what are your favorite low calorie fast foods?

rubawaytheday
rubawaytheday Posts: 9
in Food and Nutrition
I often need to grab fast food. What foods has everyone found to be low calorie at common fast food restaurants? I saw that steak soft tacos fresco style are only 150 from Taco bell. Other suggestions like this appreciated, please don't suggest to bring snacks, food from home.
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Replies

  • s1lence
    s1lence Posts: 493
    Mcdonalds - Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salad (No Dressing), 335 g (1 reg salad) 290 calories tends to be a favorite when I have to go out. I try to stick with salads with no dressing or grilled chicken when I have to have fast food. Though I do like yogurt parfaits which aren't that bad. I love Subway for fast food too, lots of things that you can get that aren't to high in calories.

    Also with a lot of places you can either replace or eliminate items on foods (it doesn't change the cost but it will affect the calories). So if you have to have say Burger King and you don't want chicken try to get something with veggies on it without the mayo or a Big Mac without special sauce if you're going to McDonald's.

    Don't know why you have to get fast food but I find that if I know that I have to eat while I'm out and have time I make a meal to take with me, like carrot and celery sticks, a chicken wrap or lean meat sandwich and a bottle of water.
  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
    hehe, what do you consider low calorie =)

    supposedly the mcdouble isn't bad.

    i love my spicy chicken sandwich at wendy's but it's about 410 (which I think is low =P)
  • fypspirit
    fypspirit Posts: 109 Member
    The Fresco menu from Taco Bell :)
  • sherim71
    sherim71 Posts: 130 Member
    McDonald's Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap, no sauce. Good protein :)
  • Sherbog
    Sherbog Posts: 1,072 Member
    I am envious...I can't at this point go into a fast food establishment.
  • aquasw16
    aquasw16 Posts: 342 Member
    The McChicken from McDonalds without the mayo isn't bad. But I would shoot for subway, load up the veggies!!!
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    Subway roasted chicken salad and Jimmy John's unwiches. Sodium is high so just use these as occasional treats.
  • Nickiii_123
    Nickiii_123 Posts: 134 Member
    Chive and butter baked potato, small chili and side salad from Wendy's with an ice tea. I don't know the exact calories that adds up to right now but I had that a while back and I remember being very pleasantly surprised. And I wasn't hungry an hour later like I am when I just get burger and fries. So yummy but you can tell those are some empty calories right there :)

    ***Edit: If you have a Taco del Mar or a Taco Time nearby they both have 'light/healthier' menu options too and are tastier than Taco Bell (just my opinion). Good for you for looking into healthier options!
  • student94
    student94 Posts: 120 Member
    Wendy's chili. It's about 300 calories, under two dollars, tasty, and filling.
  • kadins_momma07
    kadins_momma07 Posts: 328 Member
    Bump.


    I'm interested in this too, I'm always trying to figure out what is a good option when my husband wants to go out to eat, or for a quick lunch.
  • debbond58
    debbond58 Posts: 41 Member
    Subway has been my "go to" and I love it.where I have more trouble is with restaurants for a sit down dinner.I had a Thai beef salad a couple of weeks ago which wasn't bad because I brought half of it home but I went shopping with some friends and the chowder house was a lot harder.ended up having grilled Mahi tuna tacos.It's just hard to figure the calories.Glad I don't have to eat out more often.
  • gfuller46
    gfuller46 Posts: 20
    Yes, taco bell - fresco grilled chicken taco (soft )
    side salads from McDonald, Wendy's and Chick fil A
    Medium Chicken Noodle soup (chick fil A) and Diet Lemonade (Chick fil A)
    Small Chili (Wendys) Light Lemonade
    1/2 Grilled chicken wrap (Chick fil A) Use light italian dressing (low in calories: smile:
  • sarahness
    sarahness Posts: 80 Member
    subway, arbys junior roast beef sandwiches, chicken soft taco from taco bell. or you can always get kids meals.
  • SwimTheButterfly
    SwimTheButterfly Posts: 265 Member
    Taco Bell ~Bean Tosada, Bean Burrito, Original Crispy Taco~I often quiero Taco Bell! And it really is terrible Mexican food. Your local family taco stand is much more healthy. You know the tacos with the tiny handmade torillas & great hot sauce.
  • shaycat
    shaycat Posts: 980
    LOL. I am laughing because I know I lowest calorie food from every fast food place near me. Not that I eat it a lot, but if I do I know what to get.

    Carls JR BBQ chicken sandwich 390 cals
    KFC BBQ chicken sandwich 350?
    Jack in the box Chicken fajita pita 395 I think


    Basically if you cant see the calories, you cant go wrong with grilled chicken, no cheese, no mayo.
    I try to know where I am going and look up the nutrition facts and plan ahead.
  • mzhokie
    mzhokie Posts: 349 Member
    Grilled Chicken Nuggets at chick-fil-a
  • GrEyedRose
    GrEyedRose Posts: 90 Member
    McDonald's Grilled Chicken, plain with a side of Sweet Chili Sauce (usually used for nuggets but GREAT with the grilled chicken!)

