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We are always on the go, it seems, especially with so many of us traveling for the holidays--so how do you keep your meals healthy if you can't be home to cook them yourself? Sometimes a girl just has to eat, which means McDonald's might start to sound tempting.
Don't worry, though; you can stick to your health kick if you stick to a few specific restaurants!
Recently, Health Magazine surveyed "nations 100 largest fast-food chains, as defined by the number of locations," and found that more and more restaurants are working to create healthier menus with hearty soups, lean salads, and better portion sizes.
They used a list of criteria by their panel of expert nutritionists to score "the chains on such factors as the use of healthy fats and preparations, healthy sodium counts in entrees, availability of nutritional information, and the use of organic produce."
The list might surprise you; check it out below.
1. Panera Bread. “Variety makes it easy for everyone to choose healthy,” registered dietitian and panelist Marisa Moore praises of the restaurant. Steer clear of the fresh baked goods on the display table if you want to keep your lunch extra lean, and stick to "delicious, nutrient-packed combos like a half–Turkey Artichoke on focaccia bread with a bowl of black bean or garden vegetable soup."
2. Jasons Deli. The health points for this chain were largely due to their emphasis on organic foods--about one-fifth of their ingredients are organic, from their blue-corn tortilla chips to their spinach and their whole-wheat wraps. Experts also applauded their easy portion-control options.
3. Au Bon Pain. Au Bon Pain has been praised as one of the leading pioneers in healthy fast food. They offer everything from sandwiches, soups, salads, and hot entrees made with whole grains, veggies, and hormone-free chicken. "Au Bon Pain provides on-site nutritional information via computer kiosks, so before you even order you know each options calories, fat, and sodium. Its a great way to empower customers,” praises judge Amy Jamieson-Petonic.
4. Noodles and Company. This is not your average greasy Chinese food loaded with MSG. The judges stress, "it goes beyond Asian fare and cuts out the grease (only healthy soybean oil is used in sauteing). Here, you choose from three food types: Asian, Mediterranean, or American, then within each style, pick from four noodle bowl options. Lean proteins--from hormone-free and antibiotic-free chicken, beef, shrimp, and organic tofu--can be added, too." Avoid the dessert items and you can rest easy knowing you ate healthy!
5. Corner Bakery Cafe. Healthy breakfast items are some of the hardest to come by, but Corner Bakery Cafe hits the mark with their offerings. Health Magazine experts praise the Farmers Scrambler: "eggs scrambled with red and green bell peppers, red onion, mushrooms, potatoes, and Cheddar cheese (Its only 260 calories when ordered with egg whites)." They also have amazing salads, soups, and sandwiches with easy portion-control options that make this a no-brainer.
6. Chipotle. This buffet-style restuarant gives all the power to the customers, letting people build their burrito bowls with fresh, local ingredients. If you want to go extra lean, always opt for the burrito bowl and avoid up to 250 calories! Go light on the cheese and sour cream, and you'll cut loads of unnecessary fatty calories.
7. Atlanta Bread. Similar to Panera Bread in their offerings, Atlanta Bread is paving the way for hearty soups, salads, and sandwiches without sacrificing taste. You can even have a muffin top which has half the calories of a regular muffin--it's like having your cake and eating it too! Try to avoid adding bread sides to your pasta entree--that's a lot of carbs and not a lot of nutrients!
8. Einstein Bros. Bagels. Bagels are pretty high in carbs, sure, but it's when you lather them in cream cheese and butter that they become unhealthy. Einstein Bros. Bagels offer health alternatives like reduced-fat shmears, hummus, and peanut butter that can easily add healthy fats without all the calories. If you're in the mood for a salad, stick to their half-sized offerings--they're the perfect size! Beware of their “overstuffed” size sandwiches, though, as they are a calorie nightmare.
9. Taco Del Mar. With their tasty Baja-style Mexican cuisine, Taco Del Mar has everything you need to stay healthy. The 460- to 555-calorie Mondito-size burrito fills you up but keeps fat and sodium in check--making it an easy choice! Steer clear of their breakfast menu, though--their Mondo Breakfast Burritos boast over 1,000. Yikes!
What do you think of these fast-food options? What's your go-to on-the-go option? Let us know in the comments!
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