Fast Food Go To Meal

MindyBlack
MindyBlack Posts: 954 Member
edited October 3 in Food and Nutrition
When, no matter how well you planned, you just have to stop for fast food what do you choose?
My "go to meal" is a Wendy's chili, 2 packs of crackers and a water. I'd like to get some new ideas though. What else is out there that will not cost a day's worth of calories, fat and sodium?

Replies

  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    If you want protein and don't mind a little extra sodium, a plain Tendergrill at BK would be the way to go. If you want less sodium, get the Jr. Whopper no cheese or mayo (for even less sodium, without the bun!)

    Don't forget the Apple Fries! Only 25 calories without the caramel.
  • Pickedlast4gym
    Pickedlast4gym Posts: 41
    Chik fil a, my daughter woeks there...they have agreat grilled option, skip the sauce. They will also give you grilled tenders...just ask
  • mkallie
    mkallie Posts: 110 Member
    I usually get a snack wrap from somewhere with grilled chicken, no cheese if I'm feeling responsible. If I'm really hungry, I'll toss in a yogurt or parfait too.
  • quill16
    quill16 Posts: 373 Member
    I swear by Mc Donalds's grilled chicken on Bacon Ranch salad with light Balsamic Vinergarette dressing and water
    only 270 calories total. It is alittle high in salt but if fast food is a must it works, I especially use this when travelling... easy to find

    110 lbs lost so far since Nov.2010
  • Wolf1024
    Wolf1024 Posts: 3 Member
    Well, today I went to Chipotle, and I had a salad bowl, No dressing. It was chicken, romaine lettuce, pinto beans, and tomato salsa. All in all it was 340 calories, 29g carbs, 8g fat, and 41g protein. It was really good, and I didn't get overly full, and felt fantastic afterwards. Oh, and a bottle of water. :D
  • OSUloulou
    OSUloulou Posts: 74 Member
    My go to meal on the run is Chipolte vegetarian bowl: rice, black beans, corn salsa, little bit of gauc and lettuce. That sustains me for a long time
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    1. Chipotle Bowl w/ brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, carnitas (or chicken), salsa, corn lettuce, no cheese, no sour cream.
    Chipotle calculator: http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

    2. Jimmy John's #12 Beach Club - no cheese, no mayo, 2x turkey
    JJ Calculator: http://jimmyjohns.com/menu/nutrition.aspx

    Your sodium will still be through the roof though.
  • sunkisses
    sunkisses Posts: 2,365 Member
    Taco Bell - crunchy Fresco taco, pintos & cheese, diet Pepsi
  • MindyBlack
    MindyBlack Posts: 954 Member
    Well, today I went to Chipotle, and I had a salad bowl, No dressing. It was chicken, romaine lettuce, pinto beans, and tomato salsa. All in all it was 340 calories, 29g carbs, 8g fat, and 41g protein. It was really good, and I didn't get overly full, and felt fantastic afterwards. Oh, and a bottle of water. :D

    Oh my gosh! How I love Chipotle! Thanks!
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    1. Chipotle Bowl w/ brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, salsa, corn, avocado, lettuce (no cheese, no sour cream).

    2. Taco Bell bean burrito with no cheese + extra onions.

    3. If I'm really low on calories left in the day, Taco Bell Pintos with no cheese + extra onions + fresco salsa
  • shaj316
    shaj316 Posts: 161
    If you count Panda Express, the beef and broccoli is really really low in cals. You can eat a lot of it...

    When I just have to have a spicy chicken from Wendy's, I get it but skip their mayo...I'll bring it home and take teaspoon of blue cheese dressing to it. I'll usually have a few crackers to substitute for fries.
  • MindyBlack
    MindyBlack Posts: 954 Member
    My go to meal on the run is Chipolte vegetarian bowl: rice, black beans, corn salsa, little bit of gauc and lettuce. That sustains me for a long time

    OSU as in The Ohio State University? I guess there could be other options, nah.
    Thanks Loulou, I love Chipotle too. I just haven't braved it for a while.
  • MindyBlack
    MindyBlack Posts: 954 Member
    1. Chipotle Bowl w/ brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, carnitas (or chicken), salsa, corn lettuce, no cheese, no sour cream.
    Chipotle calculator: http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

    2. Jimmy John's #12 Beach Club - no cheese, no mayo, 2x turkey
    JJ Calculator: http://jimmyjohns.com/menu/nutrition.aspx

    Your sodium will still be through the roof though.

    Oh wow! Thanks for the calculators. I don't think there is any way to eat out and not be high sodium though some choices are better than others.
  • yukimiyazawa
    yukimiyazawa Posts: 83 Member
    McDonald's: 4 piece nugget, fruit & yogurt parfait (without granola), side salad with fat free Italian, or a hamburger. I'll usually combine 2.

    Burger King: hamburger with value size onion ring.

    Wendy's: small chili, jr. hamburger, or side salad with fat free ranch.

    Taco Bell: 2 crunchy tacos or 1 bean burrito. an order of cinnamon twists is also one of the lowest calorie items on the menu.

    Subway: 6" turkey sub on Italian with mustard, lettuce, and black olives (no cheese).

