25 Fast-Food Restaurant Hacks

I know what you're thinking, "Gee, this sounds just like every other website that tells you how to eat healthier." You'd be wrong. Why? Because these hacks are actually genius!

They'll save you time and money, while giving your waistline a break. I don't know about you, but I need time to do anything outside of my 9-5 job (and the last thing I want is to end up in my boss's office). Well, these hacks can help with that too.

Here are my favorites:

1. Order two numbers, instead of one. Then, remove one layer of the bun. This will save you around 150 calories. I always order a double cheeseburger or chicken sandwich anyhow, so this is more for those of you who only want the meat on a sandwich. Up next...
2. Order your burger with no cheese and extra lettuce instead of onion rings (or fries). You'll still have that savory meat taste without the added fat and calories that come with cheese and onion rings. Every time I order my number one go-to burger (double cheeseburger), I do just this thing—and it's delicious! Can't beat some greasy goodness!
3. Order a grilled, not crispy, chicken sandwich. I know they're all delicious, but these have about 50 fewer calories than the crispy variety.
4. Order your breakfast sandwich on an English muffin or biscuit instead of a regular (no-flip) pancake or biscuit. This will save you about 250 calories and 35 grams of fat! That's like eating a regular size chocolate chip cookie...without the cookie part!
5. Ask for half the mayo and double the lettuce on your sandwich, burger, or wrap (or get no mayo at all). This will give you a healthier, closer to half-way option if you're not into the mayo thing.
6. Order a chicken sandwich without mayo and ask for no cheese. You'll save 50 calories and 2 grams of fat by doing this!
7. Order your fries with the skin on instead of with the skin and fat on. This will save about 100 calories and 10 grams of fat. It might not be something that people do regularly, but I always do it.
8. Order your burger rare or your steak cooked medium rare. The more rare, the better for you! Your heart will thank you too!
9. Order a small, non-fat muffin and ask for double cream to be added—this will save you about 200 calories and 10 grams of fat.
10. Order a fruit cup instead of a soda and ask for no ice—you'll save about 150 calories and 13 grams of fat! I know it's just a few days until our Summer BBQs, but if you order one with tea or lemonade, you'll save those calories as well. I'm all about those summer drinks now!
11. Order your cheeseburger without the bun (or substitute two slices cheese with one grilled cheese sandwich). Another great alternative if you're not into just eating the meat. This will save you about 110 calories and 15 grams of fat!
12. Order a grilled chicken salad and ask for no cheese or croutons—that will save you about 110 calories and 10 grams of fat. This is another favorite of mine, but since I always get dressing on the side, it's easy to make this one healthier by using less dressing (my favorite way!).
13. Make your pizza at home and add veggies! This one is probably my favorite hack of all time! All you have to do is create a pizza dough with the normal ingredients, add a cup of corn or broccoli to the dough, and cook it on a pan. You'll have a healthier alternative for dinner for about the same price!
14. Make your own salad dressing—it's so easy and so much cheaper too! To get the recipe, just visit this link: http://www.weightwatchers.com/weight-control/healthy-swaps/dressing-on-a-diet .
15. When you order a salad at a restaurant, order dressing on the side. You'll save around 40 calories and 5 grams of fat! This is one of my favorite things to do and it's super easy too!
16. Order a double cheeseburger and ask for just one slice of cheese instead of two—you'll save 90 calories and 10 grams of fat. Same goes for chicken sandwiches.
17. Instead of smoothies, order an orange juice with ice (or milk if you're not into OJ). This will save you about 100 calories.
18. When ordering your fries, ask for them buttered with no salt or ketchup. This will save you around 500 calories and 50 grams of fat!
19. Order your salad with light dressing (balsamic vinegar or lemon juice works best) instead of regular. You'll save around 200 calories and 27 grams of fat! There's the tip right there, ladies and gents!
20. Order your burger with no cheese, extra lettuce, pickles, onions, and sauce on the side. You'll save about 130 calories and 20 grams of fat!
21. If you order at a pizza place that lets you pick your own ingredients, build your own pizza using veggies instead of meat to save about 170 calories.
22. Instead of chicken strips, order chicken nuggets—these will save about 200 calories and 30 grams of fat!
23. Order a grilled chicken sandwich and ask for extra avocado instead of cheese—this will save you about 90 calories and 10 grams of fat!
24.  Order a 1% milk instead of whole (or get unsweetened soy milk)—you'll save about 100 calories.
25. Order your eggs scrambled with veggies instead of sausage or bacon. You'll save around 70-90 calories.