Fast Food; are there any heathy choices?
mycrazy8splus1
Posts: 1,558 Member
We only have one fast food joint in our town (Subway) but sometimes we go into a larger town/city and I was wondering if there are any healthy choices out there. We absolutely will not go to McNastys. We are not huge fans of BK or Wendy's but will go there if we have no other options. Would love to hear why you like/dislike a place when you answer this post. Thanks.
Edited: Calories aren't a huge issue. I am very active and normally come in way under calories. I would love to find a place that has real meat and not a bunch of fillers, the freshier the food the better, whole wheat options, Kosher options, ect. We aren't food Nazi's. We like to indulge in the occasional treat and all but if there are places out there that offer a better product I'd love to know. We eat Kosher at home but that is very hard to do on the road. I just heard about a place called Pita Pit that sounds good. Going to see if they have one in Denver.
Edited: Calories aren't a huge issue. I am very active and normally come in way under calories. I would love to find a place that has real meat and not a bunch of fillers, the freshier the food the better, whole wheat options, Kosher options, ect. We aren't food Nazi's. We like to indulge in the occasional treat and all but if there are places out there that offer a better product I'd love to know. We eat Kosher at home but that is very hard to do on the road. I just heard about a place called Pita Pit that sounds good. Going to see if they have one in Denver.
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Replies
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I dont know of anything specifically but for all fast food places they have the nutrition info of everything on their menu on their website0
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We only have one fast food joint in our town (Subway) but sometimes we go into a larger town/city and I was wondering if there are any healthy choices out there. We absolutely will not go to McNastys. We are not huge fans of BK or Wendy's but will go there if we have no other options. Would love to hear why you like/dislike a place when you answer this post. Thanks.
Could you please explain what you mean by the term "healthy" ?
I eat from all of those places occasionally. If it fits (into my cals/macros), I EATS.0 -
I am a fan of Chick-Fil-A's wraps. I eat them without the full of fat dressings. I forget the calorie count that way, but it is not many. Wendy's has some decent salads too, again without or with very little of their dressing.0
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I always try to opt for the salad, even at places like Subway. If I decide to get a sandwich I get a side salad instead of fries.
Wendy's has a terrific Berry Almond Salad right now.
Carl's Jr. offers turkey burgers and I always get them "low carb style" --which means they leave off the bun and wrap them in lettuce leaves-- and minus the mayo and get a side salad with balsamic dressing instead of fries. It comes in at about 220 calories, total.
ETA: I just saw Chick-Fil-A and forgot to mention their grilled chicken salad which is awesome. We had one in the cafeteria at work until a little while ago. Salad plus low-cal Italian was about 180 calories and the salad is romaine with broccoli, tomatoes, carrots and shredded cheddar and comes with sunflower seeds.0 -
We only have one fast food joint in our town (Subway) but sometimes we go into a larger town/city and I was wondering if there are any healthy choices out there. We absolutely will not go to McNastys. We are not huge fans of BK or Wendy's but will go there if we have no other options. Would love to hear why you like/dislike a place when you answer this post. Thanks.
You could modify anything and everything you eat; even @ a Fast Food place.
For example sometimes (not always) I will have a lettuce wrap burger.
I leave off chees and mayo and mustard.
Choose a salad and have the dressing on the side.
Share that side of fries and shake.
BUT there should be no off limit foods ... moderation and portion control.0 -
I always like when people say "healthy" choices. I by no means eat clean diet, eat McDonald's and Taco Bell at least once a week, and yet somehow meeting my macros, my diet is considered "healthy".
Over consumption of any macro will inherently lead to fat gain, and may cause health issues. Fast food places have HIGH CALORIE meals. Get a meal and split it with someone for half the calories.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
If you find a Pita Pit, you can get a huge sandwich wrap for only about 300 calories by choosing hummus or baba ganoush and lots of veggies.0
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Why are there only fast food restaurants in the larger town? I am not a big fan of fast food since I have to walk everywhere in the city and there are no drive-thrus so the convenience factor is out the window. Oh, but if it's Taco Bell, then I eat every damn thing that I can.0
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We only have one fast food joint in our town (Subway) but sometimes we go into a larger town/city and I was wondering if there are any healthy choices out there. We absolutely will not go to McNastys. We are not huge fans of BK or Wendy's but will go there if we have no other options. Would love to hear why you like/dislike a place when you answer this post. Thanks.
