11 Best Healthy Fast Food Options
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Frequently Asked Questions
11 Best Healthy Fast Food Items
Below We’ve Compiled a List of Some of the Most Popular Fast-Food Chains and a Few of Their Healthy Menu Options. Since “Healthy” Is a Subjective Term, You’ll Notice That There Isn’t a Set Pattern to This List. While Some Menu Items Are Lower in Calories or Fat, Most of This List Focuses on an Adequate Balance of Protein, Carbohydrates, and Fats.
1. Chick-Fil-a Grilled Nuggets
Chick-Fil-A’s 8-Count Grilled Nuggets1 Put a Healthy Spin on Their Infamous Fried Chicken Nuggets. Eight of These Grilled Nuggets Provide Approximately 130 Calories, So You Have Plenty of Room to Add More Menu Items as You Build a Well-Balanced Meal or Snack. Need Something with More Calories and Carbohydrates? Consider Trying Their Grilled Chicken Sandwich.
2. Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Chipotle Mexican Grill Has an Extensive List of Burritos, Burrito Bowls, Tacos, and Salads, but Their Chicken Tacos2 Stand out as a Healthy Meal to Grab on the Go. Compared to Other Items on the Menu, They Are Relatively Low in Calories and Packed with Protein. Plus, There Are Only 310 Milligrams of Sodium in Three Tacos. If You Want to Add Some Healthy Fats, Consider Adding Guacamole, or Some Fajita Veggies for Extra Fiber.
3. Subway Tuna Sub
When It Comes to Eating Healthy, Subs Can Be Deceiving. Many of Us Assume a Sandwich Is a Healthy Option, but There Can Be a Lot of Hidden Calories and Sodium in Deli Subs. the 6-Inch Tuna Sub3 Is High in Fat Compared to Some of the Other Subway Menu Items, but It Has a Good Balance of All the Macronutrients. Plus, You Can Build Your Sub to Your Liking by Adding Veggies, Such as Cucumbers, Red Peppers, Onions, and More.
4. Dunkin’ Donuts Wake-up Wrap
If You’re Stopping by Dunkin’ Donuts for a Coffee on the Way to Work, Consider Trying One of Their Wake-up Wrap with Turkey Sausage4 to Add Some Protein to Your Morning Commute. the Wraps Are Made to Order with Egg, Cheese, and Your Choice of Protein, Making Them One of the Best Healthy Fast Food Breakfasts.
5. Jimmy John’s Turkey Tom
The 8-Inch Turkey Tom Sub on French Bread5 from Jimmy John’s Is a Satisfying Meal in a Pinch. the 8-Inch Sub Provides 23 Grams of Protein and Only 480 Calories. You Can Dress It up with Added Veggies, but Be Mindful of Hidden Calories in Vinaigrettes and Other Sauces. Additionally, the Sub Contains More Than Half the Recommended Daily Sodium Intake, So You’ll Need to Be Mindful of Your Intake Throughout the Rest of the Day.
6. Kfc Original Recipe Chicken Breast
Kfc Is Famous for Their Fried Chicken, So of Course, We Had to Find a Way to Include It Here. Their Original Recipe Chicken Breast6 Is a Protein-Dense Entree Item Low in Carbohydrates. You Can Chop It up and Add It to a Side Salad or Enjoy It as a Sandwich on a Whole-Grain Bun.
7. Mcdonald’s Hamburger
When It Comes to Healthy Fast-Food Options, Mcdonald’s Doesn’t Usually Come to Mind. So, It Might Be Surprising That a Classic Mcdonald’s Hamburger8 Can Be Part of a Healthy Fast-Food Order. the Classic Hamburger Is Actually Lower in Fat and Sodium Than Many of the Other Menu Items, Including the Egg Mcmuffin and Chicken Mcnuggets. and at Just 250 Calories, You Have Wiggle Room to Add More Food Items That Can Bump the Protein Content of Your Meal.
8. Panera Bread Avocado, Egg White, Spinach & Cheese Sandwich
Panera Bread’s Avocado, Egg White, Spinach & Cheese on Sprouted Grain Bagel Flat9 Is a Delicious Fast-Food Meal to Grab on a Busy Morning. with 19 Grams of Protein and 14 Grams of Mostly Healthy Fats, It’s a Satisfying and Filling Breakfast Option. Plus, It’s Topped with Fresh Veggies That Add Flavor and Fiber.
