Learn more about our picks for the top 10 healthiest fast food items so you can eat smart any time when you need to grab a quick meal.
Nutritional reviews about most fast food outlets are getting a pretty bad rap these days.
Too many calories! Too much cholesterol! Too much salt!
Although it’s true that a number of food offerings at fast food chains aren’t particularly healthy, the reverse is also true about other items on their menus.
Fast food chains are listening to these complaints. And, I’m pleased to say that if you really study the menu, you can find a low calorie and low cholesterol food offering(s) at just about every fast food chain.
Learn more about Living Phit’s effective ways to lose weight.
We did an intensive review of many of these outlets and found there are an abundance of healthy items that can compliment a healthy lifestyle.
We don’t have room to feature every fast food outlet chain. We apologize for not including yours or all the healthy options you offer, but feel free to comment below so you can add yours as well.
Living Phit’s Top 10 Healthiest Fast Food Items
Our criteria in choosing our top 10 healthiest fast food items were selecting meals which were:
• Under 500 calories
• Contain moderate amounts of fat
• Provide ample fiber and protein
• Relatively low in sodium
Here are our picks including the name of the food item, the fast food outlet where you can find them and applicable nutritional information:
1. (Chick-Fil-A) – Chick-n-Minis Breakfast
Surprisingly, there are actually a number of healthy breakfast items avialble. And, we will feature some of them here.
Our first pick though are the Chick-n-minis from Chick-Fil-A. This is one of the healthiest choices you can have to fuel up before you start your hectic day.
Never skip your breakfast meal as it’s one of the most vital meals of the day.
So what’s so great about Chick-n-Minis breakfast? Our nutritional breakdown is as follows:
Total Calories – 260 Calories
Fat Content – 10 grams fat and 2.5 grams saturated fat
Cholesterol Content – 40 mg
Sodium Content – 650 mg
Fiber – 1 gram
Protein – 14 grams
2. Dunkin’ Donuts — Egg White Flatbread
Many health conscious people would likely nix going to a donut outlet for a healthy food item. But the truth, most donut outlets have an array of food selections including some that are very healthy.
Dunkin Donuts makes that grade with their offering of Egg White Flatbread. Here is the nutritional breakdown for this heart healthy fast food choice:
Total Calories – 280 Calories
Fat Content – 9 grams fat
Cholesterol Content – 40 mg
Carbohydrates – 33 grams
Sodium Content – 690 mg
3. McDonald’s — Egg McMuffin
This is another well known breakfast offering which many Americans indulge in for a quick breakfast before they hit the shop, job site or office cubicle.
And, you will be pleased to know that you if this is one of our favorites as it’s a lot healthier than you may have thought.
Here’s our nutritional breakdown for one of America’s perennial favorite breakfast meals:
Total Calories – 300 Calories
Fat Content – 12 grams fat
Carbohydrates – 29 grams
Sodium Content – 730 mg (a little high so beg off the salt shaker later on)
Protein – 17 grams
4. Taco Bell — Fresco Chicken Burrito Supreme
Taco Bell has also heard the call for healthier food items. In response to popular demand for low calorie food items, this well-known company chain has come up with its “Fresco menu.”
One of our picks from this new Fresco menu choice includes the “Chicken Burrito Supreme” which can be an ideal choice for either lunch or supper.
Here’s our nutritional breakdown for this healthy food choice:
Total Calories – 340 Calories
Fat Content – 8 grams fat
Carbohydrates – 49 grams
Sodium Content – 1060 mg (just about half of the recommended daily intake)
Protein – 19 grams
5. Shake Shack — Single Hamburger or Chicken Dog
This chain is popular for both their fries and their “Shack Stacks.”
Although we would not recommend a number of their menu options as being particularly healthy, some choices are actually pretty good including both the “Single Hamburger” and their “Chicken Dog.”
Here are the nutritional breakdowns for both these items.
Single Hamburger
Total Calories – 360 Calories
Fat Content – 8 grams fat
Carbohydrates – 49 grams
Sodium Content – 1060 mg (just about half of the recommended daily intake)
Protein – 17 grams
Chicken Dog
Total Calories – 300 Calories
Fat Content –11 grams fat
Carbohydrates – 32 grams
Sodium Content – 970 mg
Protein – 26 grams
6. Chick-fil-A — Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap
The company can boast as being the ”home of the original chicken sandwich.”
After 50 years in business, the company has even managed to surpass the “Colonels” Kentucky Fried Chicken for popularity.
