Health Watch is a public service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Health Watch, we've been talking about giving kids a nutritious start in life by offering them good choices for school lunches and snacks and by eating together as a family. Although a meal together around the dinner table is the ideal, we know that in today's fast-paced world, that isn't always possible, and fast food may have to do on some days.

Dr. Jo Ann Carson, a nutrition expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says it is possible to make good food choices, even at a fast-food restaurant. For one thing, avoid super-sizing your order. Most fast-food places today offer side-order options other than fries. You can get side salads or chili instead. You can also get meal-sized salads instead of burgers. And don't use the entire dressing packet on your salad — that's enough for several salads.

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September 2006

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