Healthiest Fast Food Options
In today’s post, we will discuss some of the healthiest fast food options at all of your favorite fast food restaurants.
If you need to grab a quick meal on the way home from the gym after a hard strength or circuit training workout or after a long work day, this post has got you covered with healthy meal options.
Subway
Subway has a selection of fresh fit sandwiches, or six inch subs clocking in under 400 calories.
My pick would be the 6 inch roast beef sub on hearty wheat bread. This sandwich will deliver complex carbs, protein and iron. Add in some fresh spinach and other fresh veggies to boost your body’s ability to harness the iron present in this roast beef sandwich.
McDonalds Hamburger
McDonald’s is not exactly known as a bastion of healthy food options. However, many of its items don’t break the calorie bank. When ordering at McDonalds, stay away from double decker hamburgers with cheese.
A simple hamburger is a sensible option, and clocks in at just 250 calories and 12 grams of protein. To round out this meal, add in a simple side salad without cheese or croutons, and order a vinegar based dressing option.
Taco Bell Chicken Power Bowl
Taco Bell actually has some surprisingly healthy menu items. Tacos, chalupas and burritos can be sensible and healthy with a few menu modifications.
My pick is the Chicken Power Bowl. This meal contains just 460 calories. It also includes beans, a good source of fiber and plant based protein. The power bowl contains a whopping 27 grams of protein, plus complex carbs and satiating fat in the form of guacamole.
Chick-Fil-A Market Salad
Chick-Fil-A offers many grilled sandwiches and salads that won’t expand your waistline.
My pick from this restaurant would be the Market Salad. This salad contains fruit and vegetables together to help you hit your produce goals for the day, in addition to satiating protein. The Market Salad contains just 540 calories and over 28 grams of protein.
Wendy’s Chili
Wendy’s has a number of healthy meal options. For healthy plant based protein and carbohydrates, try a small (240 calories) or large (340 calories) serving of chili. Even a small serving contains over 80 percent of your daily intake of iron and 16-22 grams of protein. Even more, Wendy’s chili will help you reach your daily fiber goals with 6 to 8 grams of fiber.
To round out the meal, order a plain baked potato to add more carbohydrates, fiber and nutrients.
Arby’s Roast Beef Gyro
You may not think of Arby’s as one of the healthiest fast food options, but the truth is that this spot does offer some healthier choices. Their classic roast beef sandwich has just 360 calories and over 23 grams of protein. This meal choice might be a good option on the way home from work or the gym.
Starbucks Spinach, Feta and Egg White Wrap
Starbucks has several healthy options. One good choice is the spinach, feta and egg white wrap. This 290 calorie breakfast has 20 grams of protein plus carbs and fat to give you sustained energy for the entire morning.
Burger King Junior Whopper
Eating at Burger King? One good option is their traditional junior whopper sandwich. A junior whopper has just 340 calories and over 15 grams of protein. You can further cut the calories and saturated fat back on this menu option by eliminating the cheese and mayo.
If you have a little bigger appetite, a plain Whopper will set you back just 483 calories and include over 20 grams of protein.
Dominos Pacific Veggie Pizza
Pizza really can be a healthy food, as it represents all the food groups. A good choice at Dominos is a couple slices of a medium 12 inch Pacific Veggie Pizza. Two slices will set you back just 440 calories and provide about 20 grams of protein. Plus, you will consume more than 20 percent of your daily calcium intake.
Dunkin English Muffin
Dunkin Donuts might not conjure images of the healthiest breakfasts, but this favorite restaurant does have a few healthy options hidden away on its menu.
For example, a simple English Muffin with one tablespoon of butter and a hot coffee with a splenda and a few splashes of skim milk can serve as a light breakfast or snack on busy mornings. The whole snack will set you back less than 200 calories and provide a few carbohydrates, some protein and a bit of calcium.
Panera Bread Turkey Chili
Panera Bread is known for its fresh ingredients, antibiotic free meat and a commitment not to serve any foods that contain trans fats. This restaurant has many healthy options. One great healthy option at Panera is the Turkey Chili. A bowl of this hot and hearty chili has just 300 calories, 14 grams of heart healthy fiber and over 20 grams of protein. A side baguette can really round out the meal for just 180 calories extra.
Pizza Hut Veggie Lovers Pizza
Pizza Hut does offer many healthy options, including its Veggie Lovers Pizza. A slice of a large Veggie Lover’s pizza has just 260 calories and 12 grams of protein. Two slices will help you accrue 24 grams of protein at just over 520 calories. Add a small side salad that you prepare at home to help add even more nutrients and vegetables to this meal. Just make sure not to drown your salad in dressing, cheese or croutons to keep the calorie intake of your meal reasonable.
Chipotle Chicken Hard Shelled Tacos
Chipotle has many healthy food options, considering it uses fresh ingredients you can pronounce and its meals contain a healthy balance of complex carbs, plant based protein and healthy fats.
Three hard shelled tacos filled with chicken or sofritas have staying power with a balanced profile of carbs, protein and fat. Depending on what you put inside each taco, this meal will only set you back about 700 calories. Just go easy on the cheese, sour cream and guacamole if you have a smaller daily calorie budget.
KFC Kentucky Grilled Chicken with a Side of Green Beans
Fried chicken is not exactly a health food, but if you make informed choices, you can find reasonably healthy meals at KFC. The chicken chain sells grilled chicken drumsticks, wings and breasts. Each piece contains just 80-210 calories and 10-40 grams of protein. This meal can easily help you hit your protein goals for the day. Add a side of green beans (just 80 calories) to add some micronutrients and fiber to this meal.
Sonic Junior Hamburger
A Junior Hamburger from Sonic will set you back just 340 calories and provide 14 grams of protein. Another good option is the 500 calorie veggie burger. If you want to cut the calories on the veggie burger even further, just subtract the mayo from the sandwich.
With either option, you can increase your satiety by adding a side salad you prepare yourself or piece of fruit. That will add fiber and micronutrients to your Sonic meal.
Otherwise, simply ordering a simple junior hamburger or veggie burger can work as a reasonable meal choice when you don’t have much time to spare.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t have much time to create home cooked meals every weeknight, you can find healthy options at fast food restaurants. Hopefully this list of the healthiest fast food options will help you out in a pinch. No matter where you choose to eat, you can certainly find healthier options with a little ingenuity.
What are your favorite healthy meals at fast food restaurants? Please let me know in the comment section below.
