Atkins Diet Fast Food Options

Grabbing a fast food lunch or snack presents a challenge to people on the Atkins' diet because the calories in fast foods often come from carbohydrates, which is severely limited by the diet. To make good fast food choices, a dieter on Atkins should remember glycemic index values (see Resources) and check menus for carbohydrate content of the food options. Many fast food restaurants including McDonald's, Wendy's and Arby's post the nutrition content of their foods online or you can ask before making your selection.

Breakfast

Getting away from carbohydrates is difficult on the fast food breakfast menus at McDonalds, Subway, Wendy's or Arby's because menu items come surrounded with bread, muffins, wraps and served with other banned foods like hash brown potatoes. You can eat eggs, bacon and turkey sausage from all of these fast food restaurants to remain compliant with the Atkins' diet. However, you will have to skip the bread and potato products that come with the menu items. If you consider takeout to be fast food, then the International House of Pancakes provides takeout service for their vegetable frittata and other egg dishes, and Hardee's offers a low carb breakfast bowl with lots of protein, but no vegetables.

Mexican food for lunch or dinner

The carbohydrates in Mexican food come from the tortillas, rice and beans served with many menu options. However, you may select approved Atkins' food options in Mexican restaurants by removing the carbohydrates while enjoying the fajita meat and vegetables, taco meat in a salad, or a burrito bowl. Avoid adding salad dressing and salsa sauces to your meal since both can contain carbohydrates. Taco Bell, a popular fast food Mexican restaurant, offers tacos al fresco, which reduces carbs slightly. Taco Bueno gives low carb dieters several salad options to reduce carbohydrate temptations.

Hamburger Joints

Going out to a fast food burger joint violates no Atkins restrictions unless you eat the bun. The traditional fast food hamburger served with lettuce, a slice of tomato, cheese and onion meets your meal requirements for lunch or dinner. Several popular fast food hamburger joints offer salads with beef or chicken that Atkins dieters can enjoy without guilt, including McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King and Whataburger. Eat your hamburger with mustard or mayonnaise, not ketchup, to maintain low carbohydrates.