Fast Food: Can you still enjoy it?

A typical fast food meal has a very high energy density. It is more than one and a half times higher than an average traditional British meal and two and a half times higher than a traditional African meal.

Fast foods are "energy dense" foods that can fool people into consuming more calories than the body needs.

Now you know that eating fast food too often or downing too much can wreak havoc on your health and waistline.

Here are some fast food facts that you might want to consider before jumping to that next giant burger:

• Fast foods are often high in calories, fat, sugar and salt.
• Many fast foods are cooked with high-calorie fats and butters.
• Fast food choices tend to lack fresh fruits and vegetables.
• The large portion sizes offered can encourage overeating.
• Many fast food restaurants have begun publishing nutritional information about their foods. In other cases, it is available on request. This information can help you better plan what you order.

Can you still eat fast food?

Of course, avoiding fast-food-related health problems comes down to moderation. And a Big Mac, large fries and large sugary pop aren’t going to help: That’s 1,450 calories, 58 grams of fat (24 of which are saturated) and 1,970 milligrams of sodium.

“Eating fast food is not necessarily a bad thing,” says Melodie Yong, a registered dietitian with the Healthy Heart program at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. “But take your time when deciding what to order.” Yong advises that if you must satisfy your cravings with the biggest burger on the menu, think first: If you’ve had fast food a couple of times in the past week, go for healthier items and smaller portions—and skip the fries or pop. It’s all about setting limits for yourself.