Mall Madness: Survive the Food Court with These Five Smart Choices!
Don't go up a pants size before you get a chance to wear those new pants! Check out these safe mall food court picks from Hungry Girl...
Nonfat Soft-Serve Frozen Yogurt
Soft-serve fro yo is everywhere these days, and if you stick with the fat-free kind, it's definitely a much better pick than ice cream. Just watch those portions! While it might be served in a 4-oz. cup, your treat can easily have another 4 oz. swirled on top of that. The toppings can add up really fast, too. Fresh fruit (not fruit in sugary syrup) or sprinkles are the way to go. Yum!
Salad
Even if they don't SERVE salad, many delis and sandwich shops will serve up a meal without bread. (Just ask nicely!) Request a plate of lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and other veggies -- then top it with lean protein like chicken or turkey breast. Avoid mayo-packed scoopy salads like chicken salad and tuna salad. As for dressing, go for whatever fat-free or low-fat dressing they offer. And even if it doesn't seem too creamy or oily, DDP! (Dip, Don't Pour!)
More from Hungry Girl:Nutty-Good Salad with Chicken recipe!
Soft Pretzel
If it's sweet, doughy carbs you really need, you could definitely do a lot worse than a medium-sized, cinnamon-coated soft pretzel -- about 380 calories. Just make sure they don't brush it with butter first! BTW, a Classic Cinnabon Roll will set you back an alarming 880 calories. Eeeks!
Mmmm... Mexican!
Most food courts feature Mexican food in one form or another. And while a giant saucy, cheesy plate is NOT what we recommend, it's easy to throw together a fun meal with lots of authentic flavor -- without too many fat grams or calories. Ask for shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and bell peppers, and then top it off with shredded chicken or beef. Then use some salsa as dressing, and you've got an AWESOME little entree "salad"... SOOOO good. Skip the sour cream, and if you're gonna indulge in a little guac, keep that serving size to a few tablespoons.
More from Hungry Girl:Crispylicious Shrimp Tacos recipe!
Broth-Based Soup
Malls can be chilly (even during the summer!), so hot soup is a great way to warm you up and fill you up at the same time. And studies have shown that people who eat broth-based soup regularly take in fewer calories throughout the day than those who don't. Nice! Just don't get one that's cream-based -- so avoid anything with "cream of," "bisque," or "chowder" in its name. Chicken noodle and minestrone are usually pretty reasonable in the stats department.
More from Hungry Girl:A lightened-up swap for lobster bisque!
Some General Tips:
Shop 'til you drop! You can burn a considerable amount of calories just walking around the wall (about 150 per hour for a 150-lb. person).
Plan ahead. Eat something before you head out, and pack some guilt-free emergency snacks in your bag -- 100-calorie packs of almonds, jerky, and filling snack bars with less than 200 calories. You don't wanna make a bad food choice 'cuz you're super-hungry!
Stay hydrated... with water! Sometimes we mistake thirst for hunger. And water can help keep you feeling full. Skip regular soda and sugary coffee-shop sips. There's nothing sadder than drinking too many calories. Save 'em for food!
FOOD FAKER ALERT! Watch out for smoothies. They often pose as guilt-free options, but many pack in 500 - 700 calories. EPIC FAIL!
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