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Healthy Fast-Food Alternatives

Try making these healthy versions of your fave fast-food dishes at home.
By Meghan Ahearn
<p>This classic British dish can lead to a lot of pounds — on your waistline. A serving from Nathan's Famous has 1,537 calories. Try our lightened-up version with only 525 calories. <b>Total calories saved: 1,012</b>.</p><br /><p> <a href="/recipefinder/fish-and-chips " target="_blank">Check out our Fish-and-Chips recipe</a>.</p>
James Baigrie
Excess calories, high fat content, and too much sugar are just a few reasons you should pass up the drive-through window. Instead, try making these healthy versions of your favorite fast-food dishes at home.
1

Fish-and-Chips

<p>This classic British dish can lead to a lot of pounds — on your waistline. A serving from Nathan's Famous has 1,537 calories. Try our lightened-up version with only 525 calories. <b>Total calories saved: 1,012</b>.</p><br /><p> <a href="/recipefinder/fish-and-chips " target="_blank">Check out our Fish-and-Chips recipe</a>.</p>
James Baigrie

This classic British dish can lead to a lot of pounds — on your waistline. A serving from Nathan's Famous has 1,537 calories. Try our lightened-up version with only 525 calories. Total calories saved: 1,012.


Check out our Fish-and-Chips recipe.

2

Chocolate Malt

<p>Milk shakes are fun to share, but be a good friend and spare your companion the excess calories. Dairy Queen's large chocolate malt has 1,300 calories. Our version from the <i>Good Housekeeping</i> cookbook <i>Blend It!</i> has only 348 calories. <b>Total calories saved: 952.</b></p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/double-chocolate-malted-489" target="_blank">Check out our Double-Chocolate Malted recipe</a>.
Theresa Raffetto

Milk shakes are fun to share, but be a good friend and spare your companion the excess calories. Dairy Queen's large chocolate malt has 1,300 calories. Our version from the Good Housekeeping cookbook Blend It! has only 348 calories. Total calories saved: 952.


Check out our Double-Chocolate Malted recipe.

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3

Chicken Tenders

<p>Chicken tenders look harmless enough, but when you add some breading and throw them in the deep fryer, you end up with more calories than you bargained for. An order of Carl's Jr. chicken breast strips has 710 calories. Our oven-fried version only has 280. <b>Total calories saved: 430</b>.</p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/oven-fried-chicken-tenders-five-spice-bbq-0907" target="_blank">Check out our Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders recipe</a>.
David Prince

Chicken tenders look harmless enough, but when you add some breading and throw them in the deep fryer, you end up with more calories than you bargained for. An order of Carl's Jr. chicken breast strips has 710 calories. Our oven-fried version only has 280. Total calories saved: 430.


Check out our Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders recipe.

4

Meatloaf

<p>Your mom's favorite comfort food was probably a lot better for you than you realized. The fast-food version? Not so much. Boston Market's meatloaf has 520 calories. Our slimmed-down version comes in at 230. <b>Total calories saved: 290</b>.</p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/healthy-makeover-meatloaf-ghk1107" target="_blank">Check out our Healthy Makeover Meatloaf recipe</a>.</p>
Tara Donne

Your mom's favorite comfort food was probably a lot better for you than you realized. The fast-food version? Not so much. Boston Market's meatloaf has 520 calories. Our slimmed-down version comes in at 230. Total calories saved: 290.


Check out our Healthy Makeover Meatloaf recipe.

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5

Chicken Quesadilla

<p>That little Chihuahua is famous for wanting fast-food Mexican dishes, but you should steer clear if you want to stay in the spotlight. Taco Bell's chicken quesadilla has 520 calories. Our heart-healthy version: only 400. <b>Total calories saved: 120</b>.</p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/chicken-quesadillas-avocado-tomato-salsa-ghk0208" target="_blank">Check out our Chicken Quesadillas with Avocado-Tomato Salsa recipe</a>.</p>
James Baigrie

That little Chihuahua is famous for wanting fast-food Mexican dishes, but you should steer clear if you want to stay in the spotlight. Taco Bell's chicken quesadilla has 520 calories. Our heart-healthy version: only 400. Total calories saved: 120.


Check out our Chicken Quesadillas with Avocado-Tomato Salsa recipe.

6

French Fries

<p>Want to know the quickest way to ruin your weight-loss plans? Head for the drive-through and order golden fried potatoes. A large order of McDonald's french fries has 500 calories. Our classic oven fries? A mere 205. <b>Total calories saved: 295</b>.</p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/classic-oven-fries-1806" target="_blank">Check out our Classic Oven Fries recipe</a>.</p>
Oliver Hamalainen/istock

Want to know the quickest way to ruin your weight-loss plans? Head for the drive-through and order golden fried potatoes. A large order of McDonald's french fries has 500 calories. Our classic oven fries? A mere 205. Total calories saved: 295.


Check out our Classic Oven Fries recipe.

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7

Breakfast Sandwich

<p>Don't sabotage the most important meal of the day by eating excess calories. McDonald's Egg and Sausage McMuffin has 450 calories. Our low-cholesterol version has 390. <b>Total calories saved: 60</b>.</p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/low-cholesterol-western-omelet-sandwich-982" target="_blank">Check out our Low-Cholesterol Western-Omelet Sandwich recipe</a>.</p>
Andrea Skjold/istock

Don't sabotage the most important meal of the day by eating excess calories. McDonald's Egg and Sausage McMuffin has 450 calories. Our low-cholesterol version has 390. Total calories saved: 60.


Check out our Low-Cholesterol Western-Omelet Sandwich recipe.

8

Caesar Salad

<p>An unhealthy salad? Sounds impossible, but Panera Bread's Caesar Salad has a whopping 400 calories. Our lightened-up version comes in at 120. <b>Total calories saved: 280</b>.</p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/caesar-salad-healthy-ghk" target="_blank">Check out our Caesar Salad recipe</a>.</p>
Tara Donne

An unhealthy salad? Sounds impossible, but Panera Bread's Caesar Salad has a whopping 400 calories. Our lightened-up version comes in at 120. Total calories saved: 280.


Check out our Caesar Salad recipe.

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9

Sticky Buns

<p>It is hard to resist the sweet smell of sticky buns in the oven, but plug your nose the next time you walk by a fast-food bun shop. Cinnabon's Caramel Pecanbon has 1,100 calories — half of your recommended daily calories. Our version has only 445. <b>Total calories saved: 655</b>.</p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/pecan-sticky-buns-holiday-recipes" target="_blank">Check out our Pecan Sticky Buns recipe</a>.</p>

It is hard to resist the sweet smell of sticky buns in the oven, but plug your nose the next time you walk by a fast-food bun shop. Cinnabon's Caramel Pecanbon has 1,100 calories — half of your recommended daily calories. Our version has only 445. Total calories saved: 655.


Check out our Pecan Sticky Buns recipe.

10

French Toast

<p>French women may not get fat, but you probably won't be so lucky if you opt for a fast-food version of this dish. Burger King's 5 Piece French Toast Sticks have 390 calories. Our healthy version has only 300. <b>Total calories saved: 90</b>.</p><br /><p><a href="/recipefinder/healthy-french-toast" target="_blank">Check out our Healthy French Toast recipe</a>.</p>
Kate Mathis

French women may not get fat, but you probably won't be so lucky if you opt for a fast-food version of this dish. Burger King's 5 Piece French Toast Sticks have 390 calories. Our healthy version has only 300. Total calories saved: 90.


Check out our Healthy French Toast recipe.

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