    Wendy's Chili

    Chick-Fil A's Carrot Raisin salad when I am out and about and wanting something a bit sweet
  • saynotofat
    saynotofat Posts: 37
    I like the Subway sweet onion chicken teriyaki on wheat. One of their low fat sandwiches. Lettuce and a bit of onion sauce, which I believe is fat free.
  • trinitrate
    trinitrate Posts: 219 Member
    I eat out almost daily, and keep my fast-food trips to under 500 - 600 total (which fits my daily goals)..


    My favorites:

    Chickfillet Southwestern Salad - Very filling for only about 250 cals (skip the dressing and tortilla strips etc.) the corn salsa can take the place of dressing and is very good!

    Chipotle - Chicken bowl, no rice, 1/2 black beans, normal chicken, hot salsa, lettuce ~ 450 - 500 cals depending on the server

    Wendys - Single or double burger, eat everything but the bun, add a side salad with almost no dressing. Even with a double, it's less than 600 cal.

    In-n-Out - Double-Double protein style; under 600 cal.



    The secret for fast food... dont be stupid and order it as it comes... don't eat frys, dont upsize, don't eat a lot of mayo or 'special sauce'.
  • rubawaytheday
    rubawaytheday Posts: 9
    Yes I love this too I get no cheese, wheat bread , the sweet onion sauce and lots of veggies. i like the baked lays with it.. on WW it was 3 points for the chips I will have to check the calories for this.
  • rubawaytheday
    rubawaytheday Posts: 9
    I am always on my way out just before lunch time to go to work. I can bring something, but I am usually doing school work for college courses in the morning and because I am massage therapist all afternoon I don't have time to snack during the afternoon so i need to get really full and out to eat seems to do it better and i can eat it on the way, Idk i guess just time reasons. I have taken stuff before but i really like eating out. I lost 25 pounds before on weight watchers and I ate at taco bell and subway a lot.
  • JPod279
    JPod279 Posts: 722 Member
    For me the best bang for the buck is the grilled chicken sandwich at Chick-Fil-A. It is filling and tasty. You can even get the club (with bacon) and it is still not that big of a hit. Get an unsweet tea and the fruit cup and you have a great lunch or dinner.
  • DoctorKyrina
    DoctorKyrina Posts: 130 Member
    Chive and butter baked potato, small chili and side salad from Wendy's with an ice tea. I don't know the exact calories that adds up to right now but I had that a while back and I remember being very pleasantly surprised. And I wasn't hungry an hour later like I am when I just get burger and fries. So yummy but you can tell those are some empty calories right there :)

    That combo (minus the tea... although I do love iced tea) are the reason I miss Wendy's. It's a shame that of all of the fast food places also in the UK, they managed to miss the one I'd really like to be here.
  • candyrayne215
    candyrayne215 Posts: 47 Member
    the chick fi la grilled sandwhich is AWESOME
    (but i can no longer go to chick fi la until they get rid of the banana pudding milkshake..*drool*)
  • rlmcnay
    rlmcnay Posts: 62
    A good staple is KFC's grilled chicken. I usually get the 2 piece meal with both being drumsticks, mashed potatos (no gravy), and corn. All together the meal is under 400 calories. You can eat the biscuit but it adds like 100 calories to the meal and isn't worth it in my opinion.

    Taco Bell is also a good one with the fresco menu. I also will get grilled chicken sandwiches or burgers without the bun then take it home and use the slimwiches for a lower calorie option.

    Hope this helps.
  • GurleyGirl524
    GurleyGirl524 Posts: 578 Member
    GRILLED CHICKEN NUGGETS FROM CHIC FIL A WITH A FRUIT CUP
  • wem512
    wem512 Posts: 1
    Panera is also a pretty good option. Most of their salads are fairly decent calorie wise.
  • shani251
    shani251 Posts: 145 Member
    I always get the chicken taco salad off the Taco Bell Fit Hit menu with no dressing (i use their hot sauce instead. 170 of the most delicious and guilt free calories i can think of. :) Enjoy!
  • kayleesays
    kayleesays Posts: 564 Member
    BK Tendergrill, no mayo/sauce, no tomato.
  • HotCuppaJo
    HotCuppaJo Posts: 476 Member
    I love the Hunter's Club Unwich at Jimmy John's (UNwich, instead of sandwich...no bread, it's just wrapped in lettuce :) It's SO tasty. Just make sure you take OFF the Mayo and add the Honey Dijon Mustard instead, and it's only 285 for the whole meal. (And, I too, LOVE the 150 calorie Tacos at Taco Bell...great choice if you're out and about and need a quick low-cal lunch.) :smile:

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