Healthy Fast Food Options To Keep You in the Drive Thru and on Your Diet

If there’s an industry that thrived in 2020, it’s fast food. The option of never leaving your car to get a satisfying meal is unparalleled in the age of coronavirus. But now that we’ve crossed the calendar into 2021, the pounds have added up. Resolutions have come into the picture like someone too close behind you in the drive-thru line. Fear not – we’ve put together a few great items that’ll keep you enjoying the convenience of your favorite fast food places while keeping to your diet.

5. Wendy’s
While these are the makers of the calorific Pretzel Bacon Pub sandwich, you can get some pretty healthy options from the ubiquitous burger chain. They’ve always been better at sides than the other chains (well, except fries, but that’s a topic for another day). They’re continuing that trend with a fresh baked oatmeal bar – whole oats, blueberries and cranberries – plus apple slices. And for a menu hack, you can replace any burger with grilled chicken.

4. Moe’s
An Atlanta classic, these guys might fall under the fast casual space, but with curbside available at all locations, we’re including them in here. Moe’s has been making build-your-own burrito bowls for over two decades. Plus, their website has a nutrition calculator so you can build out your bowl and stick to your plan. Their salad is delicious too – chopped romaine, your favorite ingredients and choice of protein (organic tofu is an option).

3. Zaxby’s
Zaxby’s makes the best buffalo chicken in the drive-thru biz, so their blue salad, with mixed greens, red cabbage, carrots, Roma tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, fried onions and Texas toast is the perfect complement. You can also get your chicken blackened or garden style. Go with the lite ranch to keep the calories low. If you’re indulging on a side, but don’t want to go too carb crazy, their spicy fried mushrooms are the perfect option. Also, shouts to their Cole slaw (low cal) and to the nibbler for keeping the sandwich small – portion control is a major part of dieting, after all!

2. Chick Fil-A
Chick-Fil-A brought grilled nuggets onto the menu just a few years ago, but the item has already become a menu staple. Perfect on a salad or simply on their own, the grilled nuggets may be the single best tasting healthy item in all of fast food! We also had some folks on staff rave about the market salad with grilled chicken and light Italian dressing as a way to keep things in check this sanitary January.

1. Starbucks
Starbucks looked to be in a tough position in 2020, with so many of its customers loving the in-store experience. Luckily, customers love Starbucks coffee and food items as much as they love being there. The option we all collectively love are Starbucks’ sous vide egg bites, a perfect combo of egg white protein and red pepper flavors or bacon and gruyere. If protein is your big focus, the eggs and cheddar protein box is a great option – two cage free hardboiled eggs, apples, grapes and white cheddar with muesli bread and honey peanut butter. The perfect pre-workout snack.