Real food in the food court

(NC)—With the retail sales continuing in the malls, many shoppers are out spending their gift card balances, and malls are once again seeing an increase in traffic to mall food courts. Despite fast food's reputation as being “bad for you” there are some food court options that are both nutritious and delicious. But in order to make informed decisions about where you should indulge, it is wise to consider the following tips:

Go trans fat free: Trans fats, found in hydrogenated oils, received a lot of attention five years ago when their presence was linked to heart disease. While many restaurants have made efforts to reduce the trans fat in their food, it is still present among many food court establishments. Be sure to learn about the ingredients used in preparing your food. New York Fries, for example, uses trans fat free non-hydrogenated sunflower oil to cook with, making it the healthiest fry in the food court.

Beware of sodium levels: Sodium levels are a hot button these days with recent research showing that many Canadian chains have proportionately higher sodium levels than their U.S. counterparts. Look for meal options that either have a low sodium level, or where you can add the salt yourself to control it. Ask for “unsalted” where possible and watch for surprisingly high salt levels in deli meats, ethnic sauces and salad dressings.

Stay fresh: It's not just about how the food is cooked, but also about the quality of the ingredients that go into it. Opting for a meal that is freshly made to order instead of frozen means you're less likely to be eating a meal with preservatives and chemicals. Choose real, fresh food whenever possible to ensure the optimum nutritional value.

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(02--2010)

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