Healthier choices about the drive-through.

• Position: Fast Food

Teenagers have it tough. Most days their schedules are jam-backed with activities from the time they crawl out of bed until they face-plant onto the mattress at night. Balancing school, a social life, homework, chores, and a host of extracurricular stuff that might range from sports to band practice to an after-school job, they really do not have time to plan out meals and count calories-but they still want to be healthy (and look great in those trendy new jeans).

Is there a way to reconcile these health-conscious desires with a lifestyle that often necessitates greasy paper bags from the drive-through window? Absolutely, say registered dietitians Ellen Shanley and Colleen Thompson, coauthors of Fueling the Teen Machine: What It Takes to Make Good Choices for Yourself Every Day. They just have to know--and act on--some basic nutritional facts when ordering.

"Fast food is part of the American lifestyle, and it's not realistic to suggest that teens--or adults, for that matter-will never eat another burger or large fry again," notes Shanley. "The key is to simply know what your best choices are the next time you need a fast meal on the go."

"In the midst of the daily whirlwind that is the typical teenager's life, a fast-food snack after the game or a quick combo eaten with friends is sometimes the only realistic option," confirms Thompson. "Plus--let's be honest--lots of fast-food fare is tasty."

Shanley and Thompson offer these fast-food savvy nutrition tips:

(Super)Size does matter. "Fast-food restaurants hook you in by promising a lot more food for just a little more money," points out Shanley. "They don't care if your eyes are bigger than your stomach. So, be discriminating. Are you really that hungry? Why not share your mega-meal with a friend or just get smaller versions of the items you want. You'll be consuming fewer unhealthy bites, but your taste buds will be just as satisfied?

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Fish and chicken do not always deserve their healthful rep. "if you're craving white meat, choose chicken or fish that is broiled, baked, or grilled," advises Thompson. "If you're not sure how a certain item is prepared, ask. Actually, most fast-food restaurants have the nutrient content of their menu items either right in the restaurants or certainly on their websites."

Download the (nutritional) lowdown. "You can download apps that tell you the nutrition information on all of your favorite fast-food menu items," says Shanley. "This...