Fast food chain restaurants are the go-to choice of many for their convenience, however, fast food products are often dubbed as "unhealthy."
But do you know that fast foods also provide nutritious meals? Here are some of the foods that nutritionists ranked as being among the healthiest options available at fast-food chain restaurants.
1. Subway: Rotisserie-Style Chicken' No Bready Bowl'
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When it comes to bowls, Lauren Harris-Pincus, registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of NutritionStarringYOU.com, who is also the author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club, holds a strong preference for the 'No Bready Bowl,' which is one of the most recent additions to the Subway menu. It is a sub sandwich delivered inside a bowl rather than a loaf of bread. It was initially introduced in January 2021 under the name 'protein bowl,' but it was transformed into its current moniker in late 2021.
This meal would reportedly be an excellent alternative for individuals constantly on the move for a healthy lunch or dinner from a fast food restaurant. According to Harris-Pincus, The 'No Bready Bowl' is a low-carb option that may be combined in various ways. It consists of 220 calories, 8 grams fat, 8 grams carbs, 31 grams, and 810 milligrams of sodium.
2. Taco-Bell: Vegetarian Power Bowl
Taco Bell employs a staff of trained dietitians and nutritionists to guarantee that the menu contains nutritionally sound options. In addition to the cheesy Crunch Wraps and Chalupas, there are many options consisting of veggies scattered throughout the menu.
As stated, a source of fat that is good for the heart, guacamole, a source of energy-boosting seasoned rice, and tomatoes that are rich in vitamins are also included in the lettuce pace. Neverthedless, simply consider the sodium content; this item contains over one-third of the daily value for salt, which is the maximum sodium content on the list. Accordingly, calories, 20 grams of fat, 13 grams of protein, 47 grams of carbohydrates, and 870 milligrams of sodium are it.
Since 1965, McDonald's has been providing the world-famous Filet-O-Fish, considered one of the healthier fish sandwiches available from fast food restaurants. As per Yelena Wheeler, M.P.H., R.D.N., of MIDSS, it takes the least calories and sodium out of all the other options.
Moreover, it reportedly contains a 'decent amount' of protein, about 16 grams, and fiber, or approximately two grams, and it has a reduced amount of sugar and carbohydrates.
Wheeler also asserted that the fish featured on the sandwich is Alaskan pollock, which the company claims is '100% sourced from sustainable fisheries.' On the other hand, each sandwich has 390 calories, 16 grams of protein, 39 grams of carbohydrates, two grams of fiber, five grams of sugar, 19 grams of fat, and 580 milligrams of sodium.
4. Chipotle: Lifestyle Bowl
A high-protein bowl constructed with black beans, double chicken, cheese, rice, salsa, and shredded cheese includes an astounding 82 grams of protein and significant fiber. Chipotle offers bowls that are ideal for paleo and ketogenic diets and bowls that are suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets.
Additionally, if you want to increase the amount of vegetables you consume, you can also ask for additional items such as roasted chili-corn salsa, fresh tomato salsa, and guacamole.
5. Burger King: Impossible Whopper
Make sure to order an Impossible Whopper the next time you go through the drive-thru. There is no significant difference in calories between the Impossible Whopper, with 630 calories, and the regular Whopper, with 670 calories. However, the plant-based protein patty has a lower total fat content and a lower percentage of saturated fat.
The Impossible Whopper contains 13.5 grams of sugar and 1,350 milligrams of sodium, making it anything but a healthy option when you crave a burger.