Could you please explain what you mean by the term "healthy" ?
I eat from all of those places occasionally. If it fits (into my cals/macros), I EATS.
I would love to find a place that has real meat and not a bunch of fillers, the freshier the food the better, whole wheat options, Kosher options, ect. We aren't food Nazi's. We like to indulge in the occasional treat and all but if there are places out there that offer a better product I'd love to know. We eat Kosher at home but that is very hard to do on the road. I just heard about a place called Pita Pit that sounds good. Going to see if they have one in Denver.0 -
I am not sure if you consider Panera "fast food" but they have a few salads that are decent in calories. I love the Thai Chopped Chicken salad, I think it is 460 calories for the whole salad (they also sell a half version).
I personally like their food over most "fast food" because their chicken is hormone free
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I love the grilled chicken salads at wendy's- just make sure you look at the calories in those dressings they give you before you pour them on your salad because if they are out of the correct dressing they might give you a regular high calorie dressing in its place. ( the apple chicken pecan grilled chicken salad and the almond berry chicken salad are delicious, the dressing they are supposed to come with is okay and the salads total 570 or 460 respectively in calories including that one packet of dressing)0
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Although I agree with what ninerbuff is saying. I don't believe that's the right advice for the general public. As fitness professionals we are able to handle the idea of macros far better then the average person attempting fitness.
Niner- most people lack that self control which is why they are in the position they are in. As a trainer, I'm sure you understand that.I always like when people say "healthy" choices. I by no means eat clean diet, eat McDonald's and Taco Bell at least once a week, and yet somehow meeting my macros, my diet is considered "healthy".
Over consumption of any macro will inherently lead to fat gain, and may cause health issues. Fast food places have HIGH CALORIE meals. Get a meal and split it with someone for half the calories.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
If you find a Pita Pit, you can get a huge sandwich wrap for only about 300 calories by choosing hummus or baba ganoush and lots of veggies.
Someone else mentioned that place some where else and I'm going to look into them. Thanks.0 -
To answer the original question - chipotle is always a decent go to. Salads or bol's,0
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I am not sure if you consider Panera "fast food" but they have a few salads that are decent in calories. I love the Thai Chopped Chicken salad, I think it is 460 calories for the whole salad (they also sell a half version).
I personally like their food over most "fast food" because their chicken is hormone free
hormone free sounds great to me! Thanks!0 -
There are places that do that..............................they just aren't called FAST FOOD restaurants.We only have one fast food joint in our town (Subway) but sometimes we go into a larger town/city and I was wondering if there are any healthy choices out there. We absolutely will not go to McNastys. We are not huge fans of BK or Wendy's but will go there if we have no other options. Would love to hear why you like/dislike a place when you answer this post. Thanks.
Could you please explain what you mean by the term "healthy" ?
I eat from all of those places occasionally. If it fits (into my cals/macros), I EATS.
I would love to find a place that has real meat and not a bunch of fillers, the freshier the food the better, whole wheat options, Kosher options, ect. We aren't food Nazi's. We like to indulge in the occasional treat and all but if there are places out there that offer a better product I'd love to know. We eat Kosher at home but that is very hard to do on the road. I just heard about a place called Pita Pit that sounds good. Going to see if they have one in Denver.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I always like when people say "healthy" choices. I by no means eat clean diet, eat McDonald's and Taco Bell at least once a week, and yet somehow meeting my macros, my diet is considered "healthy".
Over consumption of any macro will inherently lead to fat gain, and may cause health issues. Fast food places have HIGH CALORIE meals. Get a meal and split it with someone for half the calories.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
what macros are most important to track? I stopped tracking sugar because I eat a lot of fruit and was always over on that one. Those red numbers drive me crazy!! lol0 -
most places lettuce wrap items now, so do that. get grilled chicken, no cheese take of the mayo off and or get something that isn't fried.
that's about the best you can do... well the best I can do lol lots of places have fruit items for kids apple slices etc.0 -
I always like when people say "healthy" choices. I by no means eat clean diet, eat McDonald's and Taco Bell at least once a week, and yet somehow meeting my macros, my diet is considered "healthy".