    Any of the combinations I normally choose will get me by with around 400 calories. I could go even less if I were willing to substitute my onion rings at BK for their apple fries, for example, but I find them rather disgusting. If I have to sacrifice quantity for something I'll actually enjoy, I'll choose a smaller version of something really yummy. I find that I enjoy things more when I don't eat tons of it all the time, anyway.
  • deathstarclock
    deathstarclock Posts: 512 Member
    Yeah watch out for the sodium in Chipotle's salsas. That's an easy route to hypertension right thurrrr
  • solpwr
    solpwr Posts: 1,039 Member
    Mine are:

    6 inch Subway Ham with honey mustard dressing, 420 calories, but healthy (I get the cheese but you could leave it off).

    Taco Bell - Fresco chicken soft tacos (2 are 300 calories), low fat, healthy.

    McDonald's double hamburger no cheese is 330 calories, but high in fat, not really healthy.
  • Monica_has_a_goal
    Monica_has_a_goal Posts: 694 Member
    El Pollo loco CHicken leg, diet coke and loco salad without dressing (side of low cal cilantro dressing 1/2 packet) Yummmm :drinker:
  • Wolf1024
    Wolf1024 Posts: 3 Member
    No problem! It was pretty yummy too. You don't need the dressing because of the sauce from the pinto beans and the salsa. It was yummy. :D
  • Wolf1024
    Wolf1024 Posts: 3 Member
    1. Chipotle Bowl w/ brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, carnitas (or chicken), salsa, corn lettuce, no cheese, no sour cream.
    Chipotle calculator: http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

    2. Jimmy John's #12 Beach Club - no cheese, no mayo, 2x turkey
    JJ Calculator: http://jimmyjohns.com/menu/nutrition.aspx

    Your sodium will still be through the roof though.

    If you sub the lettuce wrap for the bread on the jimmy johns, it turns out really refreshing and awesome. I usually do the #12, but take off the cheese, mayo, and avocado. Then add some onions. Yummy!
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
    I swear by Mc Donalds's grilled chicken on Bacon Ranch salad with light Balsamic Vinergarette dressing and water
    only 270 calories total. It is alittle high in salt but if fast food is a must it works, I especially use this when travelling... easy to find

    THIS! And if I want Taco bell.... two Fresco Chicken soft tacos and an iced tea. 300 cals.
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    Yeah watch out for the sodium in Chipotle's salsas. That's an easy route to hypertension right thurrrr

    That's not true. Sodium is a consideration if you ALREADY have hypertension, but it does not cause it.
  • EmmaJean7
    EmmaJean7 Posts: 163 Member
    a good choice if you end up at sonic is their grilled chicken sandwich on wheat bread and a side of apple slices
  • deathstarclock
    deathstarclock Posts: 512 Member
    Wait, consuming too much sodium doesn't aid in high blood pressure?

    Edit: Because really, I was just saying that there salsas have alot of sodium. I am not claiming to be a doctor that has discovered that yes, high sodium intake WILL cause hypertension. I was kind of being silly on that second part of my OP :sad:
  • ScarlettVamp
    ScarlettVamp Posts: 828 Member
    I'm not much on fast food these days, but when I have no choice, I always go with:

    1) A grilled chicken sandwich with no sauce/mayo plus lettuce and tomato. I usually take half the bun off and the tomato keeps the sandwich from being too dry to eat.

    2) If they have a low fat/low cal dressing, I get salad with a lean protein, minus the cheese.

    Do they have Zaxby's up your way? If so, their grilled chicken salads are good and the calories aren't bad if you get them minus the fried onions/toast and use the light vinaigrette dressing. You could say "no cheese" and save a few more calories too.

    Chipotle is a great option too. If I have the calories, I get the burrito bowl with 1/2 the rice, steak (same calories as chicken there), lots of lettuce, corn salsa, green tomatillo Salsa, and a tiny sprinkle of cheese. If I get take out from Chipotle, I add my own light sour cream at home.
  • MindyBlack
    MindyBlack Posts: 954 Member
    I'm not much on fast food these days, but when I have no choice, I always go with:

    1) A grilled chicken sandwich with no sauce/mayo plus lettuce and tomato. I usually take half the bun off and the tomato keeps the sandwich from being too dry to eat.

    2) If they have a low fat/low cal dressing, I get salad with a lean protein, minus the cheese.

    Do they have Zaxby's up your way? If so, their grilled chicken salads are good and the calories aren't bad if you get them minus the fried onions/toast and use the light vinaigrette dressing. You could say "no cheese" and save a few more calories too.

    Chipotle is a great option too. If I have the calories, I get the burrito bowl with 1/2 the rice, steak (same calories as chicken there), lots of lettuce, corn salsa, green tomatillo Salsa, and a tiny sprinkle of cheese. If I get take out from Chipotle, I add my own light sour cream at home.

    No we don't have Zaxby's here but your other ideas are great. My dad lives in Tennessee and I saw first time fried onions on salad. We don't have that up here nor do they put okra and cole slaw on the table like it was crackers and biscuits, which is a shame cause I love me some fried okra.
    Chipotle's is the Barbocoa burrito. Kills me every time. But I do split it into two meals.
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