While fast food restaurants typically serve fried foods full of fat and extra sodium, you can find healthier choices than the typical large burger, fries and soft drink. With a few smart choices, you can eat at least somewhat healthfully at a fast-food restaurant. For example, try to avoid fried choices, instead eating grilled meats. Choose a side salad or fruit cup instead of fries, and order water instead of soda.
Chick-Fil-A: Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad and Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich
The Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad at Chick-fil-a is made with fresh romaine and iceberg lettuce, a grilled chicken breast, and a variety of vegetables. At 23 g of protein and just 180 calories, it is a smart, low-cal choice when paired with a low-fat dressing. The Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich is a grilled chicken breast on a wheat bun with lettuce and tomato. The sandwich has no trans fats and has 29 g of protein. While it contains 1,030 mg -- over half of the National Institutes of Health's recommended intake -- of sodium, you can pair it with diet lemonade, and end up with a good meal for just 310 calories.
McDonald's: Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without Brown Sugar
McDonald's new Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without brown sugar is one of the best fast food breakfast options. One serving has 260 calories, but it is trans fat-free. One serving also contains 5g of dietary fiber and 130 percent of your daily value of vitamin C.
McDonald's: Snack Wraps
McDonald's offers three flavors of Snack Wraps -- Ranch, Honey Mustard, and Chipotle BBQ -- which are each less than 300 calories when made with a grilled chicken breast. The Honey Mustard and Chipotle BBQ has just 9 g of fat each, and the Ranch has 10 g, less than half of which is from trans and saturated fats.
McDonald's: Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait
The Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait is something sweet that will not set you back on your diet. With 160 calories in each, only 20 of these calories are from fat. It also offers 15 percent of your daily value of vitamin C and calcium.
Taco Bell: Fresco Chicken Soft Taco and the Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco
The sixth and seventh top fast food choices are from Taco Bell's Fresco Menu. The Fresco Chicken Soft Taco and Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco both use grilled meats instead of low-grade ground beef. Both tacos have only 150 calories apiece, with 0 g trans fats. They are also have significantly less sodium than other Taco Bell foods, at 480 mg for the chicken and 520 for the steak.
KFC: Grilled Chicken and Grilled Chicken BLT Salad
KFC offers grilled chicken as an option for all of its boxed meals, which cuts your fat intake by up to 50 percent. Avoid anything labeled "crispy," which is fried and high in fat and sodium. In addition, the KFC Grilled Chicken BLT Salad is a good choice at just 220 calories without dressing. The best dressing choice is Marzetti Light Italian Dressing, which adds just 15 calories.
Hardee's: Turkey Burger
The tenth good fast food choice is Hardee's new Turkey Burger. A hearty grilled burger with ketchup, mustard, mayo, onion, tomato, lettuce, and dill pickles, it comes in at 480 calories. While the burger still has 17 g of fat and 930 mg of sodium, it is healthier than a McDonald's Big Mac, which has 29 g of fat and 1,040 mg of sodium.