9. Starbucks Turkey Bacon, Cheddar, and Egg White Sandwich
Starbucks Is Best Known for Its Coffee Selection, but They Also Have a Pretty Nutritious Food Menu. If You Have a Tough Time Choosing from the Several Healthy Options Available, Consider Trying the Turkey Bacon, Cheddar, and Egg White Sandwich10 as One of the Best Fast Food Healthy Breakfasts.
10. Taco Bell Soft Chicken Taco
Taco Bell’s Menu Is Generally High in Sodium, and Many of Their Menu Items Are High-Fat. However, Their Soft Chicken Taco11 May Be Okay to Grab in a Pinch If You Need a Snack to Hold You over Until Your Next Meal. If You’re Looking to Grab a Complete Meal on the Go, Consider Adding Black Beans to the Taco to Boost Protein and Fiber, or Ordering It “Fresco Style, ” Which Replaces Cheese and Heavy Sauces with Salsa.
11. Wendy’s Junior Hamburger
Finding Fast Food Burgers That Fit Your Healthy Eating Goals Can Be Challenging, but Wendy’s Junior Hamburger12 Makes It Easy to Watch Your Portion Sizes. the Junior Hamburger May Not Be as Hefty as Some of Wendy’s Other Menu Items, but It Packs a Punch. Each Burger Contains About 250 Calories but Only 11 Grams of Fat and 420 Milligrams of Sodium. Enjoy It on Its Own for a Protein Boost, or Pair It with a Side Salad as Part of a Balanced Meal. and If You Prefer a Cheeseburger, Wendy’s Also Offers a Junior Cheeseburger.
Best Healthy Fast Food: Final Thoughts
Sometimes Diet Culture Leads Us to Believe That Fast Food Is Totally off-Limits. While It May Not Be Something We Should Eat Every Day, Enjoying a Meal on the Go Can Offer Certain Benefits. for Example, as a Dietitian, I’d Rather You Grab One of the Best Healthy Fast Food Options Than Skip the Meal Altogether.
Best Healthy Fast Food: Q&A
The Healthiest Fast Food to Eat Can Vary Depending on Your Nutrition Needs at the Moment, but Some of the Better Fast Food Options Offer a Good Balance of Macronutrients. Additionally, Fast Food Tends to Be High in Sodium, So Look for Menu Items That Fit Within the Daily Sodium Recommendations.
What Is the Healthiest Fast Food to Eat?
The Healthiest Fast Food to Eat Can Vary Depending on Your Nutrition Needs at the Moment, but Some of the Better Fast Food Options Offer a Good Balance of Macronutrients. Additionally, Fast Food Tends to Be High in Sodium, So Look for Menu Items That Fit Within the Daily Sodium Recommendations.
Is Chick-Fil-a Healthier Than Mcdonald’s?
Since “Healthy” Is a Subjective Term, Picking the Healthiest Option Can Be Tough. But, in General, Since Chick-Fil-a Focuses on Chicken, Which Is Lower in Calories, Fat, and Cholesterol Than Beef, We’ll Give the “Healthier” Title to Chick-Fil-a over Mcdonald’s.
Is There Such a Thing as Healthy Fast Food?
If Included Mindfully, Fast Food Can Be Part of a Healthy Diet. When Trying to Order Nutritious Fast Food Meals, Look for a Balance of Protein, Carbs, and Healthy Fats. Make Healthy Substitutions When Possible, and Watch Your Portion Sizes and Overall Sodium Intake.
What Are the Top 10 Healthiest Fast Foods?
Ten of the Healthiest Fast Food Chains Include Chick-Fil-A, Subway, Panera, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Jimmy John’s. and Surprisingly, If You’re Strategic About It, You Can Also Find Reasonably Healthy Menu Items at Mcdonald’s, Kfc, Wendy’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Taco Bell.
References
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois Is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with Several Year's of Experience Working in the Clinical Setting. Once a Track and Field Athlete in the Southeastern Conference, She Now Finds Joy in Combining Her Passions as a Health Writer to Help People Embrace Their Wellness Through Nutrition and Fitness. When She’s Not Writing, You Can Find Her Outside with Her Kids or Dancing to Dolly Parton in the Kitchen.
Further Reading
This Everyplate Review Takes an in-Depth Look at a Low-Cost Meal Kit Delivery Service That Offers New Meals Weekly. If You Don’t Have Dietary Restrictions or Need to Follow a Specialized Diet, It Could Be a Good Option for You. Read More
