"Healthy" fast food options?

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Replies

  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    I am always trying to figure a good protein to calorie ratio when I eat fast food. Taste, protein, and calories are important.

    The Wendy's Double Stack wins hands down with 400 calories for 27 grams of protein. It wins because it is a burger.

    Second place goes to the McDonald's Southwest salad with grilled chicken, without the salad dressing, which is 290 calories for 27 grams of protein. Because I don't like this salad without the salad dressing, it comes in second place. Also it loses because it is not a burger. For this reason, I tend to go with the third option if at a McDonald's, which is the McDouble, which is 390 calories and 23 grams of protein.

    For my macro goals and my need for fats in my diet, the burger is almost always my better choice.

    I don't eat fast food very often, but these items fit into my diet and macros with very little interruption.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Chipotle.


    Everything else is inferior.


    Well, except maybe Jimmy John's...


    ...and Five Guys...


    ...but that's it.


    Oh, and In and Out Burger.
  • sunshyncatra
    sunshyncatra Posts: 598 Member
    Grocery stores often have single ready made salads at the front of the store. That is my go-to option for that situation.
  • Cassierocksalot
    Cassierocksalot Posts: 266 Member
    I made a pact with myself 4 years ago that I wouldn't eat anywhere with a Drive Through.... While I've held mostly true to that, I will splurge on an In and Out Protein Style Double Meat No Cheese every once in a while (like once or twice a year). After not eating any of it for so long and cooking everything from scratch at home, you don't even want to see what happens to me when I get some fast food preservatives in my tummy.

    I will do a Chipotle salad every once in a while too, but I have gone to their website and built my favorite concoction so I'm not surprised with how many calories I've just fed myself. Other than that I try to find a grocery store like many other folks have suggested.
  • chinatbag
    chinatbag Posts: 249 Member
    I always opt for anything low-carb, skip the fries etc if I can. I try not to eat fast food. Even if I do and end up getting a salad of sorts, half packet of the dressing is plenty for cutting out the calories. Always opt for full fat dressings instead of fat free dressings (if you look at the nutritional info, you'll see that it's only about 10 calories more and has 1-2 grams of carbs vs 20+ grams of carbs on the fat free version).

    Reasons why I opt for low-carb:

    1) Foods high in carbs are not very filling and are also calorie dense.
    2) Fat doesn't make you fat, excessive calories do.
    3) I find that eating bread or pasta usually gives me a stomach ache later.
  • AzL99
    AzL99 Posts: 10 Member
    Taco Bell Fresco Chicken Soft Tacos or Subway, 6" 9 Grain Honey Wheat, Turkey & Swiss with a crap ton of veggies, swiss cheese light mayo & mustard
  • kglading
    kglading Posts: 80 Member
    Subway Salad, or a lettuce wrapped sandwich from Jimmy Johns! The best =)
  • karenmetfan
    karenmetfan Posts: 62 Member
    I try to plan ahead and pack something. Since I'm going to be in my car, I pack a yogurt, some peanut butter and a bunch of fruit. Saves money, it's healthy and its yummy :)
  • SurfyFriend
    SurfyFriend Posts: 362 Member
    Fruit. Pre packaged and you can even eat the wrapper.

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