Whether you're going meatless or cutting back on carbs, eating out can be difficult, and eating fast food can seem impossible. NetQuote took the guesswork out of ordering by studying the menu items at Taco Bell, Wendy's, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's and Starbucks to see which ones offer the most options for five specific diets. Here are the winners, and some of the most popular menu items for each.
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Low-Carb
Winner: Taco Bell
Sixteen percent of Taco Bell items fit into a low-carb diet, according to NetQuote's study. These include most of the brand's tacos, mini quesadillas, mini skillet bowls, and sides, like black beans and hash browns. All have less than 16 grams of carbs per serving.
Runner-up: Chick-fil-A
The next-best option is Chick-fil-A, though only a few items meet the low-carb standard: grilled chicken nuggets, the grilled market salad, nuggets, or two chick-n-strips. The fruit and side salads are categorized as low-carb too.
Mediterranean
Tie: Wendy's and Starbucks
Wendy's and Starbucks both have five menu items that qualify as Mediterranean, meaning they did not contain sugar or red meat. At Starbs, go for a salad bowl, tomato and mozzarella panini, or whole-grain oatmeal. At Wendy's, you could order one of their many baked potatoes or a side of apple slices.
Pescatarian
Winner: Taco Bell
T.Bell came out on top again with pescatarian-friendly fare, meaning no meat or poultry. Twenty-four menu items adhere to this diet, thanks to options like bean and cheese burritos, spicy potato tacos, and nachos.
Runner-up: Starbucks
Starbucks gets points for its range of items: pescatarian breakfast sandwiches and oatmeal, salad bowls, and sandwiches are offered.
Vegan
Tie: McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell
Three of the fast food restaurants tied for most vegan options, though sadly the options are pretty limited. At Mickey D's, your options are oatmeal or fruit; Chick-fil-A's got bagels, hash browns, fries, or fruit; and Taco Bell's offers chips and dip, hash browns, and black beans.
Vegetarian
Winner: Taco Bell
Once again, Taco Bell came out on top. Since fish isn't exactly a main protein on most fast food menus, the vegetarian options are mostly the same as the ones pescatarians can eat. Choose from quesadillas, bean burritos, and skillet bowls.
Runner-up: Starbucks
Starbucks had a pretty impressive amount of offerings too, with 14 choices for vegetarians. Many of their salad bowls, protein boxes, and breakfast sandwiches are meat-free.
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