So I decided to write about the healthiest fast food items because we live in this thing called life. Usually these days, people are very busy and there will come a time when we absolutely are running late or need to adjust our schedule and run out of time. When this happens, sometimes we skip a meal because we are so busy. This is when specific fast food items come in handy.

Now before we move on, I want to let you know that I don’t recommend eating at fast food joints as a resource for a healthy lifestyle. However, at times when you’re back is against the wall with “time”, it is better to eat and feed your body than to starve it. These foods listed will also make you gain weight if you don’t exercise. Exercise is key in putting together the best solution to reach your fitness goals in life.

The reason I don’t recommend fast food as healthy nutrition is because the ingredients they are made out of. Not necessarily the calories or the fat content, but more the things in them and what they are cooked in that can create diseases in the long run. Let’s be honest. Our nation has become bigger than ever. If we can be more selective on what we eat and how often we eat fast food, there could be a huge change in our nation’s health and tax payers money.

Finding the healthiest fast food is very difficult. Especially since most restaurants don’t always care about revealing nutritional information on the menu or on the food boxes. Not only that, but when you’re shown steak sandwiches, big greasy hamburgers with bacon and cheese, and those crispy salty fries, sometimes it is hard to resist temptation. Especially if you are in a rush to get dinner or lunch, have a hangover, or even when you are out traveling. Just remember, bigger is not always better.

So when you stop at all these restaurants for lunch or dinner, even breakfast what do you choose? Remember portions are a critical matter here. If you over eat any of these items, you could be towering over 1000 calories in just one meal with over 80 grams of carbohydrates.

Healthiest Fast Food Items From Major Chains

Believe it or not, some of the fast food chains do have food on their menus with a much less amount of fats and calories. The sodium still might be high, but I would rather face that evil than the other two.
McDonalds:
McDonald’s is known for its salty and greasy fries and its Big Mac hamburger. As wonderful and tasty as it may be for those who love fast food, it’s horrible for your body and your figure. So what foods can you eat at McDonald’s that is low-calorie and somewhat healthy as a last resort?

• Regular cheeseburger (300, total fat 12, sodium 690, protein 15)
• Regular hamburger ( 250 calories, total fat 9, sodium 490, protein 12)
• Fruit/Granola Yogurt Parfait (150 calories, total fat 8, sodium 105, protein 4)
• Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap ( 270 calories, total fat 19, sodium 670, protein 14)

Taco Bell
Taco Bell has become even more popular throughout the years with their new and funky ideas to change the taco, burritos, and even nachos into something new and delicious. Not to mention that they have now “gourmet” food created by real chefs. So what are the best choices when at Taco Bell?

• Beef Soft Taco ( 200 calories, total fat 9, sodium 510, protein 10)
• Chicken Soft Taco (170 calories, total fat 6, sodium 460, protein 12)
• Tostada (250 calories, total fat 10, sodium 530, protein 10)

KFC
Fried chicken is a food loved by many as well as hated by many due to the massive amounts of salt and fat that each piece of crispy chicken holds. But believe it or not, there are foods on KFC’s menu that are still somewhat healthy so you get the best of both worlds.

• Original Recipe Bites (10 piece) (330 calories, total fat 15, sodium 1100, protein 37)
• Snack Size Bowl ( 260 calories, total fat 4, sodium 760, protein 12)
• Grilled Drumstick Value Box (380 calories, total fat 19, sodium 1090, protein 15)
• Chicken Little (sans sauce) (230 calories, total fat 6, sodium 540, protein 14)
• House Side Salad without dressing (15 calories, total fat 0, sodium 15, protein 1)

Subway
Subway is popular for the fact you can mix and max making your own sub sandwiches or buying a creation on the menu not to mention the old commercials where Jared held up his fat pants. This is one of the better fast food chains to eat at if possible. These items are shown when served with italian or wheat bread, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and pickles. Here are some of the nutrition facts on select items.

