Check out seniors’ favorite fast food options for the most popular restaurants: 

Hamburgers, fries, pizza, and burritos (mmm…mouthwatering!) are just a few of the guilty-pleasure fast foods everybody enjoys indulging in. Convenient and super easy, fast foods are available to anyone with one click away in every food delivery app.

Particularly for seniors who no longer find it easy to cook fresh meals, this kind of food may be quite handy. A quick bite of fast food now and then is perfectly acceptable, but if it becomes a regular habit, it can cause several health problems.

High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity aren’t something to joke about, so whenever you think about ordering from your favorite fast food restaurant, look for healthier options on the menu. So, next time, when you’re focused more on macros and full-of-protein foods but also ready to make your palate happy, pick some of these seniors’ favorite fast food options.

1. Wendy’s

Are you craving something tasty that’s also healthy? Look no further, because at Wendy’s you will find this combo! While not every single item on their menu is good, there are a couple of items that you must try next time you decide to visit the restaurant.

Among seniors’ favorite fast food options is the Jr. Hamburger Deluxe, which has only 300 calories and 13 grams of protein, or the Jr. Cheeseburger, which has 280 calories and 16 grams of protein. Have you ever tried the small portion of Wendy’s Chili con Carne? It has only 253 calories, which is good to pair with a portion of baked potatoes that has around 232 calories. Another high-protein choice at Wendy’s is the grilled chicken sandwich; however, you can remove the bun to make it even more nutritious.

Are none of these options attractive to you? No problem! Other meals among seniors’ favorite fast food options at Wendy’s are the Apple Pecan Chicken Salad, which has 570 calories and 36 grams of protein, and the Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad, which has 590 calories but also 41 grams of protein, which is a big plus.

2. McDonald’s

McDonald’s is a mainstay of fast food and a traditional American favorite. Even though it was still fast food, they have introduced a lot more nutritious alternatives for people who try to maintain a healthier lifestyle, compared to a few years ago, when it was just full of harmful and high-calorie meals.

Suppose you’re a morning person and you decide to stop by McDonald’s to indulge yourself with something healthy and tasty. In that case, the first choice among seniors’ favorite fast food items includes the Egg White Delight McMuffin, which has only 280 calories. You can easily pair it with Fruit and Yogurt Parfait for 150 calories.

When compared to other things on the menu, the traditional McDonald’s burger—seasoned with salt and pepper and topped with pickles, sliced onions, ketchup, and mustard—isn’t all that unhealthy. You can also opt for the plain option of the hamburger, which has only 250 calories.

You can also opt for one of their salads, which are packed with around 40 grams of protein, but don’t add any dressing to it. It’s a better and healthier plain with a tad of salt and pepper.

3. Subway

Did someone say Subway? Yummy! Even if it’s fast food that serves only sandwiches, you may be tempted to say that everything on the menu is healthy. But not really. In reality, two options are good for you.

The first one is the Veggie Delite Sandwich, served on a 9-grain bread that contains only 250 calories, which is super low. This delicious combo will help you feel full for longer without having weird cravings after lunch.

If you stick to their nine-grain wheat bread and skip the cheese and toppings, a 6-inch turkey sandwich from Subway is another tasty and healthy option available. To add a bit of extra flavor, you have the option to add avocado slices and mustard to your sandwich.

4. Chipotle

This top was made in no particular order, but among seniors’ favorite fast options in America, Chipotle occupies the first place. And let me tell you why. At any Chipotle restaurant, you have the freedom to customize your dish to make it as healthy as possible. Compared to other places, you can choose more veggies and proteins instead of cheeses, sour creams, and other toppings, which may add unnecessary calories, fat, and salt.

The Sofritas Burrito Bowl, which has brown rice instead of white rice and romaine lettuce on top, is one of Chipotle’s healthiest menu items. It also contains tofu, which is high in protein. Merely 365 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 1.5 grams of saturated fat make up this meal. To keep the sugars in check, use a small amount of sauce or nothing at all.

Are you trying to recreate the taste of McDonald’s foods in your kitchen, but it doesn’t seem to work? While they will never taste exactly the same because you won’t add preservatives and other artificial flavors, you can still make something similar without sacrificing the taste too much. Don’t give up eating what you enjoy eating, even if you’re cutting back on fast food.

Adopt a healthier lifestyle, watch your calorie intake, and prepare some of these 50 guilt-free fast food recipes with the help of this incredible cookbook. It’s available on Amazon, just in the Kindle version, for only $1.04. 

5. Chick-fil-A

Another popular fast-food chain known for its delicious chicken sandwiches is Chick-fil-A. If you want to indulge yourself with a little treat from them, go check out the grilled chicken bites. Compared to the ones coated in panko, they have around 200 calories and 38 grams of protein.

They’ll taste even better with Chick-fil-A’s under-50-calorie sauces, including BBQ, Spicy Sriracha, Zesty Buffalo, and Honey Mustard. Besides the sauce of your choice, you can also buy a salad with no dressing. Yummy!

6. Taco Bell

Sometimes, all you want is Taco Bell, and nobody is blaming you for that! But did you know that you can order practically everything from the Taco Bell menu in “Fresco Style”? When you order fresco style, freshly made pico de gallo is substituted with mayo-based sauces, cheeses, reduced-fat sour cream, and guacamole. You may also use fire-grilled chicken for shredded chicken in your taco to make it healthier.

If you’re planning on going to Taco Bell anytime soon, do yourself a favor and order the seniors’ favorite fast food, the Soft Chicken Taco, which, besides being finger-licking delicious, has less than 200 calories and around 8 grams of fat only. I’d recommend going light on sauces, though!

Are you a vegetarian? Taco Bell got you! With only 380 calories and 11 grams of fat, including 4 grams of saturated fat, the bean burrito is another healthy option on their menu.

These are a few of the leading chains’ nutritious fast food selections for elderly citizens. While consuming fast food shouldn’t be completely avoided, you should cut back on how frequently you do so and choose your fast food wisely.

Now tell me, which fast food chain is your favorite?

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