Healthy Fast Food Menu Choices

Many fast food restaurants are incorporating healthy eating choices into their menus. A few short years ago, it was impossible to find healthy food items at most fast food chains. While fast food restaurants continue to carry jumbo burgers and fries, and many other tasty, high-calorie items, it's getting easier for those who want healthier choices to find selections that meet their needs.

Fortunately, many restaurants are responding to consumer demand and ever-increasing publicity about the link between good health and a proper diet by expanding their selections to include healthy choices. Some of the healthy choices you'll find at major fast food chains include:

Chick-fil-A

As the name implies, Chick-fil-A's menu centers around chicken. The restaurant does not use any type of formed chicken, instead using only whole chicken breast meat for all chicken selections. The company's fried chicken is cooked in peanut oil, which is naturally free of trans fats.

The most healthy menu choices include: chargrilled chicken sandwiches, green salads, chicken soup, carrot salad, fresh fruit, and low fat ice cream.

Click here to see complete nutritional information about the Chick-fil-A menu.

McDonald's

Once considered the worst offender when it comes to fat and calorie-laden foods, McDonald's has been working hard to improve it's image by adding healthy selections to its menu.

Healthy selections include: side salads, a variety of main dish salads, breakfast wraps, grilled chicken sandwiches, fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, and low fat ice cream.

You can find complete nutritional information about McDonald's menu items here.

Wendy's

This fast food restaurant has offered baked potatoes and salads for years. They were among the first fast food outlets to allow customers to choose a side dish other than French fries as part of a combo meal.

Healthy menu items at Wendy's include: side salads, main dish salads, baked potatoes, yogurt, fresh fruit, deli-style Frescata sandwiches, and grilled chicken sandwiches.

Click here for nutrition information about the full Wendy's menu. You can even view a list of gluten-free selections available at the restaurant.

Subway

Subway has always offered low fat sandwiches, and does a great job conveying the diet-conscious benefits of eating subway through its well-known, long running "Jared" campaign.

As concerns about the relationship between carbohydrate consumption and weight loss became widespread, the chain responded by introducing wrap sandwiches. Subway also carries an assortment of fresh salads, soups, yogurt, and fresh fruit. Subway even carries Baked Lays potato chips.

For complete nutrition details about Subway's menu selections, see Subway.com.

Any Suggestions?

Do you have more ideas for healthy eating at fast food restaurants? Please share by posting in the comments section below!