It might seem like everything on the menu at fast-food places has a lot of calories, making it hard to get a healthy quick bite to eat when you’re on the go or don’t have much time.
If you are a weight watcher member, it may seem like there are no fast food options out there for you. But it turns out that if you go to the right places or pick the right meals, you can visit many fast food places guilt-free.
If you are trying to lose weight and visit a fast food joint, then you should try to find dishes that are more natural than regular fast food and don’t have too many additives.
Even fast food places like Taco Bell and Popeyes serve these dishes.
So what fast food is best for dieters? We have made this list of the top 11 best fast food places to try out if you are a weight watchers member, or if you are just watching your calories but don’t want to give up your favorite fast food.
1. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A (see also ‘13 Best Breakfast Menu Items At Chick-Fil-A That You Can Try Today‘) is an example of the kind of quick-service restaurant that strives to provide its customers with an experience that exceeds their expectations.
They provide a variety of food options that are not only healthier for you compared to other fast food places, but the meals also are used as healthy alternatives that are acceptable to eat when on Weight Watchers (see also ‘28 Best Weight Watchers Chicken Recipes‘).
The Egg White Grill, which consists of egg whites, grilled chicken, and American cheese melted on top of an English muffin, is one example of a breakfast dish that has gained popularity in recent years.
The total number of calories in this meal is 290, and it contains 26 grams of protein.
Customers of Chick-fil-A may order the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Kale Crunch Side, Greek Yogurt Parfait, or Chick-n-Minis that have 350 calories or fewer, in addition to the morning options that make for a pretty healthy breakfast.
2. Taco Bell
It might be challenging to stick to a budget while still keeping to a diet that is high in nutrients. Taco Bell has a few products on its menu that help make it possible for customers to eat healthily at a low cost.
If you have dietary preferences or restrictions, you can opt for Taco Bell’s gluten-free options, so be sure to inquire about their gluten-free menu items to enjoy a tasty meal that suits your needs.
Surprisingly, Taco Bell’s crunchy and soft tacos both have fewer than 200 calories and three grams of fiber apiece. The crunchy tacos are the healthier option though.
The vegetarian option of Black Beans and Rice is a dish that is both low in calories and fat, with only 4 grams of fat and 170 total calories. It is a good choice for people who are watching their weight.
A power bowl that has been modified by increasing the amount of meat and eliminating the rice and beans contains 290 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and 29 grams of protein.
This change is ideal for those who are looking for a meal that is high in protein but low in calories.
3. Burger King
When you are on a diet, getting rid of items that are highly high in fat and switching from using buns to wraps or salads will make it much simpler for you to cut back on the number of calories you consume.
When you think of “healthy” fat food places, we doubt that you’d think of Burger King at first.
But this fast food restaurant offers a wide selection of healthful alternatives, some of which may make it easier for you to avoid consuming excess oil and preservatives.
If you are looking for a salad that has fewer preservatives and more nutrients, the Chicken, Apple, and Cranberry Salad with Grilled Chicken is a fantastic place to start exploring.
If you choose a sandwich made with grilled chicken (see also ‘15 Of The Most Finger Lickin’ Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches’) instead of a burger covered in fat, you can expect to eat up to 200 fewer calories in a single sitting.
Those who are concerned with keeping a healthy diet have another option available to them in the form of the Egg and Cheese Muffin.
4. Subway
Customers at Subway, much like those at Chipotle, can personalize their meals by choosing from among a set number of ingredients.
Customers have the freedom to choose the ingredients of their sandwiches, allowing them to make more educated and health-based decisions regarding the bread, the meat, and the toppings.
At Subway, the most efficient method for reducing the number of calories, carbs, and preservatives you consume is to order their sandwiches without any bread at all.
You might want to try something different, such as a wrap, a flatbread, or a salad instead.
It is recommended that you choose the oven-roasted chicken instead of the more typical roast beef in your meal. This is due to the high level of preservation that deli meats possess.
If you are looking for a meal that is high in nutrition, leave the cheese off of your sandwich and instead pile it high with a variety of fresh veggies and a vinaigrette.
5. Popeyes
Cooking in a style characteristic of the South is not often considered to be healthy, and is a type of cooking that Weight Watchers tells us to avoid.
Although a significant portion of the food served at Popeyes is chicken that has been doused with fat and then fried, you might be able to improve your lunch choice by picking one of the many other things from the menu.
Customers who are trying to monitor their weight and are interested in ordering chicken from Popeyes will find that the 3-Piece Handcrafted Blackened Chicken Tenders are the best option available.
Because these tenders are not cooked in deep fat and, rather, are covered with a spice mixture that does not include any calories, there are no additional calories that come from the use of oil in this preparation method.
Along with the blackened chicken tenders, both the Loaded Chicken Wrap and the Butterfly Shrimp have a pretty low-calorie count, making them good choices to have for dinner.
6. McDonald’s
Like Burger King, Mcdonald’s is not known for being healthy. Because of the disappointing amount of average calories that are in each meal, McDonald’s is usually singled out and given a large lot of bad attention.
