calories and saturated fats.

Choosing fast food for the majority of your meals can take its toll on your heart health when you don’t make good choices. Eating at home is the best choice. But if that’s not practical, take a look at some of the healthier choices available.