GET FREE SAMPLES

sign up for our newsletter to get free sample alerts

What Nutritionists Order at Fast Food Restaurants

It's easier than ever to find healthier options in a pinch
Photo 6/9
Egg McMuffin at McDonald's
Since there's a McDonald's close to her, Amy Gorin, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition, will order an Egg McMuffin before she heads off on a road trip. "Since I'm a vegetarian, I get it without the Canadian bacon, swap the American cheese out for white cheddar and add tomato slices," she says. "The white cheddar has a little more filling protein than the American cheese and you get additional satiating fiber from the tomatoes."

Image via McDonald's

Photo 7/9
Chicken and Quinoa Protein Bowl at Starbucks
Lauren Harris-Pincus, registered dietitian and owner of NutritionStarringYOU.com and author of "The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club," tries to avoid anything labeled as crispy, crunchy or creamy. "Crispy and crunchy are usually deep-fried, like chicken breast or crunchy noodles on a salad," she says. "If a sandwich is labeled as crispy, you can ask for grilled chicken instead."

For this reason, she always opts for the Chicken & Quinoa Protein Bowl with Black Beans and Greens at Starbucks. "It has 420 calories, 27 grams protein, 9 grams fiber, 17 grams fat and 1030 milligrams sodium," she adds. "You can save some calories by using less dressing."

Image via Starbucks

Photo 8/9
Chick-fil-A Deluxe Sandwich
Fried, yes, but according to Monica Auslander, registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Essence Nutrition, Chick-fil-A isn't the worst choice of fast food restaurants. "At least their buns have some iota of wheat flour (though they're not 100 percent whole wheat), their chicken is antibiotic-free, you can order 'extra' lettuce and tomato on your sandwich and they even have grilled nuggets (not fried)!" she says. "They now even offer a 'superfood' side (kale-based) and a few salad entrees as well (though I would avoid the dressing)." Even the waffle fries aren't so bad in Auslander's opinion since they're not nearly as processed as other fast food locales. She often orders a small, has a few and tosses them away.

Image via Chick-fil-A

Photo 9/9
Egg & Cheese Protein Box at Starbucks
In the morning, the Egg & Cheese Protein Box at Starbucks is just what Largeman-Roth needs to get her day started. "The box includes a hardboiled egg, apple slices, grapes, a packet of nut butter, two pieces of cheddar cheese and a small multigrain bread round," she says. "It has 460 calories, 5g of fiber and 23g of protein." She especially loves the fact that she can eat it all at once or save the nut butter and bread for later. "If I'm hungry before jumping on the subway, I'll grab a box and nibble on it on the way home — it's not messy, which is perfect for travel," she adds.

Image via Starbucks

BY JENN SINRICH | AUG 28, 2018 | SHARES
VIEW COMMENTS
Full Site | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
TotalBeauty is a property of Evolve Media Holdings, LLC. © 2024 All Rights Reserved. | Affiliate Disclosure: Evolve Media Holdings, LLC, and its owned and operated subsidiaries may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links.