{"id":32075,"date":"2022-10-24T14:11:01","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T14:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=32075"},"modified":"2024-11-15T17:57:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T17:57:51","slug":"healthy-fast-food-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/healthy-fast-food-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Fast Food Options According to Dietitians"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes we all need something quick and convenient when we\u2019re on the go. Consider these healthy fast food options that are dietician-approved and better for you choices. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

More than one in three American adults consume fast food at least once each day, according to estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC).<\/p>\n\n\n

The reality is, fast food is a convenient and budget-friendly option for many families. And while most dietitians wouldn\u2019t recommend the daily<\/em> fast food habit that more than 36 percent of Americans share, a fast food nosh here or there can definitely be part of a well-balanced meal plan. The nutrition experts we spoke to agree\u2014keep reading to see the healthy fast food options they recommend ordering on your next pit stop.<\/p>\n\n\n

Can You Eat Healthy at a Fast Food Restaurant?<\/h2>\n\n\n

If you put home-cooked meals toe-to-toe with menu items at fast food restaurants, the DIY dinners are almost always going to come out on top nutritionally, confirms Roxana Ehsani<\/a>, MS, RD, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Miami and a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics<\/a>. (Especially if you\u2019re whipping up one of these 20 healthy meal ideas registered dietitians swear by<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cTypically, we use less fat, oil, sugar, and salt in homemade meals than fast food,\u201d Ehsani says. \u201cOf course, if we make a comfort food dish using lots of butter, oils, salt, or sugar, that can be high in calories and not super-nutritious, too, but hopefully that\u2019s just on holidays or for special occasions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

So even though fast food wouldn\u2019t be the top recommendation to consume on a regular basis, \u201cit can have a spot in a balanced diet and is definitely a convenient way to get nutrition when out and about, though,\u201d adds Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CPT<\/a>, a San Diego-based registered dietitian and the author of the Air Fryer Cookbook for Dummies<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

It\u2019s especially convenient when traveling, if you forgot your breakfast<\/a> or lunch during the morning rush, or if you\u2019re in a pinch between evening events (like those aforementioned kid errands and other scheduled events). \u201cYou can absolutely include a fast food meal in your day,\u201d Ehsani says. \u201cAs long as you are able to consume a healthy eating pattern throughout most of the rest<\/a> of your week, you will be nourishing your body, a few fast food meals won’t make or break your health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Nutritional Content of Fast Food<\/h2>\n\n\n

The nutritional content of fast food menus can vary significantly based on the restaurant and offerings within each menu, explains Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, founder of NutritionStarringYOU.com<\/a> and author of \u200b<\/em>The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

It can feel daunting to sort through it all, but one piece of positive news is that restaurant menus across the board\u2014especially at chain restaurants like the popular fast food spots below\u2014are becoming more transparent.<\/p>\n\n\n

As of 2018, per a new requirement from the US Food & Drug Administration<\/a> (FDA), \u201cmost chain restaurants with 20 or more branches are required by law to list their caloric information for consumers to see on the menu itself at the restaurant,\u201d Ehsani says. \u201cFast food places are starting to be more health conscious, too. You may notice more options that have veggies in it, like places that allow you to build-your-own bowls, or you might see fast food restaurants adding more whole grains<\/a> on the menu.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

And since there\u2019s increasing demand for recipes that align with certain lifestyles, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are also becoming more widely available, Ehsani says.<\/p>\n\n\n

Quick Tips for Healthier Fast Food Choices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n