• 6 inch Black forest ham sans cheese (290 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 830, protein 18)
• 6 inch Veggie Delite (230 calories, total fat 2.5, sodium 310, protein 8)
• Double Chicken Salad (220 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 490, protein 36)
• Black Forest Ham Salad (110 calories, total fat 3, sodium 600, protein 12)
• Veggie Delite Salad w/o dressing (60 calories, total fat 1, sodium 75, protein 3)
• 6 inch Turkey Breast (280 calories, total fat3.5, sodium 810, protein 18, carb 46)

Healthiest Fast Food Items In “Sit Down” Restaurants

Sit down restaurants are nicer restaurants to sit down and enjoy a meal with the family or even a date. But some restaurants that we consider “sit down” are actually fast food restaurant.
Applebees
Applebee’s is now considered by many a nicer sit down restaurant when it is still fast food. Though it is better quality than some other fast food restaurants, a good number of its dishes tends to be high in calories sodium and fat that will go straight to our thighs and stomachs. So when you want a sit down meal, what can you choose that is healthy to make sure your pants fit right later down the road?

• Bowl of tomato basil soup (280 calories, total fat 16, sodium 1490, protein 6)
• Bowl of chicken noodle soup (170 calories, total fat 4.5, sodium 1200, protein 14)
• House salad (230 calories, total fat 15, sodium 400, protein 12)
• Zesty Roma chicken & shrimp (calories 410, total fat 11, sodium 2090, protein 56)
• Roasted garlic sirloin (450 calories, total fat 18, sodium 1870, protein 42)

Pizza Hut
Pizza is one of those foods almost everyone loves. It has cheese, sauce, seasoning, lots of meats or vegetables and can fit anyone’s tastes. It is also a great meal when you don’t feel like cooking to sit down too or order. Believe it or not pizza is somewhat good for a breakfast food because you burn all the carbohydrates throughout the day and you are getting vegetables and meats. But, for dinner or lunch it doesn’t work the same, so what are the healthy fast food choices at Pizza Hut?

• 1 slice cheese Thin -n- Crispy pizza (190 calories, total fat 8, sodium 550, protein 9, carbs 22)
• 1 slice Veggie Lovers Thin -n- Crispy pizza (180 calories, total fat 6, sodium 530, protein 8, carbs 23)
• Pasta “1/2 pan” of Spaghetti w/ Marinara (450 calories, total fat 20, sodium 1100, protein 22, carbs 44)

Healthiest Fast Food Drinks

Many of us worry about the foods we eat, how many calories we consume, fats we intake, and try to cut sodium. Though that is good, while we are picking apart every bite we take, we tend to forget about our drinks. When ordering a drink you could be ordering something full of fat, carbohydrates, sodium or carbonate which will pack on the pounds in a hurry. So what can you drink?

• Smart Water is the best. Keep it simple
• Green Tea
• Espresso
• Jamba Juice Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blend
• Iced Tea no sugar (0 calories, total fat 0, sodium 30, protein 0)
• McDonald’s Small non fat latte

Fast food doesn’t have to be your full-time enemy. It can actually help carry you over if you absolutely must feed yourself and there are no other better options available. There have been many of women and men who have lost weight eating low-calorie meals from fast food restaurants when needed. This said, you must discipline yourself and know when enough is enough. Eating a balanced diet with all natural ingredients combined with daily exercise is in my opinion the best way to a healthy lifestyle.

There comes a time when you must either choose a meal replacement, or get better at preparing meals to take with you. It’s your choice to be healthy. But when you are absolutely on your last resort choice of needing to make that quick stop at your nearest fast food joint, all you have to do is pick the healthiest fast food choice on the menu from the items listed above.

[box type=”note” style=”rounded” border=”full” icon=”none”]I love Comments and Feedback…Please share your stories, fitness goals, and questions with us below in the comment section.[/box]
Live Passionately,

Tony Banawa on Google+ 

[related_posts limit=”5″]