The Healthiest Things You Can Order at Every Major Fast Food Joint
Don't worry, there's more than just salads here.
Need a quick bite to eat? Pop into one of these fast food chains that have upped their game in recent years, making good-for-you choices easy. From steak to sammies, we asked our resident nutritionist, Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, to give us guidance on how to order.
Chick-Fil-A: Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap
Chicken breast with lettuce, red cabbage, carrots, and cheese gets rolled into a flaxseed flour flatbread. Round it out with a Chick-Fil-A fruit cup, says Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, Nutrition Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Total Calories: 360
Total Fat: 13 grams
Burger King: Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Order this one without mayo. With a whopping 26 grams of protein, it'll fill you up. Add a side salad to pack in more veggies.
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Total Calories: 360
Total Fat: 7 grams
Starbucks: Sous Vide Egg Bites
The egg white and red pepper offers up a good amount of protein — 13 grams — and also provides a good source of calcium. Pair with a latte or misto (sans added sugar!) and a piece of fruit.
Total Calories: 170
Total Fat: 7 grams
Subway: Roast Beef and Provolone Sandwich
A 6-inch wheat without dressing will run you about 250 calories. Ask for it with extra veggies, says London.
Total Calories: 250
Total Fat: 5 grams
McDonald's: Classic Cheeseburger
Surprise! London recommends the burger because of its right-on-the-mark portion size. Add pickles, onions, mustard, ketchup, or BBQ sauce to flavor it up.
Total Calories: 300
Total Fat: 12 grams
Panera Bread: Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken
Go for a half salad and add the white balsamic apple vinaigrette for a tasty small meal.
Total Calories: 285
Total Fat: 17 grams
Wendy's: Apple Pecan Chicken Salad
London recommends going halfsies on this fruit and nut-packed salad and then adding a side of apple slices.
Total Calories: 340
Total Fat: 17 grams
Sonic Drive-In: Jr. Burger
Definitely order from the kids' menu when you head here. The Jr. Burger is one of the best bets, especially when paired with a container of applesauce.
Total Calories: 320
Total Fat: 16 grams
Moe's Southwest Grill: Burrito Bowl
Build yours with fish, pinto beans, cheese (ask them to sprinkle it on light), and top with all the fresh veggies and salsa you want.
Total Calories: 400
Total Fat: 16 grams
Potbelly: Mediterranean Sandwich
Hummus, feta, artichokes, cucumbers, and roasted red peppers create a tasty sammie — all for just 470 calories.
Total Calories: 470
Total Fat: 13 grams
Taco Bell: Fresco Style Crunchy Beef Taco
Order a crunch taco over soft to save on sodium. In fact, for 170 calories per taco, go ahead and order two.
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Total Calories: 330
Total Fat: 19 grams
Pizza Hut: Veggie Lover's Slice
Rather than get your own personal pizza, split one with friends. Go for a slice of veggie lover's (bonus points for ordering with extra veggies) and pair it with a huge salad on the side.
Total Calories: 230
Total Fat: 9 grams
Hardee's: Low Carb Charbroiled BBQ Chicken Sandwich
The beauty of ordering your chicken sammie (which includes lettuce, tomato and BBQ sauce) on a lettuce wrap instead of a bun (shown here) is that you'll trim a lot of sodium. Bread is one of the top sources of salt in the diet.
Total Calories: 190
Total Fat: 4 grams
Jack in the Box: Grilled Chicken Salad
Sliced chicken, cheddar cheese, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and croutons, plus a low-fat balsamic add up to one tasty bowl of greens.
Total Calories: 370
Total Fat: 9 grams
Five Guys: Little Hamburger
A burger and bun with run you about 500 calories, but you'll also get 25 grams of protein in the meal. Load on all the lettuce, green peppers, grilled mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes that will fit — they're free!
Total Calories: 480
Total Fat: 26 grams
Dunkin' Donuts: Wake-Up Wrap
Order the ham, egg, and cheese version to limit sodium and saturated fat.
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Total Calories: 180
Total Fat: 11 grams
Einstein Bros. Bagels: Egg and Cheese Bagel
If you're going for a bagel sandwich, ditch the bacon and go strictly egg and cheese. It's a little higher in sodium than London recommends (she suggests sticking under 600 milligrams), so mind your salt intake for the rest of the day.
Total Calories: 440
Total Fat: 15 grams
Dairy Queen: Small Cone
When dessert is going to happen, "always go for soft serve," says London. In this case, stick with a small — or better yet, a kids' cone — in chocolate or vanilla.
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Total Calories: 230
Total Fat: 7 grams
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