By Ella Stone
Fast food is such an easy option, whether you’re running late to work and want a quick bite to eat, or you are on a long road trip and want to pull over for a snack. It’s way more common to see a bunch of fast food chains than a sit- down restaurant. In a lot of ways, it’s more convenient, but it is important to remember that fast food is full of grease and non-fresh ingredients. Since it is important to fuel your body with healthy foods, here are the fast food options you should lean towards.
Now, don’t get me wrong, stopping at McDonalds for a burger and a McFlurry is always a treat, but definitely not the healthiest. That doesn’t mean McDonalds is completely out of the picture. There are healthier options according to Health.com, like ordering hash browns instead of fries or a Mcchicken instead of a quarter pounder.
The fresher the food the more expensive it seems to be. With that being said, Panera comes up as the healthiest option. With tons of soups, salads, and fresh bread on the menu it is fresh, quick, and tasty. They have options to split the portions and try new things, and every meal is full of protein and vitamins. The healthiest pick is a Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich or a Chicken Caesar Salad. Because of the higher quality ingredients, it causes higher prices, but I’d say it’s worth a stop.
If you are looking for a good cheap burger, In-n-Out comes in at the second healthiest burger in the country. The levels of sugar, fat, and salt in the burger are said to be lower than every other restaurant. In-n-Out’s fries are also cut fresh at each location, and the potatoes are shipped directly from the farm. They use pure sunflower oil, unlike other places that tend to use a blend. Their milkshakes are made from real ice cream, making everything fresh and tasty. They also give the option to make your burger protein style where the bun is replaced with lettuce.
The Habit Burger Grill is also a great stop because of their grilled options instead of fried. They have vegetable sides like green beans instead of fries, along with sweet potato fries (my favorite). They have tons of fresh salad options or lighter courses that don’t fill you up as much. They also allow for tons of customizations, allowing you to add vegetables to make your sandwich or burger less or more filling. I’d say the healthiest pick is a Grilled Chicken Sandwich—make sure to add avocado.
Chipotle offers a wide variety of customizable options, giving you the choice of what you want. They have many different meats or substitutes for meats, if you are interested. Their beans are organic and they stride towards healthier and fresher options. They allow you to load up on proteins and healthy fats, without all the extra calories you may get from fried unhealthy foods. The healthiest pick is brown rice, grilled chicken, beans, fajita veggies, and a scoop of salsa, but I always add guacamole.
Many times it’s possible to enjoy your favorite place without sacrificing your health and daily needs. Places seem to be trying to offer fresher and more balanced meals, so eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring.
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