Fast Food for Less | What Would A Nutritionist Order At Your Favorite Fast Food Chain?

We all want to get that fast food fix but worry it will impact our waistline. Guess what – it’s still possible to hit the drive-thru without blowing your healthy eating plan.

With an average of 50 billion burgers consumed in America every year, fast food chains have had to up their nutrition game, introducing more vegan-forward and low-calorie meals in order to combat obesity.

Ever wondered what a nutritionist would order from Mcdonald’s, KFC or Subway? Here at Myprotein, resident nutritionist Jennifer Blow reveals exactly what to order so you don’t feel too guilty the next day.

This is how you can indulge at Burger King for just 170 calories

We scoured the menus of 30 fast food outlets across the US, from international giants such as McDonald’s and Taco Bell to American favorite Wendy’s, in search of the healthiest food options. We analyzed the portion size, ingredients list and calorie count of the lightest bite on offer.

Table 1. Show’s the healthiest options in 5 of the largest fast food chains in the US

Out of the 30 healthy option menus we analyzed these were the top 20 with the fewest calories

Enjoy The Original Slider from White Castle – for just 140 kcal

Coming in first place in our analysis is The Original Slider from White Castle at 140 kcal per serving. Making up less than 10% of the recommended daily calorie intake, this is one of the healthiest options on our list. The classic beef burger is low in fats and sugars, paired with a vibrant salad will add those much needed nutrients.

Jennifer Blow, the resident nutritionist at Myprotein, specializes in nutritional science for exercise and healthy living.

Jennifer says: “At 140kcal this isn’t going to send your calories soaring, pairing the slider with a nice vibrant salad will be tastier and healthier.”

While this is one of the healthiest options in terms of the number of calories, there are very few vitamins and minerals on offer. Add on the garden side salad to turn this into a more filling, vibrant and guilt-free treat.

Hungry for a slice? Pizza Hut’s Classic Cheese pizza – just 150 kcal per slice

Not far behind is a slice of Pizza Hut’s Classic Cheese Pizza. At just 150 kcal per slice, this bite offers a healthy dose of carbs and cheese, without a side dish of guilt! However, the size of the serving may leave you feeling hungry, as the slice doesn’t contain many vitamins or minerals and has very little protein.

Chicken dishes revealed as the highest calorie dishes – with an average of 447 calories each

It’s common knowledge that chicken dishes are a popular choice for those trying to eat healthy without compromising on flavor. Chicken is a versatile ingredient that is packed with protein and is easy to prepare.

While chicken is often swapped for the lighter option of turkey within salads and wraps, there were more chicken dishes than any other meat or veggie/vegan option within our top 30 healthy menu offerings. However, packed with protein, the succulent meaty ingredient did result in higher calorie intake.

Out of the 30 healthy options we analyzed the below 10, contained the most calories for when you want to treat yourself that little bit more

IHOP’s Chicken Sandwich has the most calories but is still healthier – at just 650 kcal

Of all the menus analyzed, IHOP’s Chicken Sandwich comes up top for the healthiest option with the highest amount of calories. At 650 kcal per serving, the Chicken Sandwich is still one of the healthiest fast food options available. While there may be a higher amount of salt and sodium, this option is also packed with protein – making you feel fuller for longer.

Love McDonald’s? The Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad is just 320 kcal per portion

Following closely in third place (and one of only four salads to make the list) is the Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad from fast food giant McDonald’s.

Jennifer says: “At 320kcal per portion, this salad isn’t the absolute lightest salad you can get (thanks to the cheese and tortillas, it contains more calories than a double cheeseburger). But with leaner meat, fewer refined carbohydrates and more veg, this salad still prevails as one of the healthier McDonald’s options. At 51% of your daily value of sodium however, this meal should be a treat and not your work lunch on the regular!”

It’s all about balance

While too many fast food binges will naturally not be good for you, everyone fancies, and deserves, a cheat day now and then. It’s important to remind ourselves that nutrition is all about balance – everything in moderation. A balanced diet – combined with regular exercise – ensures that you get all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you need for a healthy mind and body.

In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the HHS recommends that people should:

• Eat at least 5 portions of varied fruit and vegetables each day
• When consuming foods and drinks which may be high in fat, salt or sugar, have these less frequently and in smaller amounts
• To ensure a wide range of nutrients, opt for a variety of different foods from the 5 main food groups
• Drink plenty of water (at least 6 to 8 glasses per day)
• Partake in regular exercise (some type of physical activity every day. Any type of activity is good for you)

If you think you could benefit from some guidance on maintaining a balanced diet, check out our nutrition products.

Methodology

We analyzed the food menus of 30 of the most popular and well-known fast food outlets in the US. Taking into account the portion size, ingredients list and calorie count, we discovered the lightest bite on offer from each menu.

Breaking down the ingredients list and comparing the nutritional information per serving size, we looked at the daily calorie intake information available from the HHS

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2020-02-25 14:40:38 • By Josh Hunt