Low-Calorie Fast Food Options That You Can Try Now
Friday, May 10, 2019
Low-calorie fast food typically doesn't go together in a sentence but eating healthy at popular fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King, and even Dunkin' Donuts is possible by making smart eating choices.
In each of these suggestions below, the menu items are all under 400 calories each. Though many are hearty enough to make a full meal, consuming more than one or two of these items, adding fries or finishing the meal with a sugary soda will negate the health value.
Sure you can opt for the fast food salads, and there are some delicious fast food salads out there, but some actually have more fat and calories than the double-decker cheeseburgers.
Sure you can eat the yummy sandwich choices at Subway, with many under 500 calories for six-inch subs, but why limit yourself to salads and sandwiches all the time when other fast food restaurants offer healthier options too.
Taco Bell has even made their own diet out of their lower-calorie menu options, calling it the drive-thru diet. Using items from their Fresco menu, tacos and side items are all under 200 calories each by removing the fatty toppings like cheese and sour cream and replacing them with salsa, those watching their waistline can mix and match from seven menu items all under 9 grams of fat each.
What are the best healthy low-calorie fast food options? It is equally possible to eat healthily at other fast food restaurants, your calories may not get you as far. For instance, most small hamburgers at most restaurants even without cheese, mayonnaise or other premium toppings, will set you back between 300 and 400 calories.
Read also: 11 Low-Calorie Filling Foods Around Us
Grilled chicken is a better option than beef, but an entire large grilled chicken sandwich, once you add in the calories from the bun, veggies and a sauce, is equally as calorie-filled at around 350 to 400 calories, or more.
Here Are Some for Low-Calorie Fast Food Options:
In each of these suggestions below, the menu items are all under 400 calories each. Though many are hearty enough to make a full meal, consuming more than one or two of these items, adding fries or finishing the meal with a sugary soda will negate the health value.
Sure you can opt for the fast food salads, and there are some delicious fast food salads out there, but some actually have more fat and calories than the double-decker cheeseburgers.
Sure you can eat the yummy sandwich choices at Subway, with many under 500 calories for six-inch subs, but why limit yourself to salads and sandwiches all the time when other fast food restaurants offer healthier options too.
Taco Bell has even made their own diet out of their lower-calorie menu options, calling it the drive-thru diet. Using items from their Fresco menu, tacos and side items are all under 200 calories each by removing the fatty toppings like cheese and sour cream and replacing them with salsa, those watching their waistline can mix and match from seven menu items all under 9 grams of fat each.
What are the best healthy low-calorie fast food options? It is equally possible to eat healthily at other fast food restaurants, your calories may not get you as far. For instance, most small hamburgers at most restaurants even without cheese, mayonnaise or other premium toppings, will set you back between 300 and 400 calories.
Read also: 11 Low-Calorie Filling Foods Around Us
Grilled chicken is a better option than beef, but an entire large grilled chicken sandwich, once you add in the calories from the bun, veggies and a sauce, is equally as calorie-filled at around 350 to 400 calories, or more.
Here Are Some for Low-Calorie Fast Food Options:
1. Steak
It might not sound like the place to get great grilled salads but Steak n’ Shake has a better offering of fresh, green food than most fast food restaurants.
Typical grilled and fried chicken salads are on the menu but in addition, a Southwest and Apple Pecan variety are also offered.
If you want to spoil yourself with a big, greasy and thick steak burger, being able to get some healthy food in the same place is pretty nice. The water in the lettuce will cut through the grease in the sandwich at least, something which will make each bite more enjoyable.
Meals here start around $6 but they do have a 4 Meals Under $4 menu which is also great if you’re looking for cheap low-calorie fast food options.
2. Dunkins' Donuts
You might not think it at first, but Dunkin’ Donuts is actually a pretty good choice if you’re looking for low-calorie fast food. Granted, they do have some delectable donuts, all of which score understandably high on calorie counts.
However, they also have selections like the egg white flatbread sandwich, as well as other biscuits, bagels and more. That first selection is especially healthy and makes a great small meal to get you going in the morning, really the perfect breakfast.
Much of the food offered at Dunkin’ Donuts is healthier than the donuts they sell. Getting grub costs less than $4 here but if you’re looking for some coffee too you should expect to pay more.
3. McDonald's Salads
While McDonald’s doesn’t really offer much variety on their salad menu, you can always bring something from home and add it to the mix without them knowing if you want to.
They have the usual Caesar salad which isn’t anything too special and they don’t really make an effort to spice it up either. Their chicken salads come with either grilled or crispy chicken and this is where you can cut the calories of your McDonald’s meal in half.
Grilled meat is immeasurably healthier than fried – keep that in mind when dining outside of McDonald’s as well and you can cut calories with ease. For about $5, you might get full.
4. Chipotle Mexican Grill
While Chipotle might not offer food which is exactly healthier than other fast food options, the thing of it is they use flats, tortillas and other thin alternatives to bread.
There are lots of calories in the typical bun and by flattening it out, cutting carbs out of almost any sandwich is a thing of ease. Burritos, tacos, tortas, and bowls are all better alternatives to the traditional sandwich because they contain fewer carbohydrates even with all the other ingredients that make them great still present.
This is a step in the right direction for low-calorie fast food at least. You can eat for about $6.
Read also: 6 High Carb Low-Calorie Foods: Easy to Get
5. Chick-fil-A Salads
You might not think of salads when you think of Chick-fil-A, but then they don’t make a big deal of advertising the low-calorie options on their menu.
They have a perfectly average cole slaw which is admittedly awesome with fresh fried chicken. The carrot and raisin salad get more mixed reviews, however.
While eating at Chick-fil-A, you must take advantage of the fact you’re eating one of the leanest meats on the market and go for grilled instead of fried whenever you can. The chicken soup and side salad combo is surprisingly good but costs about $8.
Not feeling like eating a salad? Try their yummy grilled chicken sandwich instead.
Fast food has developed a bad reputation over the years for being high in calories and fat. Plus, it’s not always made with the finest ingredients.
While your best bet is to avoid fast food as often as possible, life happens and the convenience and speed factor of picking up a quick meal at the drive-thru is sometimes just too tempting.
Luckily, you don’t have to let those trips to the restaurant ruin your diet – or your health! By making smart, low-calorie fast food options you can enjoy your food without the guilt!
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