6 Unhealthiest Fast-Food Mac & Cheese Dishes To Never Order
We love the ooey-gooey goodness of mac and cheese just as much as the next person, but we’re not deceiving ourselves by pretending it’s a super healthy food. Mac and cheese typically is a great source of carbohydrates, fat, and a little bit of protein. Although, when you pick it up at one of these fast food chains, you can expect to get an item that is often high in sodium, added oils, and empty calories.
We spoke to dietitians and nutrition experts to find out exactly which mac and cheese they say you should stay away from next time you’re in a drive through. Of course, it’s totally fine to indulge in your favorite foods from time to time, but if you’re regularly picking up one of these fast food mac & cheeses, you may want to opt for something a bit more balanced the majority of the time.
What makes a fast-food mac and cheese dish unhealthy?
There are three reasons why the following dishes made our list of the unhealthiest mac and cheeses you can order at fast-food restaurants:
- Sodium: The daily recommended allowance for sodium is 2,300 milligrams, or about a teaspoon of salt in your diet. Increased levels of sodium from processed foods have been linked to high blood pressure and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
- Fat content: While some fat in our diet is healthy, consuming large amounts of fat—saturated fat, in particular—consistently can increase our risk for heart disease and high cholesterol.
- Empty calories: All of the excess calories from fat can be considered empty calories. Especially if they don’t leave you feeling very full for long and they are easy to overeat in one sitting.
If you choose to make mac and cheese at home, using cottage cheese is an easy way to boost the protein content and lower the fat while still enjoying a fun food. But for the next time you order from the drive-thru, make sure you read on to find out exactly which fast-food mac and cheese orders nutrition experts recommend you…
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