One of their healthy food items that we like is their Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap. This item is not only healthy but also quite tasty.
Here’s our nutritional breakdown for this fare:
Total Calories – 340 Calories
Fat Content –13 grams fat
Carbohydrates – 30 grams
Sodium Content – 900 mg
Protein – 36 grams
7. Subway Veggie Delite Sandwich and Fire Roasted Tomato Orzo Soup
If you are a Vegan then you can breathe a sigh of relief because there are plenty of healthy food options for everyone – including vegetarians.
Everyone should eat more vegetables because they are vitamin packed and have a low fat content.
Keep in mind that many other fast food chains have vegetarian options now. We like this one and here’s why:
Total Calories – 360 Calories
Fat Content –3.5 grams fat
Carbohydrates – 69 grams
Cholesterol – 5 mg
Sodium Content – 820 mg
Protein – 14 grams
8. Wendy’s — (Full Size) Asian Cashew Chicken Salad
Although one would like to believe that all chicken salads are a healthy option, this is not true. Some are actually quite high in calories.
The good news is that there are plenty of healthy chicken salad options. This one offered at Wendy’s is one that fit’s the bill nicely for the health conscious.
Here’s our nutritional breakdown of one of our top 10 healthiest food items:
Total Calories – 380 Calories
Fat Content –14 grams fat
Carbohydrates – 32 grams
Sodium Content – 1060 mg
Protein – 36 grams
9. Chick-fil-A – Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich and Fruit Cup
Having a grilled chicken sandwich over the standard hamburger has changed how many people eat today.
But, it’s also in how select your grilled chicken sandwich which can make a big difference in its health content.
Where possible, we would suggest that you opt for a bun which is whole grain. It’s also a good idea to avoid some of the topping choices such as a creamy or mayonnaise sauce.
Some of the other similar choices at other fast food chains make the grade as being healthy, but this is our top pick here.
The nutritional content is broken down as follows:
Total Calories – 400 Calories
Fat Content –3.5 grams fat
Cholesterol – 55 mg
Carbohydrates – 65 grams
Sodium Content – 1120 mg
Protein – 30 grams
Fiber – 6 grams
10. (KFC) -Grilled Chicken Breast with Mashed Potatoes and Corn on the Cob
KFC has many meal deals, but you want to be careful with choosing their side dishes if you want to stay on the healthy side of what you eat.
We thought this combo was perhaps the healthiest.
Not only is it a tasty combo, you’ll see why we think this entrée with these side choices are a good way to go.
Here’s our nutritional breakdown for this entire meal:
Total Calories – 430 Calories
Fat Content –10 grams fat
Cholesterol – 55 mg
Carbohydrates – 49 grams
Sodium Content – 905 mg
Protein – 41 grams
Fiber – 5 grams
Living Phit Eating and Healthy Fast Food Choices
The above list is just our picks as there are simply too many fast food outlets which provide an ever changing array of choices.
Many menu options at fast food chains would not even come close to making our list unless it was a list about which fast foods to avoid.
Practically every fast food outlet has at least 1 or more healthier options that you can choose. Keep in mind that we still have issues with the sodium content.
If you know of other fast food items and can provide nutritional content then we would like to hear about them to help our readers choose the best options to stay fit.
Another good approach is take a look at the many apps that are available. T
hey can provide you with the nutritional information you want to know about different food items when you go to a fast food outlet.
The quest for every fast food outlet to provide this information makes your ability to choose a healthy option that much easier.
How Living Phit Can Help
Living Phit is all about eating healthy. We have a lot of great and valuable information on how food and beverage acidosis can cause many health issues.
Some foods that we consume are very acidic which is toxic to the cells of the body.
But, there are also many food choices which are much more alkaline and can greatly benefit the body’s health.
There are some great supplements that you can take such as “Alkalete” by Yoli and we recommend that you read our review about this amazing product.
It’s easy to reduce the acidosis levels in your bodies when you know and learn how to eat healthy.
And, by learning how to reduce acidosis levels in your body which accumulates over time, you can actually negate or significantly reduce health issues which might be plaguing now such as:
• Acid Reflux/ Heartburn
• Gout
• Stress
• Digestive disorders
• Chronic inflammation
• Recovery after working out / Aches and Pains
• Skin problems
• Weight loss
• Hormonal (female) imbalances
Living Phit is all about becoming healthier, fitter and living a longer and more productive life style.
Find your joy again. Eat well and live well!
