Healthiest Fast Food Options

by | Sep 23, 2014 | Atlanta dietitian, Cafe Physique Atlanta, Cafe Physique Blog, diet, Dietary Counseling, eating out, empty calories, fast food, Featured, food, healthy lifestyle, hidden calories, Nutrition, weight loss, wellness

Alright, look. I know that at times it can be hard to find the time to create wholesome meals for ourselves and families. As the mother of three kids and the owner of a business, I am the first to admit that there are days when cooking a great meal is just really impossible. These are the days when I am happy for the fast food movement that we all know so well. Despite several really huge shortcomings of fast food, these types of restaurants are an easy way to make sure that you and your family have full tummies in spite of busy schedules. Read on to get the skinny on what fast food options are best for those days when you really just need it.

Choosing Healthy Fast Foods | Cafe Physique

Chipotle

I am a huge Chipotle fan; and luckily, we have three that I know of in the Atlanta area. Not only does Chipotle do a great job picking fresh ingredients; they aren’t afraid to take that extra step to make sure that they use organic and non-GMO ingredients whenever they can. Chipotle promises “food with integrity”, which means they really do their best to support local farmers and sustainable agriculture.

What to order:

The healthiest option is to go with a veggie salad; which includes: rice, beans, fajita veggies, and your choice of salsas and toppings. With these bare bones, you are looking at right around 450 calories of fresh, nutrient-dense dinner. The best part? It’s vegan, gluten free, and paleo diet friendly.

It’s important to be careful though, because despite the fact that Chipotle is one of the better places to choose your fast food, you can still rack up tons of calories by ordering a loaded burrito. Check out their nutrition calculator to see the details on your usual order.

 

Panera Bread

Another great place to stop on your way home from a busy night is Panera Bread. I’ll go here with my family when we’re traveling, or when we are on our way home from long days packed full of activities. Panera is great about divulging nutrition information for all of their food. They also use really fresh ingredients and bake their breads and pastries each night. Their transparency about ingredients and nutrition facts makes them one of my favorite and most trusted fast food restaurants.

What to order:

The Turkey and Avocado BLT is one of their lowest calorie choices coming in at 500 calories. It’s packed with 38 grams of protein. If you want to save some of the fat, ask them to hold the bacon. Instead of chips as a side, go with the apple. Another great choice is the Mediterranean Veggie at 570 calories.

My usual method is to order half a sandwich and a salad. This “You Pick Two” option lets you have the fullness from the sandwich and the added benefits of a salad. Favorites include the Power Chicken Hummus Salad and the Classic Salad. Each are low calorie and filled with delicious fresh ingredients.

Stay away from their pastries section, which they conveniently place in front of you as you order. The pastries are empty calories with no nutritional value.

 

Burger King

What?! Can you believe Burger King made it on this list? It’s here because despite their terrible reputation they have developed with menu items like the Whopper, they do have some healthy choices if you look hard enough. Have you ever been stuck at a rest stop with starving children and a grumpy husband? I have, and sometimes you just have to deal with it. If you must order from a traditional fast food place, BK is not a bad choice. But proceed with caution.

What to order:

Did you know Burger King has a veggie burger? It’s the only burger I would recommend trying from here. They use the Morning Star brand, which is packed with veggies and protein. With all toppings included, you are still well below the 500 calorie mark. The bad part is that the sodium content is through the roof at 900 mg (almost a whole day’s worth).

In addition to these famous fast food places, many really great local restaurants are adapting new technology that allows you to place orders ahead of time online. If you know your family is going to be running late and dinner isn’t in the cards, take a few minutes to fill out an online order to pick up later that night on your way home. For more advice on improving your diet and embracing a healthier lifestyle, visit our site and give the team at Cafe Physique and sign up for a consultation. Also, check out our free menu planner.