Healthiest fast food alternatives?

blinkiii
blinkiii Posts: 90
in Health and Weight Loss
Out of curiosity, when you guys splurge (or find your back against the wall at a fast food restaurant) what are some healthy choices you make? Because let's just be honest... It happens to everyone.
I need some ideas!

Thanks guys! (:


p.s. I consider Starbucks to be "fast food".
«134

Replies

  • ppatricia81
    ppatricia81 Posts: 23 Member
    i pretty much come to mfp app and try to see the calories on some foods to see the calories on an item and try to see how many calories i can use up. like for mc donalds i love there chicken sandwiches, now ill probably get the chicken salad.
  • blinkiii
    blinkiii Posts: 90
    i pretty much come to mfp app and try to see the calories on some foods to see the calories on an item and try to see how many calories i can use up. like for mc donalds i love there chicken sandwiches, now ill probably get the chicken salad.

    Oh that's a good idea! I forgot that they have an app for this now.
    I've never tried their chicken salads! I'll have to check that out!
  • itsrebec
    itsrebec Posts: 38
    Chipotle is a good one. You can mix and match the healthy stuff... and it's packed full of flavor.
  • shaynak112
    shaynak112 Posts: 751 Member
    veggie burgers instead of regular burgers (I always eat veggie anyway) ... veggie burgers are lower calorie. not "good" for you ... but lower cal!
  • smhammons
    smhammons Posts: 115 Member
    KFC Grilled Chicken meal 2 pc Breast and Wing with Grean Beans and Mashed Potatoes is only 445 yummy calories but it is full of sodium. And I usually do not eat the 180 calorie biscuit that come with it not me.:glasses:
  • israelichick
    israelichick Posts: 33
    sometimes salads aren't feeling so i look for soup or chillii if i go to wendy's. Panera is healthy and a fast food so that is always a good place to go. if you have to go to burger king or mcdy's just get grilled chicken and eat the chicken lettecus tomatoe but not the bun and get a salad instead of french fries. Hope that helps. Good luck
  • blinkiii
    blinkiii Posts: 90
    Chipotle is a good one. You can mix and match the healthy stuff... and it's packed full of flavor.

    I love Chipotle, which is the problem. As soon as the scent hits my nose I'll ask for every god-awful ingredient until I've got myself a hefty 1000 calorie burrito :P
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Quarter pounder with no cheese and milk.
  • ppatricia81
    ppatricia81 Posts: 23 Member
    Chipotle is a good one. You can mix and match the healthy stuff... and it's packed full of flavor.


    yeah that place is goood, i think i might try there bowls instead of a burrito for less calories. (im avoiding fast food places right nowLOL)
  • ScottCadi
    ScottCadi Posts: 56
    I'm on a low carb/high protein diet (doctor directed).....

    I go with the McD and BK wraps... they are about 280 to 300 cal, and if you get them w/out sauce, they are even less.

    Checking the food tab on MFP is a good idea. I also found that Taco Bell tacos are a pretty decent thing too A couple will keep you w/in a decent cal/carb/protein range for most any diet.

    Good luck! I'll be looking back to this question for ideas as well!
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Taco Bell crunchy tacos, or Wendy's chili and baked potato. Careful with fast food salads - some of them have more calories than a burger.

    But your question says what healthy choices do you get when you splurge... I don't make healthy choices when I splurge, that's the point.
  • Anastasiasosa
    Anastasiasosa Posts: 36 Member
    I usually try to map out what I'm gonna eat at restaurants so I don't make any "bad" decisions. Usually that means a kid's meal if I don't want or have the option of a salad.
  • cvitez1
    cvitez1 Posts: 39
    Taco bell has their Fresca menu, which are all healthier choices. And to be honest, I like the Fresco chicken soft taco better than most things on their menu. Wendy's chili is also a good option, with a plain baked potato (add some ketchup). And of course there is always subway.
  • shellroyal
    shellroyal Posts: 1
    if my kids want Mcdonalds I often get hamburger happy meal with apples and diet coke ...small portions and around 400 calories
  • Lee716
    Lee716 Posts: 150 Member
    Chick fil A has some pretty healthy options. I usually get the chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread, fruit cup as a side and bottled water to drink. Roughly about 435 calories. Also their 8 piece nuggets are only 260 calories and taste like real chicken. Better than Mcdonalds or Burger King any day.