Over consumption of any macro will inherently lead to fat gain, and may cause health issues. Fast food places have HIGH CALORIE meals. Get a meal and split it with someone for half the calories.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
depends on what your goals are but generally protein fat and carbs.. some people do sodium cholesterol etc
what macros are most important to track? I stopped tracking sugar because I eat a lot of fruit and was always over on that one. Those red numbers drive me crazy!! lol0 -
Taco Bell's fresco menu is just fine. For burger king, they have a veggie burger which actually is really good.
Won't touch chic-fil-a for personal convictions, same with McD.0 -
Actually I believe more that most people disregard that fact that they over consume and that's why we have the issues today. Educating is part of what this site is about and if I can get people here to research and understand about macro and micronutrients, then it's a step to probably helping them achieve their goals easier.Although I agree with what ninerbuff is saying. I don't believe that's the right advice for the general public. As fitness professionals we are able to handle the idea of macros far better then the average person attempting fitness.
Niner- most people lack that self control which is why they are in the position they are in. As a trainer, I'm sure you understand that.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
burger king and wendys are ok. If you know your eating fast food then just make the rest of the day cleaner. Wendys has a good app that ask you how many calories you want to eat and they give you options.0
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Go with the value menu instead of combos. Take off half the bun, or get a lettuce wrap. There is NOTHING wrong with cheese people. A Jr cheese burger delux at Wendys is only 300 cals even if you don't make any changes, a soft taco supreme at taco bell is only 230. 2 of those and you are good to go.
I like Carl's Jr. I get their guacamole bacon $6 burger low carb style without the santa fe sauce (not necessary with the guac). It's a bit less than 5 bucks, very filling, feels like cheating and is only 570 cals. You could get a regular $6 burger with a lettuce wrap for fewer calories, but guacamole is amazing.
Regular roast beef sandwiches (or get 3 jrs and take the meat from one and spread between the last two for more food for your money) at arbys are low calorie and delicious. Don't fall for their market fresh sandwiches.
Chipotle tacos or bowls.
KFC grilled chicken.
Really, just decide where you want to go, then look at their nutritional menu and make your choice. Only you know how many cals, what kind of macros etc you have to spend.0 -
Taco Bell has good options, but they don't show up in their drive through menu. Their fresco tacos have 150 calories. I love the sweet chili McWrap at McDonald's for 360 calories too (and their salads are not bad either, 200ish calories with grilled chicken and they have some low fat dressings, which I think Burger King does not).
I've never found a good option at Burger King and Wendy's, as they have no low fat/low calories dressing at all, and the salads themselves are like 400 calories. I heard the chili at Wendy's is ok but I'm not too fond of that.0 -
If you like chili, Wendy's chili is amazing and healthy. I love it! I've paired a small chili with a plain baked potato before and its great. They also have salads that may not be that healthy if you eat a whole one, but they have the option to get half a salad. If I'm trying to make healthy choices, Wendy's is where we eat. Taco Bell isn't too shabby either if you go fresco style.0
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Although I agree with what ninerbuff is saying. I don't believe that's the right advice for the general public. As fitness professionals we are able to handle the idea of macros far better then the average person attempting fitness.
Niner- most people lack that self control which is why they are in the position they are in. As a trainer, I'm sure you understand that.
Wow, that is really condescending. Do you really think we non-professionals are too stupid to understand the "idea" of carbs, protein, fats and keeping these in balance??0 -
I recently went on chipotles website and they are very detail in their ingredient list. Which I can really appreciate, they have brown rice and good local meat ( I think I remember correctly) and fresh vegs0
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I'm fond of rice bowl places. There's a small chain in my area called Fugi Grill where you can get a spicy tuna bowl at just above 400 calories, I could eat it everyday and be happy. Flame Broiler would probably be decent as well, and Chipotle.0
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Although I agree with what ninerbuff is saying. I don't believe that's the right advice for the general public. As fitness professionals we are able to handle the idea of macros far better then the average person attempting fitness.
Niner- most people lack that self control which is why they are in the position they are in. As a trainer, I'm sure you understand that.
Wow, that is really condescending. Do you really think we non-professionals are too stupid to understand the "idea" of carbs, protein, fats and keeping these in balance??
As a non-professional, with many non-professional friends and family, I would say the answer is very often yes. Though I think it is more a matter of ignorance and/or laziness than stupidity.0 -
No food is inherently unhealthy. This includes fast food.0
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