Healthiest Fast Food Meals

For those of you with a busy lifestlye it can be hard to eat healthy when your on the go. Whether you go to a quick sit down restaurant or drive through it is possible to stick to your diet and still feel full and satisfied. If you are looking for some healthy food fast, try these popular choices when dining out.

Applebees:

Grilled Chicken Dijon with Portobello- 450 calories and 16 grams of fat.

Asiago Peppercorn Steak- 390 calories and 14 grams of fat.

When dining out look for grilled, broiled, steamed. These cooking methods will save you a lot of calories.

The Healthiest Fast-Food Oatmeals

Yes, Mark Bittman’s smackdown on McDonald’s oatmeal in his recent New York Times Opinionator column, “How to Make Oatmeal…Wrong,” introduced some valid points. Making your own oatmeal at home can be—and often is—healthier. (Click here for some quick and easy recipes for cooking every kind of oats.) And although its name implies it contains maple syrup, it doesn’t—it’s “natural flavor” and caramel coloring.

But as a registered dietitian and nutrition editor for EatingWell Magazine, I was disappointed by Bittman’s nutrition analysis. He only looked at the calories in McDonald’s oatmeal when he compared it to the Egg McMuffin. Sure, the Fruit & Maple Oatmeal doesn’t look so healthy when you call out the fact that it’s only 10 calories less than an Egg McMuffin. But the oatmeal looks like a much healthier choice when you see that it delivers less than half the total fat and saturated fat at 4.5 and 1.5 grams, respectively, compared to 12 and 5 in the McMuffin. In fact, the oatmeal contains the least amount of fat of any other item on the McDonald’s breakfast menu. You also get 3 more grams of fiber and 660 milligrams less sodium from the oatmeal.

And beyond all that, Bittman made no mention that oats are healthy whole grains—something that most Americans don’t eat often enough. Or that oatmeal is fiber-rich and contains protein—two key nutrients that will help keep you feeling full and satisfied until lunch. And no matter what type you choose, quick-cooking, steel-cut and rolled oats are equally healthy nutrition-wise—and can take mere minutes to cook.

24 Surprisingly Healthiest Fast Foods

Burgers, tacos, pizza -- find out which of your fast-food favorites aren't so bad after all. Our list includes picks from KFC, McDonald's, Taco Bell, and more, plus healthy fast-food desserts.

Is the drive-thru the fast lane to a heart attack? On the one hand, it's true: One slipup ("okay, sure, I'll take the large fries and apple pie with that") and you can add more than 800 high-in-saturated-fat calories to your takeout. But there is good news. Some of the burgers, sides, sandwiches, and even desserts aren't as bad for you as you might think. In fact, some are downright light! Here are 24 fast-food picks that are all figure-friendly -- unless of course you order them all at once.

20 Healthiest Fast Foods

New Year’s resolutions to slim down don’t mean that you can’t eat fast. The Daily Beast pores over fast-food menus, and uncovers the 20 healthiest options—no salads required.

But there are options out there. Some burgers, chicken sandwiches, and pizza provide at least a healthier alternative to, say, the gut-busting Baconator Triple from Wendy’s. In fact, turns out that two of the better-for-you items on this list are from Wendy’s.

The Healthiest Fast Food Meals at The Drive-Thru

It’s National Drive Thru day today and for those of you who enjoy the convenience of fast food but worry about expanding waist lines, here are 9 lower-calorie fast food items to choose from!  With many chain stores doling out healthier options, it’s easier than ever to choose meals more wisely.

Granted, taking into account the sodium content and portion size of these meals, you still shouldn’t be having them every day, but they’re just about as guilt-free as fast food gets!

McDonalds Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap (w/ Honey Mustard or Chipotle BBQ Sauce)
260 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 820 mg of sodium
As lovingly described by McDonalds, these snack wraps consist of “plump and juicy grilled chicken, bathed in the deep heat of chipotle BBQ sauce, held in the tight embrace of a flour tortilla.” You might feel guilty reading its description, but you’ll feel just fine eating it.