"Healthy" fast food??

AbbysMom

At Abby's beck and call
Thread starter
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
78,303
Purraise
19,406
Location
Massachusetts
OK, so there really is no such thing, but if your only option is fast food, what do you feel are some of the healthier choices?

I try to order a lower fat salad, and prefer Wendy's salads to McDonalds. I do go to KFC and get the roasted chicken twisters. The grilled chicken sandwiches from Wendy's are something else I occasionally order.

What do you order when you are trying to eat better?
 

valanhb

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
32,530
Purraise
100
Location
Lakewood (Denver suburb), Colorado
On paper, the grilled chicken sandwiches aren't that bad for you IF you don't get the mayo/sauce in the amount that they put on it (which can vary from barely there to slopping off the bun!). I can't stand a dry sandwich, but it's easy to just ask for the packets of mayo or honey-mustard so you can control how much you actually put on it. French fries are my weakness, and really those are the killers to eating healthy.
 

ugaimes

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
6,482
Purraise
3
Location
Savannah, GA
When I'm trying to eat better I avoid eating out all together

But if I must get fast food, I get a grilled chicken salad from Chick-Fil-A or a low carb wrap from Arby's. I also like those "fast food" Japanese places that offer things like white rice and grilled shrimp- yummy and healthy!
 

katspixiedust

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 7, 2005
Messages
3,014
Purraise
5
Location
Ormond Beach/Orlando, FL
I would head to chick-fil-a and get a grilled chicken sandwich (which just comes with lettuce and tomato, no sauce) on a whole wheat bun, then change the fries to a fruit cup and get a bottled water. I used to do that quite often when I was working over Christmas break and didn't have a chance to make myself a healthy lunch before leaving home.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

AbbysMom

At Abby's beck and call
Thread starter
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
78,303
Purraise
19,406
Location
Massachusetts
Originally Posted by valanhb

French fries are my weakness, and really those are the killers to eating healthy.
I admit to posting this thread after scarfing down some french fries.
My eating habits have been horrible lately and I need to get back on track.

I wish we had a Chick-Fil-A in this area.
 

alaynna

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
1,922
Purraise
1
Great question!! I have started a healthier lifestyle since the beginning of this year.....before I go to a resturant or fast food place I go to the website of the place and see what I can eat....I love captain d's because they have 3 low calorie choices
 

arlyn

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
9,306
Purraise
50
Location
Needles, CA
I avoid breaded chicken.
Kind of redundant to have breaded chicken on bread.

Usually I opt for Subway, Quiznos or even Arby's deli sandwiches.
 

phenomsmom

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
10,462
Purraise
11
Location
In training
Originally Posted by katspixiedust

I would head to chick-fil-a and get a grilled chicken sandwich (which just comes with lettuce and tomato, no sauce) on a whole wheat bun, then change the fries to a fruit cup and get a bottled water. I used to do that quite often when I was working over Christmas break and didn't have a chance to make myself a healthy lunch before leaving home.
Those are soo good!! Becareful with your salads though. I was reading in Women's Health that at wendys you shuld get a classic single with no mayo and its less calories than a chicken salad!
 

alaynna

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
1,922
Purraise
1
Oh yeah and a great website to check the nutrition info is dietfacts.com....you can check most of the fast food places to see how many calories is in the food
 

babyharley

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 17, 2005
Messages
25,708
Purraise
2
Location
Minnesota
Usually when I go to McDonalds, I get the fruit & walnut salad - its just apples and grapes and walnuts, SO yummy! And then I usually get a grilled chicken sandwich or hamburger (plain-I am so picky!) I know those arent so healthy, but at least I don't get the fries, and get the fruit instead
 

katspixiedust

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 7, 2005
Messages
3,014
Purraise
5
Location
Ormond Beach/Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