If you love Mcdonald’s and are not ready to give it up even if you are on a diet, or if you are in a hurry and looking for a snack that is low in calories, you will be glad to find out that McDonald’s has a few options for you.
The Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfait is the most healthful option that McDonald’s has to offer because it only has 150 calories and is made up of low-fat yogurt, fresh fruit, and granola that has been blended.
A quick WeightWatcher breakfast option that is both warm and low in calories is the Fruit and Maple Oatmeal. This is a satisfying breakfast that has been created by combining hot oatmeal with tasty fruit.
You might want to consider getting the Bacon Ranch Grilled Chicken Salad, which has 320 calories and is an ideal option for a hurried lunch. Or, you could just have a regular old hamburger (which has 250 calories).
7. Wendy’s
Wraps, baked potatoes, mouthwatering salads, and sandwiches prepared with grilled chicken are just some of the options available at Wendy’s that may help you keep a healthy weight.
Wendy’s (see also ‘15 Wendy’s Food Items Ranked‘) menu features a broad variety of other things that might aid you in keeping a healthy weight.
If you find yourself in a Wendy’s drive-through, try to resist the urge to choose a meal that is high in calories and instead give some thought to what you may have that is on the healthier side of the menu.
The Apple Pecan Chicken Salad, the Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad, and the Berry Burst Chicken Salad all include succulent grilled chicken pieces that are served on top of a bed of nutritious lettuce greens and toppings that are expertly matched to one another.
Each of these chicken salads is named after a different fruit or berry, but they all share a common ingredient: chicken.
In comparison to the other products on the Wendy’s menu, the salads include a lower total quantity of preservatives and a significantly higher percentage of protein.
You could also try a baked potato without any toppings or a wrap made of grilled chicken if you’re looking for extra low-calorie options to choose from.
8. Chipotle
One of the best restaurants for Weight Watchers that provides quick meals is Chipotle, which is well-known for making use of items that are both fresh and of high quality.
Chipotle’s mission is to serve delicious food that uses locally sourced ingredients and gives customers the option to buy grass-fed beef.
Because Chipotle allows you to customize every aspect of your meal, the most effective strategy for eating healthily at the Mexican fast food chain (see also ‘14 Best Southern American Fast-Food Chains‘) is to think carefully about what you should add to your meal.
To get started, choose a bowl or a salad to use as your base. If you remove the tortilla from your diet, you will reduce the number of calories you consume by 200 – 300.
After that, choose a lean protein such as steak that is lower in calories. Include beans in the recipe to boost the amount of protein, and if you have to have rice, choose brown rice rather than white rice.
When it comes to toppings, things might get difficult. Because of the minimal number of calories that they contain, the best alternatives for toppings include fajita veggies, lettuce, guacamole, and green chili sauce.
When adding any toppings that are still available, do so with moderation because adding more may result in a substantial increase in the overall number of calories in the meal.
9. Panda Express
Panda Express is one of those quick-service restaurants that is simply too nice to give up eating at, so even if you are on a diet, you won’t want to give up dining there.
There are a few meals on their menu that you can order even if you are attempting to control your weight, which is convenient for those times when you are in a hurry but still want some flavorful Chinese food.
If you are trying to monitor your weight, you should have the Beef and Broccoli meal from Panda Express since it is the healthiest option the restaurant has to offer.
The dish will make you feel good about the decision that you made for supper because it only has 150 calories, and it contains the nutrient-rich vegetable broccoli.
The Black Pepper Angus Steak and the Mushroom Chicken are two other selections that you may choose from that won’t cause you to eat too many calories.
Try serving these various protein alternatives with a side of steaming white rice for a dinner that will satisfy your cravings without packing on the calories.
10. Dunkin’ Donuts
Bagels and donuts are not the best choices for Weight Watchers when it comes to fast food.
Luckily, there are a lot of options for you to choose from if you want to visit Dunkin’ (see also ‘18 Amazing Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffees To Try‘). These include their 6 pieces harsh brown option, and if you want some breakfast, you should try out their Egg and Cheese Wake-up Wrap.
If Dunkin’s drinks are more to your taste, then you can still have their various coffees guilt free so long as you don’t add sugar. If you want a latte, you should also switch out the regular milk for a healthier alternative like almond milk.
11. Starbucks
The key to making Weight Watchers fast food work is to find a place where you can change almost every order.
With a few tips, you can order a drink at Starbucks that is low in calories but still tastes great. Espresso or black coffee are the options with the lowest calories, so long as you don’t add any flavorings, milk, or sugar.
But that doesn’t mean you have to drink bitter black coffee if you’d rather have something sweeter.
Choose non-dairy milk like almond milk and one or two pumps of “skinny” flavors like cinnamon dolce, mocha, and vanilla to bring some extra sweetness to the drinks (See Also: irresistible Weight Watchers desserts).
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
- 15 Traditional Greek Breads - July 31, 2023
- 30 Delicious And Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes - July 29, 2023
- 30 Of The Best European Desserts - July 29, 2023