At the beginning of Season Three of The Biggest Loser, I wanted to demonstrate how unhealthy these choices are, in a way that made a lasting impact. I know I accomplished this, because years later, the contestants are still asking me for the details of that demo, so that they can pay the message forward and teach it to others themselves.
Aside from the fact that their food choices contained over-the-top amounts of unhealthy fats, sugar and sodium; what they didn't contain is important too. One of those typical fast food meals delivered an astronomical number of calories, but very few vitamins, antioxidants or fiber grams.
The meal I used as a model was this : 1 large double burger with cheese, 1 medium order of fries and a medium chocolate shake - total calorie count = 2262. (and believe it or not, I've had clients tell me they've eaten TWO of those meals in ONE day).
Each of those items is shown below along with its calorie count and the number of fat grams and sugar grams it contains. The amounts of fat and sugar in each menu item were then measured using equal weights of solid white shortening (for the fat grams) and white sugar (for the sugar grams) so that the contestants could visualize just how much fat and sugar they were eating with those menu choices. It made a lasting impression.
Double Burger With Cheese 1070 calories
Sugar 11g ( = just less than one tablespoon sugar) Fat 70g (= just over 1/3 cup shortening)
Medium French Fries 362 calories
Sugar 12 g using 3 packets of ketchup (60 calories and 4g sugar per packet)
1 teaspoon = 4 grams , so one order fries + 3 pkts = 1 tablepoon sugar
Fat 18g fat = approx 1 1/2 tablespoons shortening)
Medium Chocolate Shake 790 calories
Sugar 75 g = 6T sugar and Fat 42 g = just < 1/4 cup
Cheryl Forberg, RD, is a James Beard award-winning chef, a bestselling author and the former nutritionist for NBC's "The Biggest Loser." 
