Hi there, Prudence Ticknor here again! You might remember me from the Special Edition Marathon Series blogs.  As Bariatric Dietitian at the Gastric Band Institute of Las Vegas, I will now be regularly blogging on nutritional topics.  If there is anything you’d like me to write about, please leave a comment here.  Now onto my latest post…

Taco Bell recently started promoting its new “Drive-Thru Diet” after a 27-year-old woman in Florida claimed to lose weight on a diet of fast food tacos. But what does “drive-thru dieting” really mean? This woman did not lose weight in a quick period of time because she was eating healthy food.  She lost weight over an extended period of time because she reduced her caloric intake by choosing from Taco Bell’s menu of lower calories items.  Reducing caloric intake is what leads to weight loss success and how you reduce those calories is all relative.  

Most of us want immediate results when we decide to go on a diet. We expect to get on the scale at the end of the week and see 5 pounds lost with no thought of whether that comes from water or muscles loss, which does not support long term weight loss but will hinder future weight loss.  We are just happy that the scale number is lower.  Such quick and easy weight loss is unrealistic for long term success.  Small changes that can be made are just as important as any big change.  Choosing fast food, but being mindful of your choices and choosing a lower calorie or smaller portion option will assist you in reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. How you get there is all relative to how much of a change you want to make with your food choices.  

I’ve noticed that when ordering fast food many of us choose the “super size,” or the largest option over the small.  The key for any long term change is to find a balance in what you are doing. Instead of cutting certain foods out completely, you can still feel the enjoyment and satisfaction from what you are eating by simply cutting back. Yes, this does include fast food!

A common recommendation is to cut back 500 calories per day to lose ½ pound per week.  If you do eat a lot of fast food, it could be pretty simple to do this and not just at Taco Bell.  Below are some helpful tips to cut back your calories on your next fast food visit:

• Passing on McDonalds dipping sauces eliminates approximately 75 calories.
• Changing from a large French fry to a small saves you 270 calories.
• Choosing a 6piece chicken nugget meal instead of a 10piece meal saves you 200 calories
• Most sauces on the sandwiches, like a quarter pounder, add an additional 100 – 200 calories.
• Changing from a large frappuccino to a small saves you 300 calories.
• Changing from a large regular latte to a small skinny latte saves you 170 calories.

I think you get the point!  See how easy it would be to cut back the 500 calories but still enjoy your treats?  Not only will you be decreasing caloric intake but by choosing smaller options you will also decrease sugar, sodium, trans fats, etc. that affect our health in the end.