Yes, it is possible to order food that’s is both nutritious and filling at fast-food restaurants. Chains like Chipotle and Papa John’s allow customers the opportunity to eat healthy.
Here is a great list of fast-food choices from popular chains that will keep you full and feeling energized without being bad for your health.
Chipotle – Chicken Burrito Bowl
The Chicken Burrito Bowl that comes with brown rice and pinto beans, and has no cheese or sour cream, contains only 500 calories.
Chipotle is great because it’s fresh and can contain fewer calories than many other fast-food options. Skip the cheese and sour cream. You can have a little bit of guacamole because these come with healthy fats.
500 calories is sufficient. It’s not too low, nor too high. An order of chipotle contains 42g of protein. This is a huge amount and great at strengthening muscles and making you feel full.
The 13.5g of fat in the meal is kind of high while the 57g of carbohydrates is approximately a third of the recommended daily allowance. As for sodium content, the 805mg is a bit less than half the recommended daily allowance.
In-N-Out – Cheeseburger that Comes with Ketchup and Onion
Go for mustard instead of spread as well and you can get this order down to 480 calories. By switching from the special sauce to a bit of ketchup and mustard instead, you cut down on fat and calories. Also, do go for a regular burger, as opposed to a Double-Double.
The 480 calories in this meal is not high, nor low. The 22g of protein is a great quantity to build muscles and leave you feeling full. As for the fat content of 27g, this is a bit high.
This order comes with 41g of carbs, about 14 percent of the recommended daily allowance. The sodium content of 1080mg nearly makes up half of the recommended daily allowance.
Chick-fil-A – Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap
Chick-fil-A changed its menu last year. They added plenty of healthy options like this. This wrap comes with 340 calories, a low amount for a lunch meal. You can also add yogurt, fresh fruit or a small salad. It comes with 36g of protein which is a lot and a good thing.
The 13g of fat in this meal is neither too high nor low. The carb content of 30g is a bit low. The salt content is 900mg, approximately 50 % of the recommended daily allowance.
Shake Shack – Chicken Dog or Single Hamburger
The hamburger comes with 360 calories which is low for a lunch meal. You can add yogurt, some fresh fruit or a small salad. It comes with 26g of protein which is a great amount.
The fat content of 17g is high but still in the proper range. This meal comes with 25g of carbs which is low and the 460mg of salt is also low.
As for the chicken dog, it comes with 300 calories. That’s a low amount for a lunch meal. The protein content of 26g is a great amount to build muscles and leave you feeling full.
As for the fat content, 11g is neither high nor low. 32g of carbs is also neither too high nor too low. And when it comes to salt, the 970mg in this meal is just a bit below half the daily allowance.
Taco Bell – Fresco Chicken Burrito Supreme
Taco Bell now offers healthier meals, thanks to the “Fresco” menu. The 340 calories in this meal is low for a lunch meal. Add some yogurt, fresh fruit or a small salad if you wish. The 19g of protein is a great amount.
As for the fat content, 8g is just right. The 49g of carbs is about 16 percent of the recommended daily allowance. For salt, 1060mg is about half the daily allowance.
Panera – Smoked Turkey Breast Sandwich on Country
Panera offers plenty of delicious and healthy items for lunch. Choose from the “You Pick Two” menu so you get to try a half sandwich and also a small salad. You can also go for a full sandwich. This has 430 calories, a healthy amount.
The 33g of protein in this meal is a lot so you get to build muscles and feel full. It contains 3.5g of fat which is low. The 67g of carbs in this is a bit high so don’t snack a lot during the day.
As for the 1790mg of salt, that’s a bit high.
Wendy’s – Asian Cashew Chicken Salad
Don’t think that all of Wendy’s salads are healthy. The Asian Cashew Chicken, however, is one of the best choices. It has a low amount of 380 calories and a good amount of protein at 36g.
As for the fat content, 14g is a bit high but not high enough to ruin this meal. The 32g of carbs is also high so be careful with your snacks. The salt content of 1070mg is about 50 % of the daily allowance.
Papa John’s – Garden Fresh Pizza
Be careful of ordering from pizza-chains because plenty of the items have lots of salt. A diet high in salt is not good for your heart. If you love pizza and want to indulge in a day, watch your salt intake in your other meals during the day.
The 400 calories in this meal is low. As for protein, 16g is a great amount to build muscles and leave you feeling full. The fat content of 14g is just right.
You’ll find 54g of carbs here and that’s high so don’t snack on carb-rich snacks after this meal. The salt content of 980mg is less than 50 % of the daily allowance.
McDonald’s – Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich
This meal is one of the healthiest items at McDonald’s. Choose a sandwich with grilled meat, as opposed to fried meat. Don’t add mayo to this meal if you want to lessen the fat you eat. This sandwich has a low amount of 360 calories. You can add a yogurt, fresh fruit or a small salad. The protein content of 33g is a great amount to build muscles and leave you feeling full.
This meal has an appropriate amount of 6g of fat and the 43g of carbs is about 14 percent of the daily allowance. The salt content of 960mg is less than half the daily allowance.
