Healthiest fast food alternatives?

I plan ahead and check the menu online when possible and narrow down the menu before I get there. Also, I love AquaFina bottled water and take a bottle with me in my purse. Decline the free bread basket, chips, etc. and ask questions about how the food is cooked. I moved to a more rural area after my marriage last year and gained 15 pounds! I call it my "Freshmen 15" for my first year of marriage. It is challenging when my husband is naturally thin and loves to eat fattening food. I plan ahead and he has learned where not to take me. Best to you!

in n out no bun no cheese no sauce, still really good!

If you just must do fast food, skip the soda and get water instead- there are tons of empty calories in sodas. Sauces are real killers too- loaded down with fats. Try simple items like Chic-fil-a's 6-piece grilled chicken nuggets and bowl of fruit (in a kid's meal- less than $4.50). Or Taco Bell chicken fresco taco- only 150 calories (Get 2, and it's a 300 calorie meal for under $4). Basically, make the meal as basic (with as few extra stuff that doesn't do you much good like buns, sauces, and fries)
Also, you want to be really careful with salads. Sounds strange, I know, but Taco bell's salad includes a gigantic fried shell (fried= fat, shell=carbs and extra calories) as well as sour cream (fat), cheese (good for you but still: fat) and ranch dressing (I was shocked at how much fat is in ranch dressing!) I once looked at Taco Bell's menu and the salad was the least healthy thing on it!

What I like to do is keep an apple and/ or fiber one 90 calorie bar and a bottle of water with me as often as possible, because if I'm hungry I am likely to eat the worst things possible for the sake of eating now. And when I have dinner at home, I wrap up my simple meat (seasoned grilled chicken breast for example), throw some raw veggies in a ziploc (don't even need dressing if you toss them with pepper and a little salt), throw in a container of non-fat flavored greek yogurt (delicious, and packed with protien to keep you full), and I have a yummy, healthy lunch that takes less time to prepare than it takes to order, pay, and get food at the fastest drive through in town!

I'd order whatever contained the most meat and veggies and just ditch the starch.

I hear ya about budgets ... it ain't optimal nutrition by any means but eating Maccas (or wherever) daily does not have to make you fat ...

I don't agree that eating fast food "happens to everyone", you make it sound like people are taking you there against your will. Or perhaps I'm just lucky that doesn't happen to me.

Haha, fair point (: I suppose I just find myself there a lot seeing as I'm living off a teenage salary (nothing) and that's just usually the place where my friends decide is cheap enough to meet our income :P

Sometimes life happens outside of what has been planned.

well being a truck driver I am in the fast food scene all the time. if I have to order I just usually get a sandwich only no fries or extras. when eating the sandwich I usually take off one slice of bread and eat it that way. But I try to bring food from home it helps me alot.

Healthiest fast food lol seriously!?

Your better off making your meals at home, its not the calories that would bug me its the sodium in everything fast food is so massive that's what makes you say is it really worth eating this "healthy Fast food" crap to be bloated in the morning for a good 2 days +

It is so easy to surpass your calorie requirement as well, no one is going to eat 1 taco

Healthiest fast food lol seriously!?

Your better off making your meals at home, its not the calories that would bug me its the sodium in everything fast food is so massive that's what makes you say is it really worth eating this "healthy Fast food" crap to be bloated in the morning for a good 2 days +

It is so easy to surpass your calorie requirement as well, no one is going to eat 1 taco

And same goes for you. The whole point here is that if you're stuck in a situation where junk food is the only option (family pressure, lack of options, unexpected change in plans). I'm sure given the option, most people in this thread would rather go home and make something tastier/healthier.

Chick fil a has grilled chicken nuggets, sometimes I get a regular chicken sandwich with out fries. Arbys roas beef sandwich, Mcdonalds grilled chicken sandwich and a small fry. 2 tacos from taco bell ( no nachos with cheese )

eta: I love Mcdonalds banana nut blueberry oatmeal! yum!

Chick fil a Grilled nuggets are great!!!

** 6 count **
110 Calories
1.5g Fat
0g Fiber
0g Sugars
25g Protein

2 of my favorite splurges..

Burger King: Whopper Jr. - NO MAYO by saying NO MAYO you take off 100 calories!!! This usually takes care of my burger cravings.

Calories
260
Protein
14g
Carbohydrates
28g
Sugar
6g
Fat
10g
Saturated Fat
4g
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
35mg
Sodium
440mg

Since I can't carry ice cream in the house... b/c I know my weaknesses.... I like McDonald's Kiddie Cones - 45 calories.

sandwich no bun or bread.
i love getting burgers or chicken on shredded lettuce instead (or even throw it on a salad)
no ketchup, add mayo (less sugar) and pile on the veg!

no fries, of course.

Wendy's for sure! I LOVE their Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken! Yum!

My go-tos for the past couple of years:

Very fave: McD's Southwest Chicken Salad (grilled) with no chips. I don't even use the dressing (but I do save it and use it at home) as there is a lime glaze on the chicken and it tastes really good without.

Wendy's has a berry and almond chicken salad that's pretty good but a bit boring taste-wise compared to the one I mentioned above.

Subway's turkey or veggie/avocado on wheat with the "bread pulled" is another good one. Just ask and they will pull out the inside of the bread = reduced calories/carbs.

Chipotle is my FAV!!! You are in complete control of what goes in it!!! I think my bowl has like 600 calories if I splurge on the cheese, 500 with out the cheese. It lasts me 2 meals!!!!

I've done this in airports. It's not a bad option.