The Best and Worst Cheap Eats in America

WENDY'S
Eat This: 5-Piece Crispy Nuggets ($1.29)
Free your chicken from bun and tortilla and you'll cut down on carbohydrates, plus the unencumbered chicken doesn't have an opportunity to get greased over with oily sauces.
Not That: Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($1.29)
Nearly every value menu as a fried chicken sandwich, and in nearly every case, it's the worst possible investment you could make.

KFC
Eat This: Hot Wings Snack Box ($1.99)
This is the leanest snack box KFC has to offer. Just don't ask for any biscuits with it; each one will set you back an extra 180 calories.
Not That: Popcorn Chicken Snack Box ($1.99)
It's simple math: The smaller the chicken pieces, the more surface there is to bread. More breading = more calories.

BURGER KING
Eat This: Whopper Jr. without mayo ($1.00)
The key here is to ask for "no mayo." Otherwise, you can expect an extra 9 grams of fat.
Not That: Spicy Chick'n Crisp Sandwich ($1.00)
The word "crisp" should tip you off that this chicken has been breaded and fried.

TACO BELL
Eat This: Crunchy Taco ($0.89)
You're better off eating 2 crunchy tacos over 1 bean burrito. You'll earn a few extra grams of protein and save yourself the sodium overload.
Not That: Triple Layer Nachos ($0.79)
As a general rule, the less it costs your wallet, the more it costs your health. What you want is a nutritional bargain, not free calories.

McDONALD'S
Eat This: Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait ($1.00)
McDonald's calls it a dessert, but we say it's a perfect treat anytime. Each cup of low-fat yogurt is loaded with calcium and vitamin A and gut-friendly bacteria.
Not That: 2 Baked Hot Apple Pies ($1.00)
McDonald's charges $0.89 for 1 apple pie or $1.00 for 2, which makes it incredibly inexpensive to get 25 percent of your day's calories with hardly a shred of redeeming nutrition.

JACK IN THE BOX
(I don't think we have these in Wisconsin?)
Eat This: Hamburger Deluxe ($1.00)
Unfortunately, Jack's value menu is riddled with trans fat, so with the exception of a side salad, this is the best you can do. But at least there are 14 grams of protein.
Not That: Jumbo Jack ($1.39)
In one handheld meal, Jack's super-size value burger sucks up more than half your day's saturated fat. it's not worth saving a buck.