Natural Health

No time to shop, cook and sit down to a leisurely meal? Fast food restaurants are banking on it! But if you’re looking for something healthy at the drive-through that will help you stay slim, the pickin’s are, well, slim. I try to avoid eating fast food as much as possible, but sometimes—when I’m traveling, dealing with ravenous teenagers or craving, yes, french fries in a bad way—I cave. Fortunately, most fast food establishments now offer a few options that are both relatively low in calories and saturated fat and satisfy our devilish taste buds. The next time you find yourself eating on the go, order one of these healthy options and feel good—not guilty!

Quiznos Pan Asian Chicken Chopped Salad

One option on Quiznos’s under-500-calories menu, this hearty salad comes with chicken (a good source of lean, filling protein), diced tomatoes and crispy Asian noodles that add a satisfying crunch. Order the dressing (it comes with spicy Pan Asian dressing) on the side and use half of it, or ask for fat-free balsamic vinaigrette for a healthier option.
Calorie count: about 330

Burger King Veggie Burger and Garden Salad

Burger King’s meatless burgers are MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Patties, which are made with mushrooms, onion, carrots, green and red peppers, black olives, brown rice and rolled oats—a yummy combo that tastes great flame-broiled (no bland veggie mash here!). Choose the burger with lettuce, tomato and ketchup, and eat the salad with 1/2 packet of light Italian dressing. For about half the fat and triple the fiber of the Whopper, you get fast food flavor sans sluggishness.
Calorie count: about 540

McDonald’s Premium Southwest Salad With Grilled Chicken and Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

This salad is a meal in itself: It’s loaded with grilled chicken, shredded jack and cheddar, tomatoes, corn, black beans and, for zip, poblano peppers and chili lime-flavored tortilla strips. Eat it with 1/2 packet of creamy Southwest dressing, then dig into the parfait (creamy yogurt layered with blueberries and strawberries) without the granola for a sweet finish.
Calorie count: about 500

Wendy’s Chili, Garden Side Salad and Mandarin Oranges

Autumn’s on its way, and what better way to stay warm on chilly nights than with a steaming bowl of hearty chili? You don’t have to eat much of Wendy’s chili to feel happily full—it’s made with filling ground beef and a healthy portion of kidney beans, veggies like onions and green peppers, and chili seasoning (which delivers a subtle kick!)—so order a small. Add the side salad, which comes tossed with iceberg and romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes and carrots, with one packet of fat-free French dressing. And for a tangy dessert, enjoy half an order of the oranges.
Calorie count: about 400

Taco Bell Fresco Bean Burrito

Another tasty veggie option, the Fresco Bean Burrito comes with salsa made of tomatoes, white onions and cilantro (which replaces high-calorie cheese without sacrificing flavor), all wrapped inside a soft flour tortilla. Ask for it with a side of guacamole, which has healthful fat.
Calorie count: about 400

Subway 6-inch Veggie Patty Sandwich

Subway’s take on a veggie burger, these patties pack enough flavor to satisfy even serious meat lovers. Order the sandwich on toasted whole-wheat bread with lettuce, tomato and 2 slices provolone, plus any other uncooked veggies (e.g., mushrooms, onions and peppers), topped with mustard and/or vinegar.
Calorie count: about 450

You may have noticed french fries didn’t make our list of healthy picks, but if you must have them, go for it—just opt for a small order to keep fat grams in check (a small french fries from McDonald’s has 11 grams of fat, and only 1.5 g are “bad” or saturated fat). Stocking your kitchen with these yummy, good-for-you frozen meals, heat-and-serve soups and snacks makes it easier to resist the urge to call the pizza delivery guy when you’re running short on time and energy.