Guide Note

Cardiologist, nutritionist, and psychotherapist Stephen Sinatra, MD is the author of the Fast Food Diet. The key to eating fast food, maintains Sinatra, is selecting the right fast food items. The details of the diet are in his book, The Fast Food Diet: Lose Weight and Feel Great Even If You're Too Busy to Eat Right. The book includes menu guidance for virtually every major fast-food restaurant menu, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack choices. It also gives you tips to help you make your own choices from convenience stores, airports, mall food courts, and restaurants.

Examples of foods that are permitted are grilled chicken sandwiches, chili, baked potatoes, fruit parfaits, and junior sized burgers. There are special tips for children, business travelers, and managing the holidays. The plan does have an exercise component. Sinatra also includes recipes that can be prepared at home in less than 15 minutes, as an incentive to avoid fast food occasionally.

Sinatra tells readers that if you follow the program, you could loose up to 50 pounds in a year. Nutritionists who've reviewed the program are generally positive, but feel that dieters should make sure to add in more fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, and whole grains.

Fast Facts

1. Approximately 1500 calories a day
2. Six-week program
3. Sinatra says 80 million people use fast food restaurants daily
4. Fried foods are forbidden
5. High fructose corn syrup is not allowed.
6. Required to walk a mile a day

Stephen Sinatra, MD: "People love fast food because it tastes good and is reasonably priced, and no matter what professionals say, they are going to continue to eat there...So why not help them make healthier food choices? If we empower people to make wiser food choices, it is a step in the right direction toward improved health and weight loss."