Healthy Fast Food Options
I know, I know, you might be skeptical at that title. I’m not a huge fan of fast food in general, since I don’t think it takes that long to whip up dinner, but I know that sometimes life just gets in the way. Whether you’re traveling, stuck at an office without good cafeteria options, or just having one of those days where you need to pick up dinner on the way home, there really are some healthy fast food options out there. Follow a few simple tips, and you’ll be good to go.
I pulled together a few meals from popular chain restaurants that you’ll find in most cities. These are really more of the kind-of-a-step-up-from-fast-food-places, because I can’t in good conscience recommend anything from a true “fast food” spot. Sorry, McArches, you’re not fooling me with those “salad” options you have.
Tips for Healthy Fast Food Options
- Load up on raw veggies wherever you can! They fill you up, and are nutrient dense.
- Leave out the extra bread or wraps, or opt for whole grains like brown rice or wheat bread.
- Keep an eye on sauces and spreads which can quickly turn a healthy meal into something you might want to avoid.
- Check the menu ahead of time so you don’t have to make a quick decision in the drive thru line!
Panera Bread
Panera has some really great healthy food options! I recently tried the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with a cup of vegetable soup. It was my first time having the quinoa salad but it was delicious! They also have tons of salads with chicken on them, so if you’re not vegetarian you have even more options. I also love the black bean soup and the Greek salad. (Just make sure you get your dressing on the side so you can control how much to add!) You can also swap out the baguette for an apple! (P.S. I made a Panera Modern Green Salad Copycat that is spot on!)
CAVA
I actually did a whole fast-casual feature on CAVA because I love it so much! They’ve rapidly expanded across the country so it’s much easier to get your hands on these bowls! Start with a base of greens or a combination of grains and greens and then add toppings until your heart is content! They also have the nutritional info available if you order online, which makes it easy to know exactly what you’re getting!
Jimmy John’s
This was one of my favorite spots in college, and it will always have a special place in my heart. I love this place for a quick lunch, because not only do they offer a delicious vegetarian sub, they also offer lettuce wraps! This means less bread & more veggies! If you get the vegetarian sub without mayo as a lettuce wrap, you’ve got a super-veggie packed lunch! You might even have some room for Skinny Chips, the baked version of their kettle chips. I know some people actually like mayonnaise (I literally hate it) but I’m telling you, the guacamole spread gives you all the creaminess you need!
Chipotle
I was telling someone about how much I loved the healthy options at Chipotle, and they literally rolled their eyes at me, telling me that there was no way those huge burritos could be good for you. But the bowl option is fantastic, and the salad option is even better. If you opt for a bed of lettuce instead of a bed of rice, you’ll save tons of calories, and with all the delicious salsas they offer, you’ll still have plenty of flavor! I like to get lettuce, black beans, peppers and onions, tomato salsa, corn salsa, and guacamole. That huge bowl clocks it right around 450 calories. Not bad, right? This is also vegan and gluten free, so it’s a great option for those with food allergies!
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Similar to Chipotle, this build-a-bowl spot has great options! Step one, get the salad bowl. Step two, pile your lettuce with black beans, grilled peppers, grilled onions, guacamole, tomato salsa, corn salsa, fresh jalapenos, and cilantro! The southwest vinaigrette dressing is deliciously spicy, so you can drizzle a bit of that on top or load up on salsas from the salad bar. If you like things spicy, try the Carolina Reaper salsa. That one has a kick and it was one of my favorites!
Genghis Grill
Ok, so it’s not exactly fast food, but this build-your-own-bowl is sort of like the stir fry equivalent of Chipotle. Similar to Mongolian BBQ (which is what we had in Ohio) this place can offer you some healthy options if you know what you’re looking for. You’re given a bowl that you can load up with anything your heart desires. It does require a little self-control, to focus on adding in veggies rather than some of the other more tempting toppings.
What’s your favorite fast food spot?
Chipotle is the only one of the three Ive ever seen, but I will gladly have Chipotle everyday for the rest of my life 🙂 So freaking yummy!
It won’t always be the best or tastiest meal but at most fast food places you can make a descent amount of substitutions to keep things healthy. Burger with no bun, salad instead of fries, steamed veggies & rice. Not my go-to but in my hangry state I definitely don’t discriminate 🙂
The closest thing to fast food I’ve eaten in years is Starbucks. And after an article on the truth behind the eggs I very rarely even eat there anymore…. If I do I get the protein pack or the veggie pack. I have heard great things about Chipotle though and have thought about giving it a try… Maybe someday 🙂
I never end up at fast food places but if I did, my approach would be the same as yours!
Oh wow, I had no idea those burrito tortillas had so many calories! Good thing I usually get a salad at Chipotle. 🙂
Great tips. I’d say the thing I make sure to do when eating fast food is to get as many veggies in as possible. Not only do they bulk up a meal, but they’re usually the least processed and healthiest thing on any menu!
I LOVE CHIPOTLE!!! <3 <3 <3
I usually get a bowl with brown rice or a salad without the rice with corn, guac, chicken, pico, and cheese. Of course cheese isnt that great for you but I love it! Chipotle can be healthy! I also love JJ lettuce wraps!
Great tips!! For salads I will ask for cheese and dressing on the side. Those two can be killllers. Chipotle bowls / salads are amazing. I don’t like rice so its perfect for me!
I am not a fan of the Jimmy John’s sub (tastes flavorless to me), but I’ve been getting the Chipotle veggie salad for years & it’s full of flavor! A great option for sure. 🙂
Love this! I’ll eat subway as a healthy-ish choice when eating out. Their veggie sub or veggie pattie tastes pretty good. Also I heard somewhere that Chipotle stuff is all cooked in meat – so not vegetarian or vegan… not quite sure about that but something to look into. I also love Wendy’s western salad. No meat just 1 tbsp quac and fresh green salad (no iceberg lettuce either!). You can eat or toss the ‘fritos’, chilli or dressing if you choose.