I love fast food. I do what the McDonald's commercials tell me to, and I sometimes dream about Taco Bell (not lying). I've grown up on fast food, and I love the convenience and costs of the stuff. Additionally, I would consider myself health-conscious, being a cross country runner in college. I'm also a vegetarian and have no problems finding things to eat.

You might already have a few ideas on how to eat well at fast food restaurants, but here's what I like to do to achieve that goal:

• Avoid dressings, cheese, and other toppings - Ask for Italian instead of ranch or other creamy dressings if you can. Do you need condiments to make your food taste good?
• Look out for fried foods! Do you have to get fried chicken, or can it be grilled? Instead of flautas, try just a soft taco or something. I'm talking about fries too!

• Remember fruits and vegetables! That's what salads and apple dippers are for! Just don't forget what I said about creamy dressings. And yogurt can be good, but don't forget how much sugar parfaits can have.
• Be careful what you drink - Soda can have a lot of sugar. Even lemonades can be too sugary. Fountain drinks can be worse for you, so try to go for bottled juice or milk, etc.
• Think small - Maybe you can find healthier foods... but sometimes you can't. You might have to eat less to make up for unhealthiness. You don't have to eat it all or order more. And for that matter, try not to visit buffets!
• Go to fast food joints that promote the nutritional information of its offerings - I know when I go to a place and see the nutritional information plainly on the container, or even on the menu, I might be encouraged or discouraged to try it again next time, depending on what the results are. When I go to Mickey D's and am forced to check out how much fat is in my McGriddle because the nutrition facts are stamped on the wrapper, I definitely think about what I'm eating and how that fits into the rest of my diet.
• Visit fast-food restaurant websites - This way, you can plan what you want to eat when you make it to the restaurant rather than spending too much time reading through nutritional brochures and flyers on your lunch break. You can also easily browse through the menus of different restaurants so you can go to where the food you want is. There are also websites that feature the nutritional information for a number of restaurants all in one place, such as The Fast Food Explorer.
• Follow regular healthy eating practices - If you don't eat regularly throughout the day, you might find yourself too hungry to make wise choices and simply order what looks good without thinking it through. You might not always get to eat a well-balanced diet at a fast-food restaurant, so try to do so elsewhere.