Fast food often gets a bad rap for being unhealthy, loaded with calories, fat, and sodium. But what if you could enjoy the convenience of fast food without compromising your health? The good news is, many fast food restaurants offer healthier alternatives, and some chains even prioritize nutritious options. So, the real question is: What Is The Healthiest Fast Food Restaurant?
While moderation is key in any diet, making informed choices at fast food establishments allows you to indulge occasionally without derailing your healthy lifestyle. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, maintain a balanced diet, or simply make better food choices, several fast food chains stand out for their commitment to offering healthier options. Let’s explore some of the top contenders for the title of “healthiest fast food restaurant” and highlight some of the most nutritious choices they offer.
15 Fast Food Restaurants With Healthy Options
1. Panera Bread
Panera Bread consistently ranks as one of the healthiest fast food restaurants. Their menu boasts a variety of salads featuring fresh vegetables, providing a lighter, lower-calorie meal. Be mindful of salad dressing calories, opting for lighter vinaigrettes or asking for dressing on the side. For a more substantial meal, top your salad with grilled chicken. Panera also offers sandwiches and soups, with grilled chicken sandwiches being a great option for a light lunch. Watch out for dishes loaded with cream, cheese, or sugar, as these tend to be higher in calories and fat. Whenever possible, choose wholegrain bread and consider an apple as a side instead of chips.
2. Taco Bell
Surprisingly, Taco Bell can be a surprisingly healthy choice. With a menu that’s about 75% under 500 calories, it offers a quick and relatively guilt-free meal. Taco Bell also caters to various dietary needs, providing vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and low-calorie options. A great way to lighten up any menu item is to order it “Fresco-Style,” which replaces mayo-based sauces, cheese, and sour cream with diced tomatoes. This simple swap can bring a soft taco down to just 160 calories or a Burrito Supreme to 340 calories.
3. Chick-Fil-A
Despite its reputation for fried chicken, Chick-Fil-A is one of the healthiest fast food restaurants thanks to its diverse menu. While it’s easy to rack up calories, carbohydrates, sodium, and fat with fried chicken, milkshakes, and fries, healthier options abound. The chicken wrap and chicken noodle soup are low in calories, while the kale salad provides a low-sodium alternative. You can also swap the white bun for a gluten-free option. For a nutritious breakfast, consider the egg white sandwich or Greek yogurt parfaits. Just be cautious of sauces, as they can quickly add calories and fat.
4. Chipotle
Chipotle stands out as one of the healthiest fast food restaurants due to its customizable menu. Building your own meal allows you to select healthier ingredients for a nutritious and delicious experience. Salads and bowls are typically healthier than burritos, as the tortilla alone adds 320 calories. Steak and sofritas are among the lowest-calorie protein choices. Opt for brown rice for its higher fiber content, load up on vegetable toppings, and skip the queso and sour cream. Keep an eye on the sodium content of your meal.
5. Panda Express
While American-Chinese food isn’t typically known for being healthy, Panda Express offers a “Wok Smart” menu featuring items with at least eight grams of protein and less than 300 calories. This makes it a good choice when you’re seeking a healthier meal on the go. You can also build a healthier meal by choosing steamed brown rice, greens, and tofu, and opting for grilled shrimp or chicken to reduce calories and carbs.
6. Sweetgreen
Though not as widely recognized as some other chains, Sweetgreen is a strong contender for the title of healthiest fast food restaurant. With locations in 21 states, Sweetgreen specializes in rice and quinoa bowls, as well as salads with kale, lettuce, arugula, or spinach bases. You can customize your bowl or salad with nuts, seeds, beans, vegetables, and proteins, and choose from a variety of dressings and sauces. Be mindful of toppings, as calories can quickly add up.
7. Subway
Subway is a relatively healthy option, thanks to its “Fresh Fit” menu. They even have American Heart Association-approved heart-healthy meals, such as the Veggie Delite and the sweet onion chicken teriyaki sandwich. These sandwiches are made on nine-grain wheat bread and include lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and cucumbers. Subway’s customization options also make it one of the healthiest fast food restaurants, as you can load up on vegetables and choose wholegrain breads. Salads are also a solid and healthy choice.
