5 of the healthiest meals you can order at fast-food chains
Even you normally eat a healthy diet, sometimes fast food is unavoidable. Whether you’re running late, stuck in an airport or driving a long distance, sometimes your only option is a restaurant you just know isn’t good for you or your health.
When these situations arise, it’s good to be armed with knowledge. Obviously, nobody goes to McDonald’s for the nutritious food, but it is possible to find a reasonably healthy meal there and at plenty of other fast food spots as well. Here are five of the healthiest fast-food meals that will fill you up but won’t weigh you down.
1. Chipotle: Chicken Burrito Bowl With Brown Rice And Pinto Beans (550 calories)
2. Taco Bell: Fresco Soft Tacos (280 calories)
3. Chick-fil-A: Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap (350 calories)
4. Panda Express: Panda Bowl With Mixed Veggies And Mushroom Chicken (170 calories)
Walk right past the orange chicken at Panda Express. You don’t want to be eating fried nuggets of mystery meat coated in a sweet sauce—that’s a recipe for a massive sugar crash that will have you napping under your desk at work. While the Panda Bowl is still extremely high in sodium (clocking in at 840 milligrams), it’s still by far the healthiest option at this fast-food staple. You’ll have to skip rice or noodles which isn’t ideal, but in return you’ll get a good serving of protein that’s also low in fat.
5. McDonald’s: Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich (380 calories)
As of late, the Golden Arches have been introducing more and more calorie-conscious menu items. The grilled chicken sandwich is one of them, and while it’s not the most interesting option flavor-wise, it also won’t wreck your diet. Clocking in at under 400 calories, it’s not quite enough to fill you up for lunch or dinner, so pair it with something high in fiber and low in sodium to counteract the 1,100 milligrams of sodium in the sandwich. This means fruit or veggies, not fries (sorry). With 37 grams of protein, the sandwich is a good option for when you’re absolutely starving but don’t want to go overboard on calories.
Still hungry? Here are some other fast-food meals that won’t leave you feeling bloated and guilty after your meal. And yes, there’s even a pizza option on the list. Pizza Hut’s Garden-Party thin crust pizza comes in at 460 calories for two slices.
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Or you could indulge in two slices of Papa John’s Garden Fresh pizza for just 400 calories. If you add a side of their delicious garlic dipping sauce, that will up your calorie count a bit. But we’re not going to judge!
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