Fast Food Hacks
Thinking of heading to your favorite fast-food chain for some burgers and fries? Not so fast—before you place your order, make sure you’re not making common mistakes that could be costing you extra money (and calories), like assuming “grilled” automatically means healthy. If you want to get the most bang for your buck every time, avoid these 10 fast-food no-nos and follow 10 smarter tips for a more satisfying meal.
1. Ignoring Nutrition Facts
If you're used to just ordering the items you want at a fast-food chain without first checking the nutrition facts of the things you pick, you're doing it wrong. Even if you think small fries and a grilled chicken wrap shouldn't rack up too many calories, fat, and sodium, you'd be surprised.
2. Ignoring Portion Sizes
It's not the number of items in your order that matters—it's the size of each individual thing. Sure, maybe you only ordered a taco bowl and a shake on the side, but you could easily be eating double—or triple—the calories your lunch should be if you're not paying attention to portions beforehand.
3. Always Sticking to Your Regular Order Without Looking at Prices
With inflation ballooning prices like crazy, you're making another mistake if you're assuming your regular order at your favorite chain will stay relatively affordable. Plus, just because you're ordering fast food doesn't mean everything will be cheap, so always check before you commit.
4. Not Using Loyalty Apps
If you're ordering your meals without using loyalty apps, that's another mistake that's costing you—literally. Many fast-food chains offer deals, coupons, and exclusive specials on their apps, which means you could get a combo for cheaper or collect points to save money on future orders.
5. Asking for Fresh Fries
Sure, you might think asking for "fresh fries" is the ultimate hack, but it doesn't always get you the same result everywhere. If you're using the "no salt" tip to force employees to fry up new sticks, just know that sometimes, they're tossing back old fries into the fryer, and all that extra oil is not only bad for your health but can also ruin the overall flavor.
6. Ordering Unpopular Menu Items
Think you want to branch out and try something new? Think again. When you order unpopular menu items from fast-food chains, you might be getting a meal made with... not-so-fresh ingredients. In fact, the ingredients could've been sitting out for so long, they've started to go bad.
7. Supersizing Your Order
If you were initially thinking of just ordering a wrap, but then get persuaded to upgrade it into a meal with fries and a drink, you're also doing it wrong. Even if you think you're getting a bang for your buck, you're still leaving with more than you intended or need—that's money out of your pocket and more calories added to your daily total.
8. Forgetting to Check Your Order
Do you normally grab your order, place it in your car, and drive off without checking the contents of the bag? That's another rookie mistake. Always take an extra 10 seconds to make sure your order is correct, or else you'll end up disappointed once you get home.
9. Not Customizing Your Order
If you're already customizing your orders to suit your taste, you should. After all, why pay for something you're not 100% happy with? Unless it's a super complicated request, asking the employees for "no pickles" or "less sauce" isn't going to be the end of the world.
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10. Assuming "Grilled" Means Healthy
You might think a grilled chicken wrap is healthier than a crispy chicken burger, but don't order your meal based on assumptions. Oftentimes, grilled items can contain far more sodium, fat, oil, and calories than you expect, so remember to check the nutrition facts before deciding!
What, then, are some smarter ways to order fast food? Here are 10 helpful tips to keep in mind for next time.
1. Skip the Upsells
Unless you actually want a combo, don't upgrade your order to a full meal. It might seem like a good deal, but if you weren't planning on getting that many items in the first place, it's only going to take more money out of your wallet and rack up more unhealthy calories.
2. Check the Nutrition Facts
As mentioned earlier, always remember to check the nutrition facts of the items you're going to order. This will give you to get a feel of how many calories you'll be consuming, along with how much fat, sodium, and sugar. Don't assume that ordering a small for everything means the numbers won't tally up as fast—they still will.
3. Consider Sharing to Control Portions
We get it: sometimes, you really want to order that burrito bowl with extra cheese and sour cream. You know it's not the healthiest thing you can get, and the total calories are more than what you're expecting, but you still want it. Our advice? Order it—but share it with a friend or family member to control your portion sizes. That way, you still satisfy your cravings without consuming all the bad stuff.
4. Use the Apps
Before you order, always check the apps to see if there are special coupons, deals, or promotions going on that could save you money. Plus, using the app every time you order often allows you to collect points for future rewards, so if you're a regular at the chain, never skimp on any chance to save a few bucks.
5. Don't Go During Rush Hour
Sure, you might technically get fresher food when you order during rush hour, but if you're impatient, you could be digging yourself into a hole. Your regular order of a burger, fries, and drink could take 20 more minutes than usual, and there's still a chance your meal might not come piping hot.
6. Ask for Less Sauce
You probably don't think too much about it, but the sauce in your burger or the condiments you use to dip your nuggets and fries in are still calories you're adding to your daily total. A single ketchup packet from McDonald's, for example, contains 90g of sodium, 2g of sugar, and 10 calories. And since you're never just using one, the numbers can quickly add up.
7. Skip the Shakes
Did you know a large Chocolate Shake at McDonald's rings up 800 calories? That's 40% of your total daily calories if you're following a 2,000-calorie meal plan! Not only that, but that shake also contains a whopping 106g of sugar (86g of which are added), 20g of total fat, and 13g of saturated fat. If you're craving a shake, do your body a favor and make one at home—it's an easier way to customize and whip up something delicious without going overboard.
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8. Build a Healthier Order
Remember when we said to customize your order? Don't forget to do that. The great thing about modifying the items in your meal is that you're not only able to pluck out ingredients you don't like, but you can adjust your burgers, wraps, and bowls to include healthier options. For example, ask for more greens and less sauce, or swap your fries for a salad on the side.
9. Asking for Your Ingredients to Come on the Side
Unless you're going to be digging in right away, you definitely don't want to bite into a soggy burger after you've finally gotten home or back to your work desk. The trick? Ask for your toppings, sauce, and ingredients to come on the side. That way, you'll have a nice, crisp sandwich to munch on and not a mushy one.
10. Nix the Ice
Whether you're ordering a lemonade or sweet tea, ask for there to be as little ice as possible or no ice at all. That way, you're getting more beverage, and your drink won't taste like watered-down muck after 20 minutes. Sure, you'll probably have to stick it in the fridge more often than usual so it stays cool, but at least you're getting more for your money.
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