The Healthiest and Least Healthy Fast Food Options

Regardless of where you live, you’re probably 15 minutes or less away from multiple fast-food restaurants.

Some of these restaurants are probably owned by the same parent company, as it’s common for companies to put multiple fast-food restaurants in the same area, ensuring that their brands are heavily visited.

Over the years, fast food has gained a reputation for not being the healthiest option on the market, especially for those who are dieting.

Whether you’re trying to lose a few pounds or you’re just putting an added emphasis on your health and wellness, you may assume that fast food just isn’t a viable option.

In some cases, that’s true. However, not every fast food option is terrible for your waistline or your health. If you’re wondering if you can still hit up your favorite drive-thru, we’ve got you covered. Today, learn more about the healthiest and the least healthy fast food options.

Before we dive into the list, it’s important to understand a couple of facts about the list. All of the restaurants mentioned here have at least 400 locations in the United States.

Additionally, some people get a bit confused when they hear the term “fast food.” Some of the brands mentioned here are those that cater to health-conscious customers while others are the traditional fast food names that you see on virtually every interstate exit ramp.

With that in mind, let’s get to the list!

The Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants

When discussing the healthiest fast-food restaurants, it’s important to do so with a couple of truths in mind. Most notably, most fast food places, even those that offer “healthy” options, probably still aren’t as healthy as eating produce or other healthy foods at home.

However, if you’re in a hurry or you just have a craving for something that doesn’t involve your having to cook, these options are a great place to start.

Panera Bread

When discussing the healthiest fast-food restaurants, Panera Bread is going to be at the top of virtually every list.

From the top down, the brand has a strong commitment to using healthier, fresh ingredients, which helps cut down on a lot of the preservatives that other companies use. However, Panera also has some less-healthy options on its menu, so you’ll want to be mindful when ordering.

If you’re trying to eat healthy at Panera, focus on their salads (they have 15 different salads on the menu) that allow you to add lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Conversely, you should try to steer clear of options that have a lot of cheese or cream in them. Panera lists all of their nutritional info, so it’s easy to see exactly what you’re getting when you place an order.

Starbucks

You may not think of Starbucks as a healthy option or a fast food restaurant, but it actually counts as both.

Of course, you can get some unhealthy options at Starbucks, including many of the drinks that you can order with sugary flavors and whole milk, but that doesn’t mean that the coffee giant doesn’t have some healthy options on the menu.

If you want a coffee drink at Starbucks, use skim milk and try to avoid some of the high-calorie sweeteners. When it comes to food, Starbucks offers protein boxes, which have eggs, fresh fruit, and whole-grain crackers.

They also have egg bites, egg white wraps, steel-cut oatmeal, and some other healthy options. If you can stay away from the decadent brownies and the vanilla latte with extra flavoring, you can be healthy at Starbucks.

Chipotle

If you’re wondering why Chipotle is considered one of the healthiest fast-food restaurants, look no further than their “build your own” menu items. Thanks to this customization, you can choose the ingredients in your wraps, bowls, or salads.

Obviously, to make this healthy, you’ll need to make the right choices, but you can find nutritional information about all of Chipotle’s ingredients on their website.

If you don’t feel like you can stay away from their mouth-watering queso and chips, don’t be afraid to treat yourself, but try to limit portion size.

Remember, being healthy doesn’t mean that you stop eating everything you like. Instead, it just means that you choose wisely and have things that aren’t so healthy in moderation.

Wendy’s

Are you surprised to see the place that made the Baconator famous on the list of healthiest fast-food restaurants?

If so, don’t be!

While you may want to steer clear of Wendy’s iconic bacon-loaded burgers and deep-fried spicy chicken sandwiches if you’re focusing on your health and wellness, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the place that Dave Thomas created so many years ago.

Wendy’s has four salads that are mainstays on their menu, and you can choose to skip the fatty dressings or use them in moderation if you want to make them as healthy as possible.

Additionally, you can get apple slices, a baked potato, or grilled chicken wraps if you’re looking for a healthy side or even a quick lunch.

The Least Healthy Fast Food Restaurants

When it comes to eating healthy, there are some places that you probably need to stay away from.

Even if you don’t cut these options out of your diet entirely, your stops at these restaurants should be few and far between.

Burger King

You can “have it your way,” but there’s a pretty good chance that there’s no healthy way to go to Burger King.

While the company is generally seen as the biggest competitor to McDonald's, they haven’t taken nearly as many steps as the home of the Golden Arches to start incorporating some healthy options on its menu.

While the burgers and deep-fried nuggets or chicken fries are unhealthy enough, one of BK’s unhealthiest items is their breakfast platter.

If you order the breakfast platter exactly how it comes (meaning no substitutions), you’ll be taking in around 1,420 calories, which represents approximately 1/3 of the daily recommended amount.

Additionally, the breakfast platter has around 139 grams of carbohydrates, which is approximately half of the recommended amount.

Chick-fil-A

This one may be heartbreaking, as Chick-fil-A is one of the most popular fast-food restaurants in the nation.

While many people love them for their personal values, which includes being closed on Sundays, there isn’t much to offer as far as health goes when it comes to the Chick-fil-A menu.

All hope is not lost, though. A grilled chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A certainly isn’t an unhealthy option. Typically, the restaurant’s sides are where calories, saturated fats, and other unhealthy elements.

Approximately 45% of Chick-fil-A’s sides have above-average sugar content. If you do choose to go to Chick-fil-A, and health is your goal, the grilled chicken sandwich is among your only options.

Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box started out as a San Diego burger joint that is now in 21 states. However, as is the case with most burger places, Jack in the Box is anything but healthy.

There are currently eight sandwiches on their menu that have the entire recommended amount of saturated fat. This fact makes Jack in the Box one of the unhealthiest options on our list.

Fortunately, there is a little bit of hope at the California staple. Jack in the Box has a “Better for You” portion of their menu that does have options that are viable for those who are trying to grab a healthy meal while they’re out and about.

However, some of these options aren’t all that healthy, and instead, are just healthier than some of the other items on the restaurant’s menu.

Checkers

Checkers doesn’t usually get mentioned in the same breath as some of the other options on this list, but their status as one of the unhealthiest fast-food restaurants bears mentioning.

More than 75% of the items on Checkers’ menu have more saturated fat and calories than comparable items on other restaurants’ menus.

According to the FDA, people shouldn’t consume more than four grams of saturated fat in a single meal. Every item on the Checkers menu has at least eight grams, with some of those items breaking double digits.

For context, a half-pound Double Champ with Cheese and a large order of fries has roughly two-and-a-half days’ worth of saturated fat in them.

Eat With Care

By and large, fast food isn’t an incredibly healthy option. However, there are some places that have options on their menu that are healthier than some of your other choices.

As with any type of dietary suggestion, it’s important to choose moderation when eating fast food.