8. CAVA
CAVA is a fast-casual restaurant with a Mediterranean-inspired menu, making it one of the healthiest fast food chains. The Mediterranean diet is widely recognized as one of the healthiest in the world. CAVA offers bowls and pitas filled with grilled meats, falafel, eggplant, and hummus. Their “RightRice,” made with lentils, chickpeas, green peas, and rice, provides more protein and fiber and less carbohydrate than white rice. Grilled chicken and roasted vegetables are among the healthiest choices.
9. Veggie Grill
Veggie Grill, a plant-based fast-casual restaurant, is undoubtedly one of the healthiest fast food restaurants. Their menu features vegan versions of comfort food classics like buffalo wings, burgers, and mac and cheese, as well as rotating seasonal options. They also offer gluten-free and low-carb choices. Vegetable and plant-based meat wraps and salad bowls are among the healthiest options, packed with nutritional value. Be mindful of tortilla chips and dressings, as they can significantly increase the calorie count.
10. Noodles & Company
Noodles & Company offers noodle bowls, soups, and salads. Their “LEANguini” line features pasta dishes with 44% lower net carbs and 50% more protein while maintaining signature flavors. Their other pasta bowls include vegetables, grilled chicken, Impossible “chicken,” tofu, and shrimp, providing good sources of protein. You can also opt for zucchini noodles instead of traditional pasta for a healthier twist.
11. Au Bon Pain
This bakery-style fast food restaurant is one of the healthiest fast food chains, offering delicious and satisfying meals with good low-calorie options. Au Bon Pain has a variety of sandwiches, soups, and salads. For the health-conscious, they have 19 low-fat soups under 200 calories. The chicken salad sandwich on wholegrain bread contains 490 calories with low-fat and high fiber content. You can also choose a salad loaded with vegetables with a lean meat option for protein.
12. Wendy’s
Surprisingly, Wendy’s makes the list of healthiest fast food chains. Beyond burgers, Wendy’s offers a relatively large selection of salads, including cobb, apple pecan, Parmesan Caesar, and taco salads. These salads can also be ordered without meat for a vegetarian option. Order dressing on the side to control the amount of fat and calories. Be cautious of added cheese and tortilla chips. A grilled chicken wrap, baked potato, or apple bites can be healthier side alternatives to french fries.
13. Native Foods
Native Foods is an eco-friendly and one of the healthiest fast food chains. As a vegan chain, Native Foods offers healthy options like the sesame kale bowl and the Buddah bowl. Many people love this restaurant for its vegan recreations of comfort foods like chicken tenders and burgers. The plant-based ingredients make these foods a bit healthier than their traditional counterparts. However, be cautious of toppings and fried options, like onion rings and fries. Overall, Native Foods is one of the healthiest fast food chains to satisfy your cravings.
14. Burger King
While burgers aren’t typically associated with health, Burger King offers some options that make it one of the healthiest fast food chains available. They offer Impossible burgers, which are only 40 calories less than beef Whoppers. To make this sandwich healthier, remove mayonnaise and cheese and swap the bun out for a lettuce wrap. This reduces simple carbohydrates and saturated fat, resulting in a more nutritious meal.
15. Mendocino Farms
Mendocino Farms is one of the healthiest fast food chains and one of the most interesting. Their menu rotates seasonally, ensuring fresh, in-season ingredients. Mendocino Farms offers sandwiches, salads, and soups, with the option to make them healthy. You can order sandwiches breadless for a low-carb meal or get the same flavors of a sandwich in salad form. They also make healthier alternatives to comfort favorites like fried chicken. Their “Not-So-Fried Chicken” uses shaved roasted chicken breast with crunchy polenta to satisfy your fried chicken craving in a healthier way. They also have a vegan menu.
Finding Your Healthiest Fast Food Restaurant
So, what is the healthiest fast food restaurant? The truth is, there’s no single answer. The “healthiest” option depends on your individual dietary needs and preferences. However, these 15 restaurants demonstrate that you can find nutritious choices even in the fast food landscape.
The healthiest fast food chains offer a variety of options that allow you to customize your meal for a healthier outcome. Swapping white bread or buns with wholegrain bread increases fiber intake. Opting for salad dressings on the side and avoiding cheesy and creamy ingredients reduces calories. Choosing lean proteins like grilled chicken and fish helps you feel full and satisfied while providing essential nutrients.
Ultimately, maintaining a healthy lifestyle involves making informed choices and balancing convenience with nutrition. By understanding the options available at these 15 healthiest fast food restaurants, you can enjoy occasional fast food meals without sacrificing your health goals.
