This is a guest post by Robin DeCicco, a holistic nutritionist who runs the Tenafly and Ramsey based The Power of Food Education. She counsels people on making healthier choices and specializes in changing behaviors to achieve life-long success. Her column “A Holistic Nutritionist’s Take On Local Eateries” features her healthy perspective on local dining options.

Now that Shake Shake Paramus is around the corner for most of us Bergenites, there’s a good chance more of our dinners will consist of burgers, fries and milkshakes (and concretes). Indulging in the Shack’s menu once in awhile won’t add pounds to your frame – but if it becomes a regular stop on the way home from work, check out the items on the menu that are less caloric and just as delicious!

A Single Hamburger is 360 calories – compared to the 430 calorie Single Cheeseburger and the 570 calorie double burger. This menu favorite contains almost half the amount of sodium of every other burger – even the vegetarian option (‘Shroom Burger). Eating half of the bun or going bunless will save you even more calories and ordering tasty toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions will make you forget you gave up the bun.

A Plain Dog holds 300 calories and 40 milligram’s of cholesterol – opposed to 100 milligram’s of cholesterol in the Chicken Dog. All dog’s are completely free of cancer-causing nitrates. Choose Rick’s Picks Shack’s Relish over the cheese sauce and save yourself 85 calories.

A Single Vanilla Cup of frozen custard ice cream packs only 220 calories and 12 grams of fat. If you’re craving a sweet and refreshing dessert, this is definitely the way to go. Top with Cinnamon Sugar (10 added calories) and Strawberry Puree (5 added calories) for your own healthier version of a sundae.

Shake Shake Facts
– Remember all burgers and hot dogs are free of antibiotics and hormones, so the quality is higher than fast-food!
– A green company – all bottles, glass and cardboard at each Shack are recycled
– Each Shack is constructed using sustainable materials!

Full nutritional info on all of Shake Shack’s products are available on their website at http://www.shakeshack.com