<p>This weekend I will be on an extended-family outing that almost certainly will involve lunch at a fast food place. I am looking for healthy options other than salad. I was about to google “fast food nutrition” but I thought someone here might have already sorted through all that.</p>
<p>Panera!!!</p>
<p>The “fresca” menu at Taco Bell. We get the bean burritos.</p>
<p>Panera would be good if you can find one. They list calories on their paper menu. One sandwich has over 1000 calories, but most things are quite reasonable. Also, if you get chips with something, you can ask for baked chips but they usually don’t offer that first.</p>
<p>Here are a couple of options:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Subway: Stick with something like the chicken breast sandwich, skip the mayo and oil and cheese and load up on veggies.</p></li>
<li><p>Chipotle (if you are lucky enough to have it in your area): Chicken or veggie items. Skip the sour cream and cheese.</p></li>
<li><p>Arbys: Roast turkey and swiss market fresh sandwich. It comes on whole wheat with lettuce, tomato, and sweet onion with some kind of honey mustard stuff on it.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>If Tim Horton’s is available in your area, their wraps are crazy good. I want one right now.</p>
<p>Subway and Quiznos allow you to build your own sandwich, so you can decide what you get.</p>
<p>Qdoba allows you to do the same thing, only with burritos not sandwiches.</p>
<p>Panera Bread has lots of good options, if one is available in your area. Love the soup.</p>
<p>McDonald’s actually has some quasi-healthy sandwiches, but they don’t taste very good.</p>
<p>Arby’s is the polar opposite of healthy, but they make a mean roast beef.</p>
<p>I second the Chipoltle suggestion. I don’t know much about Panera, but my health and weight conscious daughters like Panera, for what that’s worth.</p>
<p>Also, Corner Bakery is a good option. I would agree with Subway, but after years of eating at Subway pre and post club soccer games, I just could not stomach another Subway sandwich, I don’t care how “healthy” it is. :D</p>
<p>Panera has a new Steak and Blue Cheese salad. It is by far the best fast food salad I’ve ever had as the steak is the real thing… no processed or rubbery beef. Also, they use some sort of glaze on the steak that is enough for me… I haven’t even used the salad dressing they give you.</p>
<p>Sadly, they have not listed this new menu item on their website, so I don’t know what the calories are, but it can’t be bad, especially if you like it without the dressing. I’ve had it probably 4-5 times in the last three weeks.</p>
<p>McDonalds… their Southwest salad is good (again, I only use about half of the dressing they provide). Also, chipotle BBQ snack wrap with grilled chicken.</p>
<p>Wendy’s… chili</p>
<p>You can tell I eat on the run a lot!</p>
<p>Chick Filet. Skip the creamy sauces and stay with grilled chicken. Decent salads.</p>
<p>I’ll throw some chips in for Panera and Chipotle as well.</p>
<p>Also, another suggestion we love - Schlotzsky’s - do you have this? Fast food but good food - sandwiches, salads, soups, individual “healthy” pizzas.</p>
<p>If you like burgers you can eat at almost any of them but order it without the secret sauce, don’t get cheese on it (or bacon!), don’t eat the bun, and don’t get fries or a shake. </p>
<p>At KFC you can get a broiled chicked breast and remove the skin before eating it.</p>
<p>If you’re lucky enough to be in an area with Rubios Mexican the chicken fiesta salad or variant of it is pretty good and not bad for you.</p>
<p>Chipotle - you can order a ‘bowl’ and have them put decent stuff in it - chicken, beans.</p>
<p>If you like Mexican food you can order a burrito with reasonably healthful stuff in it but don’t eat the tortilla - either dump the innards out or unfold it and eat down to the tortilla then toss out the tortilla.</p>
<p>Also will mention that if you are going to be eating “in” the fast food restaurant with a group, that might put a whole new spin on the choices - while I love Chipotle, their dining areas leave much to be desired - not dirty, but beyond basic. If you include “atmosphere” Panera tops the list again.</p>
<p>Arby’s Market Fresh turkey sandwich.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>A burger with no cheese and no bun is NOT a burger. Seriously, isn’t that just called a Salisbury steak? 
No different than those “sandwiches” which are made of turkey enveloped by two lettuce leaves. NOT a sandwich…</p>
<p>Even a Big Mac is only 540 calories or so. Skip the fries and sugary beverage (their unsweetened ice tea for $1 is a really good deal, I get them all the time), and while a little high in fat, 500-600 calories is not that bad for a meal. And there are lower calorie items available like a grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo, which is only 370 calories.</p>
<p>You can find lower calorie foods at every fast food place, just use your common sense. One fast food meal won’t kill you, so don’t stress about it. :)</p>
<p>Of the burger joints, I like Wendy’s the best, I like their burgers and they have the most side options available.</p>
<p>We are not allowed fast food in our house because of H, but he allows me to order KFC crispy chicken twice a year (during our girls’ ballet recitals). We order buckets of KFC, and it is hysterical to watch those ballerinas inhale those chickens in between performances.</p>
<p>I did love Mcdonald’s french fries, before they changed the oil.</p>
<p>Quiznos has a whole wheat bread option. Subway may too.</p>
<p>I can make a peanut butter on whole wheat sandwich pretty fast. You could always make something yourself and put it in a cooler lunchbag and bring it with you.</p>
<p>Panera Bread is technically in the Fast Casual category.</p>
<p>If you do go out and splurge, visit the diet/exercise/health thread when you get back.</p>
<p>Panera. Pick 2 - Chicken Tortilla Soup, 1/2 Asian Sesame Salad dressing on the side
total calories: 340 (fewer with less dressing)</p>
<p>I’m going on taste–Daphne’s (Greek) or Chipotle for me!</p>
<p>Panera has lots of options, but you really have to study their menu’s nutrition information (it’s online). Many items have lots of salt and/or fat, so you have to be careful.</p>