Do you want to lose weight and still eat fast food? This is totally possible!
You might have a hard time believing that you can eat fast food and still lose weight and be healthy, but this is a reality, and we have all the proof you need.
Fast food generally has a reputation for being high in calories, sodium, added sugars, and fat, but there are also some healthy picks you can’t miss if you want to indulge from time to time. These items are what anyone trying to lose weight should order from the menus of the most popular fast-food places.
How do we know that these are the best picks? We spoke to dietitians, and they told us about them. It is important that you be aware that just one meal won’t break your diet. A healthy diet is the sum of all the choices you make over a longer period of time. One specific mean from time to time won’t do any harm.
If you are good at planning and you make smart choices, you are also going to lose weight even if you eat some fast food. We can’t help you to plan better, but we can tell you more about some foods that are recommended for those who want to shed those pounds.
Moderation is key, and if you can respect this, the following fast-food menu items are perfect!
Chipotle Chicken Bowl
The Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl is an amazing choice for those looking for a balanced fast-food meal that will allow them to lose weight. Experts say that this dish has the perfect balance between protein and fiber, and this makes it a very nutritious choice.
We need to mention that when you order, you need to skip the cheese and sour cream. This is how you’ll get about 570 calories, 13 grams of fat, 72 grams of carbs, and a whopping 45 grams of protein. If you were to ask us, this is a meal that can keep you full for a whole day.
The ingredients of the bowl include grilled chicken, brown rice, beans, lettuce, extra salsa, and corn. Simply looking at this list explains how this Chipotle Chicken Bowl is such a great fast food choice for anyone who wants a good quick meal. The chicken is perfect for the lean protein, while the brown rice and beans supply fiber.
So next time you think about ordering fast food, this one is a top-notch meal you should not skip!
McDonald’s Egg McMuffin
You might think that McDonald’s is not the place to get healthy fast food, but this popular breakfast choice can easily fit into most weight-loss plans. One sandwich has 310 calories; it offers a solid amount of protein—17 grams. This is perfect to make you feel energized without overloading with calories. The egg is the main source of protein, alongside the Canadian bacon.
The Egg McMuffin also contains 13 grams of fat, with 6 grams of saturated fat. While it’s important to carefully manage your intake of saturated fat, this sandwich can become an occasional fast food breakfast option.
In terms of fiber, the Egg McMuffin is not the best with just 2 grams, but hopefully, it is also very low in sugars with 3 grams. The biggest disadvantage of this sandwich is by far the high sodium content, 770 mg! This means that if you need to watch your salt intake, this might not be a good fast food choice.
Chick-fil-A Chicken Cool Wrap
If you are looking for a balanced, nutrient-dense option that’s perfect for those focused on weight loss or blood sugar control, there you have it, the Chick-fil-A Chicken Cool Wrap. This is indeed a cool wrap that has just 350 calories but 24 grams of protein! This is a smart way to get your fuel without eating empty calories.
But what makes this wrap stand out is its fiber content of 13 grams per serving! This is a lot for this type of food, but fortunately, it’s now available thanks to Chick-fil-A. Considering that it also has 29 grams of total carbs (and only 3 grams of sugar), we can easily say that this is a perfect fast food option for anyone who is monitoring their blood sugar levels.
Again, the sodium content is what drags this wrap down. It has 900 mg of sodium per wrap. But overall, this is a filling, well-rounded meal option that supports weight loss and healthy eating goals while also allowing you to eat some fast food from time to time.
Subway 6-inch Turkey Sub
Do you want a low-calorie, satisfying meal while on the go? Then the Subway 6-inch Turkey Sub is made just for you! It has just 270 calories per sandwich, and it manages to contain the best ingredients, offering you a balanced combination of protein and fiber to keep you full.
If protein is important to you, then you should know that the Turkey Sub has 21 grams of protein from the lean turkey that Subway uses. With this, you also get 40 grams of carbohydrates, including 5 grams of fiber. Also, make sure you order the 6-inch wheat roll because this is a much healthier option compared to white bread.
This Turkey Sub is ideal for anyone who is losing weight, and if you want to make the most out of it, you can choose lighter condiments and make sure to add extra vegetables to enhance the health benefits.
Arby’s Classic Roast Beef Sandwich
This sandwich screams protein! At 360 calories per sandwich, it delivers 23 grams of lean protein from roast beef. Furthermore, it also combines it with 37 grams of carbohydrates, including 2 grams of fiber, creating the perfect balance between protein and carbs all in a 360-calorie sandwich.
The fat content is 14 grams, with 5 grams of saturated fat and 0.5 grams of trans fat. This means you should keep an eye on those saturated fats. The Arby’s Classic Roast Beef Sandwich is best enjoyed in moderation. This is even truer considering that it has 970 mg.
If you need a quick, filling lunch or dinner, you can go with his sandwich. This is a flavorful meal without excessive calories.
Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl
Here we have another chicken bowl. This is not surprising at all considering that these bowls are made from protein from the chicken and lots of fiber and nutrients from the veggies.
With 490 calories per bowl, it delivers 25 grams of protein and an impressive quantity of fiber—11 grams per serving! Most of the time, it feels almost impossible to find this much fiber in a fast food meal. Then it has 44 grams of carbs to balance everything and give you the energy you need without being too heavy.
Unfortunately, in the same fashion as everything on this list, it has 1,150 mg of sodium per bowl. This means you can eat it from time to time because it’s amazing in terms of nutrients, fiber, and protein content, but be careful not to eat too often.
If you want to learn more about how you can eat fast food in a healthy way, this book might be perfect for you: Guide to Healthy Fast-Food Eating
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