That's Fit

Burgers are a thing of the past for me -- I stopped eating red meat a little more than a year ago, which struck burgers right from my diet. Turkey burgers never really did anything for me so a burger-free girl I am. Makes me think I'm in the minority when I stumbled upon this statistic in the June 2008 Redbook magazine: Americans eat 13 billion burgers per year. Now that's a lot of beef. Check out these other stats:

• The year a burger was first served on a bun: 1891

• Ounces of meat in a Wendy's "Where's the beef?" hamburger: 4

• The cost of a hamburger at White Castle when the chain first opened its doors in 1921: 5 cents

• Pounds gained by Super Size Me star Morgan Spurlock after eating McDonald's for one month: 25
  
  

This site has some more burger stats. Got any of your own?

When you're grabbing a meal on the run, most of us know better than to order our meal with fries. Why? They're loaded with fat and sodium, and will make a big caloric dent in our daily intake.

But when a sandwich isn't enough, what can we get to go with our fast food entree? Most places now offer sides of stuff like salad, fruit or other healthy fare. And at Wendy's, you can even enjoy potatoes without having to order them deep-fried and covered in salt -- you can order a baked potato on the side.

But are baked potatoes a healthier option than fries? One would think so, based on the fact that they're cooked in the oven instead of the deep fryer. But what baked potatoes lack in deep-fried goodness, they make up for with add-ons like sour cream, bacon bits, butter and cheese. Still, how bad can it be? You tell me.

You've been going strong with your healthy eating plan, but then -- from reasons unbeknownst even to you -- you suddenly find yourself in line at a fast food restaurant. Don't panic. Everything is going to be just fine.

As you make your way up to the counter, look confident. Don't show any signs to other customers or staff that you don't belong there. Just breathe normally and smile. You may be tempted to protect your cover by keeping things simple; that is, ordering by number. Resist this temptation. Instead, look the person at the counter in the eye and tell them that you'd like a grilled chicken sandwich. Plain. Ooooh ... what temerity. How dare you walk into their joint and order something plain. Well, you just did, and judging by the stone cold look on your face, they'll know not to question you. But then, just when they think you can't possibly turn their world any more upside-down, you're going to ask for a side of mustard. Since mayo and ketchup have a fair amount of either fat or sugar, you're going with the yellow stuff. Again, don't flinch or show any signs of disquietude.

Next, they'll probably ask you if you want a meal or just the sandwich. This is probably a test to see if you're the real deal or just some health narc working the fast food circuit. Look them dead in the eye and say, "Yeah, make it a meal. Only, I don't want fries. Give me a side salad." Now, at this point, don't be surprised if people start dialing friends and family on their cell phones, telling them that they think something's going down and that this may be the last time they ever speak with them. Good, now you have them scared.