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
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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.
