Ways to Eat Healthy At the Mall Food Court

When you spend time shopping at your local mall, you don't always have time to eat a full meal at a sit down restaurant. Sometimes it's a matter of grabbing something quick at the mall food court. Unfortunately, food courts are fraught with unhealthy food choices that can wreck havoc with your diet, not to mention your arteries. Fortunately, most mall food courts have a variety of options ranging from burgers and pizza to Chinese and Mexican food. More options means you have the opportunity to eat healthy without sacrificing taste. Here are some ways to eat healthy at your local mall food court:

Healthy Mexican food court choices

Most mall food courts have a Mexican take out restaurant, whether it be a Taco Bell or an independent Mexican restaurant. Mexican food can be the basis for a healthy meal if you hold the sour cream and guacamole sauce and ask for a light portion of cheese. A chicken based taco or burrito with salsa or hot sauce instead of sour cream makes a quick and healthy meal. Stay away from nachos smothered in cheese and sour cream. A salad can be a good choice with salsa serving as the dressing. Be sure not to get it in a taco bowl which will boost the calorie content significantly.

Healthy Chinese food court choices

Chinese food court restaurants can be healthy if you ask for it to be prepared properly. Unfortunately, the standard Chinese entrée at a food court is usually doused in oils and sauces. A good choice would be a chicken and broccoli or a shrimp and broccoli dish prepared with minimal oil and no sauce. You can always add a small packet of soy sauce for flavor, although this does add sodium. Stay away from fried egg rolls or wontons. Not only are they unhealthy, they have minimal nutritional value.

Healthy Burger choices

A hamburger is usually not going to be your healthiest fast food choice, but there are ways to do damage control. If you must order a hamburger, order the smallest one they have available Ask them to hold the cheese and the special sauce and add lettuce, tomato, and mustard. Eat this along with a side salad with low calorie dressing and you'll have a satisfying and relatively healthy fast food meal. French fries are never a good choice unless you're splurging.

Healthy pizza food court choices

Pizza has earned a bad reputation for being unhealthy which is not always deserved. Pizza can be made into a relatively healthy meal by making a few simple changes. Ask the server to go light on the cheese and heavier on the tomato sauce. Add a variety of vegetables as toppings and hold the meat. Instead of gorging yourself on several slices, have a single slice and add a small salad to your order.

Some foods to avoid if you're looking for ways to eat healthy at the mall food court include cookies, flavored pretzels, French fries, non diet soft drinks, milkshakes, and cinnamon buns. Don't let the powerful smells of these foods seduce you into unhealthy eating.

Fortunately, there are ways to eat healthy at your local mall food court, it's just a question of making the right choices.