That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though. “So it’s going to be a little more challenging to find better options there.” has kind of gone the opposite direction in doubling up on ingredients,” says Malik. “While many fast food companies are going to lower-carb, nutritious, or healthy menu options, Carl’s Jr. in your region, one thing remains consistent: It likes its burgers tall, fatty, and gooey with cheese. Whether this fast food chain is called Hardee’s or Carl’s Jr. Nutrition info: 480 calories, 21 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 38 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 1,650 mg sodium, 31 g protein The more surface area a potato has, the more fatty oil it’s going to get covered in, Malik points out. If you’re going to indulge in a fried side, remember this for any fast food restaurant: Opt for straight, thin French fries, rather than curly fries or tots. If they have packets on the side, you can add your own,” says Malik.Įven if you don’t limit your sauce, this sandwich adds up to a decent meal of 480 calories. Sonic offers a Grilled Chicken Wrap, an all-white grilled chicken breast served on a flour tortilla with lettuce, tomatoes, and ranch dressing. “The hot dogs are highly processed, which would be the biggest concern, and the bun is going to be refined carbohydrates,” says Neal Malik, R.D., associate professor at California State University-San Bernardino. With its retro-inspired, super indulgent menu (which features things like hot dogs and chili cheese fries) eating healthy at Sonic isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but it can be done.

Just know that their availability may depend on your location.

However, it’s never a bad idea to steer clear of the typical quarter-pounder and fries at least every so often, as the excess sodium and cholesterol increase risk of heart disease and stroke, per the World Health Organization.Īs long as you don’t make eating out a habit, these meals can provide some substantial sustenance. With that in mind, no one order will be universally healthy for everyone. “What may be healthy for one person may not be healthy for another,” she says, adding that some people avoid certain allergens like soy and gluten, for example, while others who are diabetic may have to pay closer attention to sugar intake. It’s easy to immediately associate “healthy” with “low-calorie,” but she brings up that “healthy” is actually a very subjective, loaded term. And menu variety, she adds, is key to serving everyone’s health needs. “Now, I feel like there’s so many options,” she says. Karin Evans, Ph.D., R.D., C.H.E.S., remembers a time when the only “healthy” options at drive-thrus were rather sad looking salads. (Because, let’s be honest, life happens.) Be it that you woke up late or forgot your meal-prepped lunch in the fridge (ugh!), the good news is, fast food restaurants are making their menus increasingly accessible to all types of healthier eating habits, including low-calorie, plant-based, gluten-free, and more. No matter how health-conscious you might be, at one point or another, you’re bound to find yourself strapped for time, hangry, and scanning the menu at a fast food restaurant.

Romaine hearts calories