Wendy's Grilled Chicken Wrap
This wrap is a nice, light option for those who need a quick meal on the go. Not only is it easy to eat in the car, but it's easy on your waistline! Catherine Gervacio notes that the grilled chicken wrap from Wendy's is "like a mini sandwich, but lighter."
"You get lean protein, some carbs for energy, and it's also portable," she added.
If you want to save yourself even more calories, she suggests ordering it with light or no sauce, as certain fast food sauces or spreads can pack on unnecessary fat. You can also squeeze in some more fiber by ordering it with extra veggies like lettuce, tomato, and pickles.
Wendy's Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad
While ordering salad from a fast food restaurant isn't always fun, if you're looking for a more nutritious option for your next trip to Wendy's, this veggie-filled salad is a great choice. Not only is it packed with flavor and greens, but it also has avocado, which is full of healthy fats.
"Avocado gives you healthy fats, and the grilled chicken brings protein to keep you full," said Gervacio.
Similarly to the chicken wrap, she once again recommends asking for the dressing on the side and using a smaller amount of it to save some calories. You could also omit the dressing and ask for extra avocado to bump up the creaminess!
McDonald's McChicken Sandwich
This one item may surprise you, but as it turns out, when you order a McChicken without mayonnaise, you're actually ordering something not too high in calories. In her article for Eat This, Not That! Melissa Rifkin wrote that the sandwich is "a healthier option."
"Mayo adds flavor but can be skipped to save 100 calories and 11 grams of fat," she wrote. "Go with mustard instead for a flavor punch for a few calories and no fat."
Chick-fil-A's Egg White Grill Sandwich
Valerie Maclin, a certified nutritionist and weight loss coach, says that Chick-fil-A's egg white grill sandwich is one of the healthiest chicken-based fast food breakfast items. Although chicken for breakfast may not be super common, the restaurant, famous for their chicken, crafted a sandwich that packs a lot of lean protein into one meal.
Aside from the grilled chicken and egg whites, which contain a nice amount of protein, the sandwich is also on an English muffin, which is often lower in fat and higher in fiber than other types of popular breakfast sandwich bread, like biscuits or croissants.
The Bottom Line
Ideally, if you're trying to shed some pounds, you'd avoid eating at fast food restaurants for a while. But let's face it, not only can they be super convenient, but many of them sell delicious food that we love indulging in now and then, even when we know it's not the healthiest.
Still, there are options that can ensure you don't go off the deep end and can even assist in your weight loss when you consume them with a balanced diet that's full of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Which of these four items would you pick first?