Low Calorie Meals At McDonald's

Okay, so we've all heard you can eat low calorie meals at McDonald's, or Burger King, or Wendy's, etc., but when you walk into the restaurant unprepared, with the aroma of burgers and french fries wafting through the air, it's easy to get distracted from low calorie foods, and just go with what you know. This hub is designed to prepare you in advance, so you'll know exactly what you can eat for under 520 calories the next time you go to Mickey D's.

So you want a burger & fries? That's fine. Go for it, just don't overdose. A regular hamburger and a small french fry is exactly 500 calories. Add a diet soda, unsweetened iced tea, or water, and you've got a full meal.

You can also match the Grilled Honey Mustard Snack Wrap or the Grilled Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap with a small french fry for 510 calories. And a Grilled Ranch Snack Wrap with a small french fry for 520 calories.

Want to cut your calories even more? Substitute a side salad for the small french fry. The side salad is only 20 calories. Use half a pack of salad dressing on it (even the ranch or caesar dressing), and at most you'll only consume 115 calories by eating the salad, as compared to 250 with the French Fry. That's a 135 calorie savings!

If you can allow yourself JUST a sandwich, any of the following have fewer than 500 calories, just keep in mind that that doesn't account for mayonnaise. Make sure to request NO MAYONNAISE on your sandwich. Also, you need to keep in mind that these are close enough to 500 calories each that drinking a regular soda would push you over the top. Stick to water.

Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger, Quarter Pounder, Big 'N Tasty, Filet 'O Fish, McChicken, McRib, Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich, Premium Grilled Chicken Ranch BLT, Southern Style Crispy Chicken Sandwich.

You can also pair either 4 or 6 chicken McNuggets with a small fry for right around 500 calories. Again, that leaves no room for sugary sodas. And, the dipping sauces have calories, too. You won't want to consume more than 1 package with your nuggests. Again, subbing the side-salad for the french fry is a more nutrition option. Want fruit rather than veggies? Sub the snack-size Fruit 'n Walnut salad instead.

Any of Premium grilled chicken salads with 1/2 pack of salad dressing come in at under 500 calories.

Stopping for breakfast? The following are your best choices: an Egg McMuffin or a Sausage Burrito with a Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait. Add a Large Coffee, but limit yourself to 1 creamer and sugar-free sweetners.

Want a quick treat? A plain vanilla ice cream cone is 150 calories.

Print this off, shove it in your purse or wallet. The next time you have a McDonalds craving, go ahead and stop...this time you're prepared.