Americans love fast food, but eating too much of it can be an express route to poor health. Most fast food is loaded with calories, fat, salt (sodium) and sugar. Many menu items also lack important vitamins and minerals.

Anybody who has seen the film "Super Size Me," in which filmmaker Morgan Spurlock gains nearly 25 pounds after eating nothing but fast food for one month, knows the potential health dangers of these meals.

Generally, people are better off avoiding fast-food restaurants altogether. However, millions find this impractical in a busy world where convenience is key. The occasional fast-food meal is unlikely to present serious health risks. However, even semi-regular visits to the drive-through can wreak havoc with your physical well-being.

Fortunately, you can make choices that will improve the nutritional quality of your fast-food meals.

Don't 'super size' your waistline

Your choices dictate whether or not your fast-food experience will be healthful. Try to avoid poor selections. For example, a single meal consisting of a double cheeseburger, large fries and a shake contains enough calories, fat, sodium and sugar to easily exceed a person's recommended daily allowance.

High-fat, fried and breaded items are particularly bad for you. Other items to avoid include:

• Cheeses and cheese sauces
• Many sauces, including mayonnaise, tartar and "special" sauces
• Sour cream
• Gravy
• Croissant breakfast sandwiches