Drive-thru dinner – it’s as American as fried apple pie.
McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A and other popular fast-food restaurants like Taco Bell and Wendy’s are a part of life for a nation of on-the-go eaters – no matter how much some people say otherwise.
And some experts say it’s perfectly fine to surrender to the inevitable – as long as you make smart decisions when you stop at the order board.
If you ignore the 1,000-calorie burgers and oil-soaked fries and nuggets, you’ll find all kinds of healthy foods to eat, like grilled chicken and nutrient-rich fresh salads.
But do these delicious dishes taste good? Or do they just take up space on the menu?
With a list of the healthiest dishes you can eat at various fast-food restaurants compiled by two board-certified dietitians, Eat This, Not That! reporter Samantha Boesch braved drive-thru lines at seven popular spots and tried everything from the classic oatmeal breakfast to the trendy chicken sandwich.
Her favorite find: the “too good to be true” Cantina Chicken Power Bowl at Taco Bell.
With only 490 calories, 25 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber, the Chipotle copy ranked high on the quality scale.
The professional taster called it a “super filling” and “filling” meal that included seasoned rice, black beans, roasted chicken, pico de gallo, guacamole and an avocado ranch sauce.
Other favorites included Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad, which had 440 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 31 grams of protein. Boesch loved the romaine lettuce and spring mix salad combined with crisp apple slices — as well as the vitamins and minerals packed into all of it.
McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal – a healthy breakfast option that is too often overlooked – had a “surprising creaminess” and a great topping of brown sugar, diced apple and dried fruit. A “nice treat,” the taster concluded.
Chipotle’s low-carb Lifestyle Wholesome Bowl and Chick-fil-A’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich also earned an A rating, although the author admitted that the popular chain’s grilled versions will never be quite as fun as the fried ones.
One item – Dunkin’s egg and cheese on an English muffin – was rejected because of its almost “nonexistent” taste. Although it contains 19 grams of protein, Boesch pointed out that if she wanted something like that for breakfast, she would probably go to Starbucks and get one of their egg sandwiches.
Of course, there’s McDonald’s too—earlier, a nutritionist who’s also a busy mom told Eat This, Not That! that she recommends a classic Egg McMuffin as a top fast-food breakfast for anyone looking to stay healthy.
The 310-calorie Classic Daystarter is a “solid” choice, containing 17 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber but only 33% of your daily sodium needs, Kelsey Kunik told the outlet.