    FYI did you know if you order regular white bread, that it gets buttered? Really? Like extra 30 calories and 3 grams of fat for no reason. Smh
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Taco bell has their Fresca menu, which are all healthier choices. And to be honest, I like the Fresco chicken soft taco better than most things on their menu. Wendy's chili is also a good option, with a plain baked potato (add some ketchup). And of course there is always subway.
    You put ketchup on a baked potato?
  • blinkiii
    blinkiii Posts: 90
    I'm on a low carb/high protein diet (doctor directed).....

    I go with the McD and BK wraps... they are about 280 to 300 cal, and if you get them w/out sauce, they are even less.

    Checking the food tab on MFP is a good idea. I also found that Taco Bell tacos are a pretty decent thing too A couple will keep you w/in a decent cal/carb/protein range for most any diet.

    Good luck! I'll be looking back to this question for ideas as well!

    So after reading your comment, I checked out the taco bell menu and you're right! There are a lot of "decent" items on there! (:

    The only problem that I have with the wraps are that they never fill me up!! It's like, after a half an hour I'm starving and want more food.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Chick fil A has some pretty healthy options. I usually get the chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread, fruit cup as a side and bottled water to drink. Roughly about 435 calories. Also their 8 piece nuggets are only 260 calories and taste like real chicken. Better than Mcdonalds or Burger King any day.

    FYI did you know if you order regular white bread, that it gets buttered? Really? Like extra 30 calories and 3 grams of fat for no reason. Smh
    Uh yeah that's why it tastes good.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    i go with anything grilled chicken and a side salad since that's available and any burger joint.

    subway 6"

    food truck tacos - i usually go with fish tacos since its just cod and pico de gallo. taco bell also has a fresca menu that's pretty fresh
  • rrrainiii
    rrrainiii Posts: 31 Member
    I'm all about the Taco Bell Fresco Menu - relatively low calorie and super tasty. :) (The nutritional info is on the T-Bell website)

    Not the greatest, obviously, but if I'm on the go and I'm hungry...it definitely works for me. Yum.

    You could always eat sandwiches without the bun/sauce or cut your portions in half. You know, typical "diet" advice. I actually use it now, though. :D
  • LaNena01
    LaNena01 Posts: 61 Member
    bump
  • Lee716
    Lee716 Posts: 150 Member
    Chick fil A has some pretty healthy options. I usually get the chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread, fruit cup as a side and bottled water to drink. Roughly about 435 calories. Also their 8 piece nuggets are only 260 calories and taste like real chicken. Better than Mcdonalds or Burger King any day.

    FYI did you know if you order regular white bread, that it gets buttered? Really? Like extra 30 calories and 3 grams of fat for no reason. Smh
    Uh yeah that's why it tastes good.

    I know but I think butter and all I see is Paula Dean. Really, the whole wheat option tastes so much better to me. And the protein in the chicken is so filling, I believe it has 30 grams of protein.
  • xo_Sarah_xo
    xo_Sarah_xo Posts: 308 Member
    Wendy's Chili for sure! It's been a while but I think the large only has 300 calories and a lot of protein.
    Yummm...:happy:
  • avir8
    avir8 Posts: 671 Member
    If I get fast food, I try to leave out half a bun, or try to eat half. I try to get grilled chicken, nothing breaded, and I squeeze off the grease with a napkin, but then I don't try to go over my calorie quota.
  • blinkiii
    blinkiii Posts: 90
    FYI did you know if you order regular white bread, that it gets buttered? Really? Like extra 30 calories and 3 grams of fat for no reason. Smh

    I did not know that! :O
  • TNFirefly
    TNFirefly Posts: 169 Member
    My current food plan is vegan low fat (McDougall), so a veggie no cheese loaded at subway, a bean burrito fresco style at taco bell, a veggie at burger king, baked potato with side salad at wendy's....most of these work into my food plan just fine except for the sodium. Sodium is a BIG deal for me lately, and I am trying to keep it under 1200-1500 mg daily, so these require a lot of planning for the rest of the day.
  • cvitez1
    cvitez1 Posts: 39
    I sure do. And a little salt, like a French fry :)
  • noahsmommie
    noahsmommie Posts: 71 Member
    Wendy's Berry Almond Chicken Salad
    Taco Bell Steak Baja Gordita and a side of rice
    Subway Veggie Sub w/ ff italian dressing

    Yum... Is anybody hungry? lol
  • blinkiii
    blinkiii Posts: 90
    Yum... Is anybody hungry? lol

    Lol, yeah I'm starting to regret making this post. It's taking all of my self control to not hop in my car and drive to the nearest Mickey D's.
  • caro1275
    caro1275 Posts: 198 Member
    Subway 6 inch sandwiches are pretty darned tasty and many are under 400 calories without cheese!
    :)

Categories