Those are soo good!! Becareful with your salads though. I was reading in Women's Health that at wendys you shuld get a classic single with no mayo and its less calories than a chicken salad!
Yeah I would never get a salad at a fast food restaurant. It's very deceiving. Salads at most fast food places are the same way, very high in calories so it really saves you nothing.
 

katiemae1277

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 28, 2005
Messages
20,445
Purraise
17
Location
NE OH
If I'm feeling the need for a healthy meal- not that it happens often
I will get the chicken BLT salad from Wendy's with the fat-free Honey mustard- even withe bacon and cheese its gotta be better than a jr bacon cheeseburger, nuggets and fries
the salads at Mcdonald's are worse than eating a Big Mac!
 

evnshawn

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
May 2, 2005
Messages
978
Purraise
2
Location
Kansas City
I am picky about salad. My salads have to have lots of veggies, and I want lettuce that's greener than iceberg. Preferably spring greens. So usually I don't get a salad if I'm eating fast food.

Subway is great for eating healthy because you have control over what goes on your sandwich, AND they have so many veggies. We tend to think so much about what NOT to eat that I think sometimes we forget that food is fuel and we need to make sure that we do eat the right stuff.
 

jeanor

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 15, 2005
Messages
1,687
Purraise
3
Location
According to my husband... the zoo
Lately, I have really been enjoying Arby's Turkey, Bacon & Ranch Wrap. People always laugh when I say this, but the food is 'real' food, like the cheese, is actually a slice of cheddar cheese, bacon - real bacon, etc. I looks and tastes just as it would if you made it in your own kitchen. I haven't checked the calories, but it is on the healthier end of fast food.

I also think Subway is healthier.

As far as KFC goes, they are among the worst fast food restaurants. Someone had a little calorie guide here of fast food and KFC was by far the worst.
 

rockcat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 6, 2002
Messages
6,665
Purraise
18
Location
The Spacecoast
Well... I don't do fast food often. I would say about the healthiest I do is the 7 layer burrito from Taco Bell.
 

gailc

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
11,567
Purraise
13
Location
Wisconsin
I really don't do fast food either!! When I traveled for my old job I would usually stop at a local grocery store and pick up a deli sandwich, fruit etc. Or some grocery stores have hot food/soup in their deli's which were much tastier that fast food stuff!! Many towns where pretty small so no fast food restaurants.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
only salads without dressing bacon cheese or breaded meats are really healthy... the ave fast food salad has the same and in some cases more fat and calories than a cheesburger....

I try for subway at least I control what s on it ... I love japanese fast food
 

lionessrampant

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 14, 2005
Messages
4,161
Purraise
6
Location
Windy City Kitty :)
You can get a tortilla-less, vegan or vegetarian burrito bowl at Chipotle that will fill you up and have all of the protein you need to stay energized, but (and you can't get meat or ideally, cheese and if you're a huge calorie counter, guac) they only use fresh veggies, rice and beans, so it's healthy
 

sweetiecat3

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
2,721
Purraise
1
Location
US
Subway - eat fresh!!

I wonder how healthy it really is? People generalize all fast food as unhealthy & fatty, but seriously, how fatty & calorie-rich could a 6-inch turkey sandwich be??

Well it's better than McDonald's at least....

I also LOVE Arby's, though what I order is not usually healthy. I always get curly fries & a plain roastbeef sandwich. But it's soo good!
 

sweets

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 4, 2003
Messages
1,671
Purraise
1
Location
Living in the land of not enough time
Subway is great for eating healthy because you have control over what goes on your sandwich
I've called for a boycott of Subway with all my friends. We've noticed that at Subway you get 2 slices of meat on your sub. It has happened at 3 stores so far! They take a slice of meat and cut it in quarters! Then they put 8 quarters on your bread. Cheese is 1/2 of a slice! I"m not going to pay more money at Subway than I am if I go to a sub shop and get half the amount of meat! Their sandwiches are not worth the money.

If you want to eat healthy, make an extra portion of dinner and pack it for lunch the next day or 2 days later.
 
Top