24 Surprisingly Healthy Fast Foods
Pages in this Story:
- Kentucky Fried Chicken Picks
- McDonald's Picks
- Taco Bell Picks
- Pizza Hut and Wendy's Picks
- 6 Diet-Friendly Desserts
- 5 Drive-Thru Disasters
Kentucky Fried Chicken Picks
Is the drive-thru the fast lane to a heart attack? On the one hand, it's true: One slipup ("okay, sure, I'll take the large fries and apple pie with that") and you can add more than 800 high-in-saturated-fat calories to your takeout. But there is good news. Some of the burgers, sides, sandwiches, and even desserts aren't as bad for you as you might think. In fact, some are downright light! Here are 24 fast-food picks that are all figure-friendly -- unless of course you order them all at once.
KFC Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
120 calories
4.5g fat, 1g saturated fat
Even when made with milk and butter (some KFCs use these ingredients; others don't), mashed is always better than fried. Don't worry about the gravy; it adds only a few calories and just half a gram of fat.
KFC Original Recipe Drumstick
140 calories
8g fat, 2g saturated fat
Order one regular drumstick (avoid the Extra Crispy, which is just fast-food speak for "extra high in saturated and trans fats"), and fill up on the chain's better-for-you sides, such as corn on the cob, baked beans, or a small helping of the next two choices on our list.
KFC Potato Salad
180 calories
9g fat, 1.5g saturated fat
Made with red bell peppers, onions, celery, and about a tablespoon of mayo, this is a tasty, trans-fat-free alternative to the deep-fried Potato Wedges.
KFC Cole Slaw
190 calories
11g fat, 2g saturated fat
Cole slaw's two main ingredients have a lot going for them: Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber; carrots are chock-full of vitamins A, K, and C and potassium.
KFC Honey BBQ Sandwich
300 calories
6g fat, 1.5g saturated fat
Don't let the thick, sweet sauce fool you: This Southern specialty is actually the lowest-calorie full-size sandwich on the menu.
What do you think of this story? Leave a Comment.
I disagree with the choice of the "McChicken" as a "healthy" option. The "Grilled Chicken Classic" at McDonald's has only 350 calories, 300 with mayo, and it has a better protein/fat ratio than a mcchicken.
5/13/2012 01:30:11 AM Report AbuseHmm. I seriously question some of these. For one thing- should side dishes really be as calorie dense as the main entree? I saw another interesting article about the 10 healthiest restaurants, and for balance, I'll also link an interesting list of the 20 worst fast foods (over 200 grams of fat!) http://www.health.com/health/article/comments/0,,20411588,00.html?order=DESC http://www.laaloosh.com/2008/03/06/top-20-worst-fast-foods-and-restaurant-foods-in-the-usa/#
4/22/2012 07:46:38 AM Report AbuseThe foods listed that you are allowed to eat may not be the best for you but they are certainly better than some of the other options. It is much better to eat 4 Chicken mcnuggets than it is to eat a double cheeseburger and french fries...just sayin ...look at the whole article. Sure it is best not to eat any fast foods, but face it ...most of us cannot stay at home 24/7 and cook all of our meals ...so you have to pick the best option.
11/30/2011 11:20:23 AM Report AbuseThat "Canadian Bacon" you mention on the Egg McMuffin is really "ham" anywhere but the US. Just sayin!!
7/6/2011 01:41:00 PM Report AbuseI think alot of people are only looking at some negatives of the article. Yes, it is better to eat before you leave, but that's not always an option. I work out in the field and there is alot of mandatory overtime, which 90% of the time I don't find out about till it's close to quiting time. So when you get an extra 4-6hrs added to your work day last minute, it's nice to know of these options.
5/1/2011 12:43:01 PM Report Abuse