Diners, restaurants or other fast-food chains over the years have overestimated the virtuousness of a healthy food.
Over time, low calorie salads have been the go to when looking to lose weight as it has proven to promote the feeling of fullness since fewer calories are taken over the course of a meal. Consequently, salads are the direct epitome of good health.
Salads, the green option, always seemed like the smart choice until fast-food chains stepped in. These chains make you think that what they serve is a staple of a healthy diet. Meanwhile in a reality, what is served in terms of calories and fat equals their burgers. Beneath all that layers of spinach and lettuce are dirty health demeaning secrets since insalubrious items like juice, trail mix etc. have been included in our meals.
I know this sounds outrageous. How can such a “healthy fresh mix of delicious vegetables” be unhealthy? Well, let’s check out seven reasons why you should reconsider eating salads in a restaurant.
1. High risk of contamination
Research shows that leafy greens are behind a fifth of all foodborne diseases. Major food poisoning expert, Bill Marler pointed out the link between raw vegetables to outbreaks of E.coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Cyclosporin parasites. Also, most often than not, these greens are handed over to inexperienced chefs. They are not properly washed and are sometimes mixed carelessly. Most carelessly mixed vegetables are seen to be major stimulants to the growth of bacteria.
2. They cause bloating or sometimes discomfort.
Greens like broccoli are one of the healthiest additions to your salad. But these greens could also be very tasking to your digestive system. These greens contain cellulose, a healthy fiber but difficult to digest. They are most times termed “cruciferous vegetables” and pose a challenge to individuals who do not produce sufficient amount of cellulases - an enzyme that breaks down cellulose.
Individuals who have difficulty digesting raw vegetables, often feel bloated or uncomfortable.
3. Are the dressings really calorie free
A nice bowl filled with lettuce, cabbage, carrots or other assorted vegetables may be served and drizzled on top with a creamy dressing. But this dressing can be packed with alarming amounts of calories. One of the most common dressing is Caesar, which according fatsecret.com, contains about 80 calories per tablespoon of calories and ranch, containing about 75 calories per tablespoon. These are major offenders.
4. Bacon addition
While fast food chains look to diversify their salads, bring new options for their customers, it is obvious that they are taking a wrong turn. Salads are meant to contain vegetables, not meat, related additions. This addition has complemented a lot of meals, but salads.
5. Cheese overload
Adding cheese to any meal is a quick and easy way to add tremendous amount of calories to a meal. With these cheeses screaming all over the salads served, one can say fast-food chains serve up to 320 calories per plate. 320 calories per plate? Definitely a quick head start to heart diseases.
6. Mode of preparation
Go online, check various fast food chain accounts on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, you’d be pleased with the salad appearance. From the taco salads to nachos salads, everything looks to please to the eyes and taste buds. However, that sumptuous appetizing taco salad is prepared and served with a fried tortilla bowl. These salads speak nothing but crisps, a code word for frying-a major preparation method adopted by countless fast-food chains. Of course fried is beyond any version of the word healthy.
7. What is its true Content
What’s the true content of salads served in restaurants? If you’re honest with yourself, salads are not just vegetables but they are literally just other menu items on top of lettuce. They are just versions of your guilty pleasure. Do you call breaded chicken breast sliced up on lettuce a genuine salad? Obviously not
Let’s not forget the sugar addition in a salad. Pathetic! Nevertheless, this is one of the most enjoyable salads served. How about the saturated fat and sodium content? These are all big-time health offenders.
Indeed, fast-food chains have changed the narrative but is this new narrative worth it? Is it worth spending less than 100 bucks on a 500-calorie meal and risking your health? It’s time to rethink your choice of indulgence.
