Including lettuce and vegetables does not automatically make a salad a healthy option. Still, salads can be an innovative and rewarding fast-food meal option.
The fast food industry slowly realizes that Americans are sick and tired of living unhealthily. Due to this trend, many restaurants have begun including healthier options on their menus, and some have even created entire sections devoted to low-calorie, high-nutrient foods.
However, many of these salads come with extras that aren’t exactly good for you to make them more appealing to a broader audience. Following these dietary guidelines is essential when ordering a salad from a fast food restaurant.
Additionally, you’re not getting the full benefit of your salad if you do not include grains in it.
Don’t eat fried meat; instead, grill your own. Chicken that has been grilled or smoked is a healthy alternative to fried or breaded chicken because it retains its lean protein content. Steak is a leaner cut of beef that can be a good protein source.
Some common examples of unhealthy toppings are fried onions and croutons. Tomato, black beans, cucumber, avocado, low-fat cheese, peppers, corn, and other fruits and vegetables are some nutrient-dense toppings to look for in a salad. Also, by reading the label, make sure there aren’t any hidden sugars in the dressing.
Chick-fil-A Grilled Market Salad
The Grilled Market Salad at Chick-fil-A features grilled chicken breast, fresh mixed greens, crumbled blue cheese, and a fruit combination of strawberries, red and green apples, and blueberries—all of which are high in fiber and other beneficial nutrients. Antioxidants are abundant in the strawberries, apples, and blueberries that make up this salad, contributing to its 330-calorie count, 13-gram fat content, and 29-gram protein content.
These low-sugar fruits pack a nutritional punch but won’t spike your blood sugar. Both the chicken and the blue cheese are high-quality protein sources. This salad is excellent, but the dressing is what seals the deal for us. Even though it has sugar and orange juice concentrate, Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing is still a relatively healthy choice. If you’re watching your calorie intake, asking for the dressing on the side is best.
Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad
Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad is a flavorful combination of romaine, spinach, pepper jack cheese, diced tomatoes, avocado, applewood smoked bacon, and grilled chicken breast. With the Southwest Ranch Dressing provided by the fast food joint, a half order of this salad has 300 calories, 21 grams of fat, and 22 grams of protein.
It has a lot of protein from the chicken and bacon, lots of fiber from the veggies and avocado, and a tasty southwest salad dressing. It is fantastic that it is more protein-dense while being lower in carbohydrates and calories. To further reduce the fat and calories consumed, we prefer to use the dressing as a dipping sauce. In this way, we can enjoy the dressing without having it overwhelm the flavors of the salad. In addition to that, this helps to keep it healthy!
Arby’s Roast Chicken Entrée Salad
While including roast chicken and crunchy bacon may make this salad sound like a sinful treat, it is pretty nutritious. The roast (rather than crispy!) chicken is the primary source of the sandwich’s 25 grams of protein, making it an ideal choice for those who want a quick meal on the go.
The planning makes the difference here: When compared to battering and deep-frying, roasting chicken helps in saving calories from saturated fat without sacrificing flavor. Consider adding this to your order if you’re looking for a delicious light meal or on-the-go snack that won’t break the calorie bank. It’s not a bad salad to enjoy on the go; each serving has 250 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 25 grams of protein.
Chipotle “Build Your Own” Salad
Try a salad bowl from this popular fresh-Mex restaurant in place of a burrito. Stuff it full of cauliflower rice, black beans, romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, fajita vegetables, and salsa. This is an excellent salad alternative since it contains both protein- and fiber-rich chicken and beans.
Even though the nutritional information will change significantly based on the proteins and other extras you add, this is a fantastic healthy option for lunch on the go. However, the calories can quickly increase if you add things like guacamole and sour cream.
Quiznos Apple Harvest Salad
The ingredients for this salad are diced chicken, romaine lettuce, diced apples, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, diced cucumbers, diced tomatoes, and an apple cider vinaigrette. The more petite salad has 350 calories, 22 grams of fat, and 9 grams of protein, while the more oversized one clocks in at 520 calories.
The nutritional value of pumpkin seeds has been lauded, and they may even benefit the health of your heart, bladder, and prostate. Greens, fruit, nuts, and vegetables are all included in this recipe. Get the dressing on the side so you can drizzle it on just the right amount of salad.
McAlister’s Deli Savannah Chopped Salad
On top of a bed of mixed greens and drizzled with a sherry shallot dressing, the Savannah Chopped Salad features dried cranberries, grilled chicken, honey-roasted almonds, Gorgonzola cheese, tomato, and cucumber. There are 40 grams of protein, 16 grams of fat, and a total of 480 calories in this.
This 480-calorie salad from McAlister’s Deli is an excellent option for lunch or dinner. They choose grilled chicken over fried because it is healthier and has fewer calories. Protein, calcium, healthy fats, and even antioxidants are just some of the benefits you’ll get from the remaining ingredients, which are all quite simple.
QDOBA Citrus Lime Chicken Salad
Black beans, chile corn salsa, fresh pico de gallo, citrus lime vinaigrette, and crispy tortilla strips accompany the grilled adobo chicken in this salad. It contains 28 grams of protein, 22 grams of fat, and 510 calories. Nothing in this salad will detract from your efforts to improve your health. Instead of using fried chicken, which is high in fat, the creators opted for grilled chicken with seasonings.
They used romaine lettuce, which is high in vitamins, instead of iceberg lettuce. After finishing this salad, your stomach will feel full and satisfied, and you’ll feel good about taking care of your body.
Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
There is a lot of fresh seasonal fruit in the Strawberry Poppyseed and Chicken Salad, and the entire salad has only 340 calories, 27 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fiber. The fact that this salad from Panera includes quite a few different kinds of fruit is one of the reasons that we enjoy it so much.
This salad has a few additives, so you shouldn’t eat it daily. But if you are in the vicinity of a Panera, go ahead and pick one up. Suppose you find yourself in a situation where you need a salad on the go. In that case, this salad will give you do the trick and it’s pretty nutritious too.
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