Who has the time to cook? Between the long hours at work, soccer practice, PTA meetings and traffic fast-food meals are inevitable. That's why we set out to find some healthy choices all fewer than 350 calories.
For more options pick up Eat This, Not That. This is a good “no diet, diet” resource that can help give you additional options in eating a lot of the foods you love when in a bind and still make that healthy lifestyle change
1. Panda Express Mongolian Beef and Mixed Veggies
235 calories
7 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
1,260 mg sodium
Panda Express actually has several options that come in below the 350-calorie mark. The key is skipping the greasy mound of fried rice and the oily tangle of noodles. Pair a low-calorie entrée such as the Mongolian Beef or Green Bean Chicken with a side of veggies and you wind up with a fairly nutritious meal with plenty of protein to keep you full. Entrees to avoid: Beijing Beef, Orange Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and anything with pork.
2. Subway 6”Sub
Turkey Breast and Black Forest Ham Sandwich (on 9-grain wheat bread with tomatoes, onions, green peppers, pickles, olives, and mustard)
310 calories
4 g fat (1 g saturated)
1,255 mg sodium
Subway is a given, but don’t jump for complete joy yet. The numbers Subway advertises are only for a 6-inch sub and don’t account for cheese, mayo, olive oil, or any other favorite extras most people get on their sub. Order a 12-inch sandwich with a couple of extras and your “healthy” sub suddenly becomes an 800-calorie, diet-sinking torpedo. Just make sure to go with 6 inches (not 12), mustard (not mayo), and take advantage of Subway’s best option: unlimited veggies.
3. Chick-fil-A Nuggets (8 count) with Barbecue Sauce
315 calories
12 g fat (2.5 saturated)
1,170 mg sodium
Lately, though, we’ve seen sodium and calorie counts starting to creep upward, so keep that in mind and check the sodium content. This 8-count nugget is packed with 28 grams of hunger-blasting protein and is the perfect midday meal. Just make sure you stay away from the Polynesian Sauce for dipping. One tub contains 110 calories.( the best one)
4. McDonald’s Grilled Honey Mustard Snack Wrap and Side Salad
320 calories
12 g fat (3.5 saturated)
1,540 mg sodium
(with Newman’s Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette)
WOW! McDonald’s made the list, who knew? This wrap only contains five ingredients: grilled chicken breast, flour tortilla, jack and cheddar cheese, lettuce, and honey mustard. That’s the kind of ingredient list we like to see: simple and delicious. Tack on a side salad and you’ve got a well-rounded meal with fewer calories than one Double Cheeseburger.
5. Burger King Jr. Whopper w/o Mayo and BK Apple Fries
330 calories
10.5 g fat (4 g saturated)
500 mg sodium
Burger King holds the dubious distinction of being the unhealthiest of the Big Three burger joints, but you can manage to pull one healthy combination together. By simply getting rid of the mayo, the Whopper Jr. becomes one of the most reliable burgers in the fast-food kingdom, and who doesn’t love a fresh apple? Together, they make a nutritious meal if you must dine on the dash. Warning: Every other Whopper sandwich has anywhere from 0.5 grams to 2.5 grams of trans fat. Yikes!
6. Taco Bell Fresco Chicken Soft Tacos (2)
340 calories
8 g fat (2 g saturated)
1,360 mg sodium
Remember the “great” Drive-Thru Diet? I wouldn’t go that far but, truth is, this Taco Bell provides dozens of possible meal combos for less than 500 calories. Stick to the Fresco Menu—where not one item is more than 350 calories—and you’ll begin to think there’s something to this whole Drive-Thru Diet. But, keep in mind this is still a fast food place and there are plenty of pitfalls, so order wisely. STAY AWAY from the Grilled Stuff Burritos, food served in a bowl, and anything with multiple layers.
7. Dunkin’ Donuts Egg White and Cheese Breakfast Wake-Up Wraps (2)
305 calories
14 g fat (6 g saturated)
965 mg sodium
(w/ Small Black Coffee)
Dunkin’ Donuts is more than just donuts! A Wake-Up Wrap and a small black coffee will give you exactly what you need to stay energized through the morning. This meal delivers 16 grams of hunger-fighting protein.
