Back to Regular Size: Healthy Fast Food

By Jonathan Berohn

Yes, you read that right—healthy fast food. If, like me, your first reaction to that statement might be “OK—I’ll pass on the supersize,” you might be surprised at all the options available at the big chains to actually eat healthy when you want the convenience of eating fast and cheap.

New Options

On one hand, there are plenty of new options to be found out there in terms of healthy fast food. Noodles & Co. sells all kinds of pasta—from mac and cheese and mushroom stroganoff to Pad Thai and coconut curry. You can choose your selection of meat (chicken, shrimp, and steak) or even opt for tofu. Everything is made fresh when you order it, and there’s not a deep fryer in the joint. Granted, it’s a little more expensive than your traditional burger joint (around $30 for a family of 4), but you get all the speed and convenience with a fraction of the fat and cholesterol. They even offer new low carb versions of their dishes over vegetables if you really want to eat light.

You can also find low carb fare at Chipotle, another growing national chain (McDonalds owns a large share of the company). Chipotle started out as a burrito shop—and that is still their staple, but you can also order any items as a burrito bowl—meaning no tortilla and extra lettuce. Like Noodles & Co., Chipotle doesn’t deep-fry anything, and it makes everything when you order it. Also like Noodles & Co., Chipotle doesn’t sacrifice taste for health. Chipotle uses quality ingredients and plenty of seasonings—it’s almost impossible to have a bland meal there. Again, though, you’re talking the $30 range for a family of 4.

Old Standards

Refreshingly enough, the big names in fast food are also jumping on the health bandwagon. McDonalds offers grilled chicken, salads, yogurt parfaits, and bottled water these days. They are even marketing an adult happy meal complete with a pedomoeter for inspiring you to get out and walk. Burger King and Wendy’s also offer a full range of grilled chicken and salad options. Burger King also tries to jump on the no carb bandwagon by offering a bun-less burger (which doesn’t strike me as much of an innovation, but that’s me).

And let’s not forget Subway—and who could after getting inundated with Jared and his weight loss success? In addition to the low fat options they also offer Atkins approved low carb wraps of any sandwich (at an additional cost, of course). All in all, if you really want to eat healthy, it’s not hard to find respectable options—even if you are in a hurry.