Help! Are ther any healthy fast food choices

I drive a lot with teenagers and have to stop for lunch with them. Packing a lunch is not an option. Where we stop for lunch (fast Food) is seldom my choice. Some places have side salads but, that is not enough to last me until dinner. Any suggustions will be welcome.

Uhm, did you want us to list fast food choices from every single fast food restaurant? Maybe you could tell us which ones are in your area...and which you are likely to stop at would be good too.

A few general rules are, though: no sauces or dressings, order a "small", and don't get ever get a combo anything..best to skip the sides altogether. So at a burger place, a hamburger or cheeseburger with a salad and water is not too bad at all. I've also heard good things about Wendy's chili. At places like taco bell and that other Mexican food type chain, you could get a soft chicken wrap with only vegetables for toppings..

Thank you, that's a good start. Very helpful.

I never know where we will stop. All suggestions are welcome.

 

Also, many fast food chains list nutrition info on their websites. By now I have the calorie counts of many items memorized. Just browse for a while and maybe make up an "emergency meal" for each place. Good luck!

Mcdonalds has a nutrition list with all of the calories listed now. I got one the other day and it hepled me make good choices. I got a grilled chicken salad with vinagrette dressing for 300 cal total. Always have water and yes I agree with feanor have a small no added sauces. The grilled chicken sandwich from McDonalds is 570 cal no way! Wendy's has a good chili side salad. Just be careful with the dressing. 

Of course there are healthy fast food options. I mean sure it's not going to be as healthy as a home cooked meal, but it will be better then a burger and fries.

At McDonald's get the grilled asian chicken salad.

At Wendy's get the mandarin chicken salad.

At Burger King get the Tendergrill salad.

Hope you like salad :)

Thanks for all the help. Fast food is my only option most days. I appreciate the help.

I will say, for fast food grilled chicken, that it's got more fat and calories than the fried.  I know this from being a former fast food junkie.

I also suggest, that if you're going out, to get food that's fast, not fast food.  Mexican food is often a restaurant where you get the food fast.  Or if you have a bakery or bagelry around, try to satisfy yourself with a bagel or healthy bakery item.  Sometimes when I was weaning myself of of fast-food breakfasts, I would go to the bagelry in my hometown and grab a bagel with egg and fat free cheese.  TASTY!  And this is coming from someone who hated eggs until she was 18 years old. (and is 20 now).

In response to the previous post, I can assure you that fast food grilled chicken does NOT have more fat and calories than fried. If you order a plain fried chicken sandwich and then compare that to like a grilled chicken club sandwich with cheese, then yes the grilled chicken sandwich will have more fat and calories, but plain grilled chicken will always have less calories and less fat than a fried piece.

Wendy's grilled chicken fillet: http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/11 9780.html

Wendy's fried chicken fillet:
http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/56 330.html

You don't always have to get salads from fast food places.  I have been surprised at how reasonable some fast food items are.  If you pair them with a diet soda and a side salad or an apple or something you bring yourself, you have a very reasonable, semi-healthy meal.

Taco bell: I always get the Gordita Supreme, as is.  No fresco or anything.  Just 310 calories.

Burger king: Whopper junior is 370 calories.  Leave off the mayo and it's just 290.

McDonald's small hamburger: something like 210, if I'm not mistaken.

Subway: You can get lots of good options here.  Any of the low-fat sandwiches like veggie delite, roast beef, or turkey breast are between 200-400 calories if you don't get mayo and cheese.  Even if you do, it's not so bad, especially considering that the fiber in the bread and veggies keeps you full for awhile.  (Make sure to get whole wheat bread and load up the vegetables.)

As someone else mentioned, Wendy's chilli and/or baked potato is also reasonable.  I'm not exactly sure on the calorie count for that, though, since I never go there.

Dairy Queen has a barbeque pork sandwich that is somewhere in the 300 calorie range as well.

In general, I'd say go for the chicken, assuming it's not fried, without dressing.  Skip the cheese, generally skip the hamburger because they usually use a much fattier grade of meat since it's cheaper.  Avoid the fries.

I like the chicken soft tacos from taco bell, you can order 2 and combine the ingredients into one and skip one of the tortillas.

The meat in the McDonald's burgers is not that fat but the mayo is. If you are on a diet go for a hamburger and one of those sallads in the plastic shakers with the cheese dressing, shouldn't be more than 350 cals. As a beverage get the tea.
If you want to maintain the weight a double hamburger, the potato wedges and an apple should keep you satiated for 6 or 8 hours  :)

Do you go to Panera? Their soups are good, and really low in calories.

I got a half veggie soup and half asian chicken salad for about 450 cal, very filling.

Here's info on the soups, click on the soup name and the nutrition info pops up:

http://www.panerabread.com/menu/cafe/soups.ph p

McDonald's - bacon ranch chicken salad - w/ low fat balsalmic viniagrette

 

Wendy's - chicken cesar salad - only use 1 pkg of the dressing and no croutons

 

Chick Fil 'A - Grilled chicken sandwich, comes with lettuce, tomato, pickle (do not use mayo) and get a side fruit cup

 

Subway - we all know Subway has some great choices.

I would say get a salad, or a grilled item. AS always stay away from fried stuff, and always have water, no soda!!!!

a Wendy's Kids meal - small turkey sandwich, a carton of 1% milk and mandarin as a side

i agree with this.  just look everything up on this website and make a list of different things at different fast food places.  then put that list in your car and when you need it, it's there.

Original Post by whywhy:

I drive a lot with teenagers and have to stop for lunch with them. Packing a lunch is not an option. Where we stop for lunch (fast Food) is seldom my choice. Some places have side salads but, that is not enough to last me until dinner. Any suggestions will be welcome.

Thanks for all of the help.

The kids (different groups one day a week) seem to be picking Culver's,  Long John Silvers,  and Popeyes a lot lately. Does anyone have any suggestions for these places?

Thanks again, You are all so great and so helpful!

 

 

 

Fast food cannot be the only option, packing a lunch is easy and can be kept cold all day long with the right containers.  Why do you "have to eat the same place as the kids?  Stop and get what you want and then take it to where ever they choose that day, if you don't feel like packing...

It is always kids choice on the outtings. We are suposed to eat with them and nobody is allowed to bring anything because of drug problems. The leaders cannot even bring anything. They want to make sure that none of the kids can blame a leader.

I'm sorry that I didn't clear that up earlier. 

Thanks for everyones help. I have looked things up and I have a few choices  for many different places.

Bummer about the problems, though I think encouraging children to eat healthy is important too (but understand you have to start somewhere).  I would look for something baked or grilled (chicken or fish) that has no breading and use vinegar for this fish and a low cal honey mustard or similar on the chicken/sandwich.  Stay away from hush puppies, cole slaw...the mashed potatoes are actually not too terrible if you only eat half of a serving, the bicuits are really high cal/fat too.  I think long johns may half mini corn cobs, but not sure if they put butter on them.  Not familiar with Culvers .