The Healthiest Fast-Food Restaurants

March 31st, 2008 at 11:00 am

cosi.rest noodles-company

Au Bon Painchipotlerest

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Who knew that among the healthiest places to eat in America can actually be in a fast-food chain? The majority post nutritional information on their Web sites, and many are lowering fat, sodium, and calories in their food. Click below for the five healthiest places to get a bite to eat.

Click below for the 5 healthiest places and why.

Noodles & Company 

Why does this Colorado-based chain top the quick-serve list? Noodles & Company combines 19 fresh vegetables with seven types of pastas in Asian, Mediterranean, or American entrees (think Indonesian Peanut Sauté or Wisconsin Mac & Cheese).

Chipolte Mexican Grill

The idea is simple: Build your own gourmet burrito, fajita burrito, taco, or burrito bowl. The flavor and the healthiness are in the details—naturally raised, antibiotic-free meats, organic beans, and even hormone-free sour cream. Corn tortillas give you a whole-grain option, and the tortilla-less Burrito Bowl lets you ramp up the proteins and veggies.

Cosi
Any chain that calls small appetizers “Shareables” has the healthy idea down. Cosi’s central theme—the hearth—yields tasty hearth-baked entrees (in the locations where they serve dinner), from Alpine Chicken to Grilled Wild Alaskan Salmon. High marks for baby carrots as a substitute for chips to go along with sandwiches.

Panera

The bread is fresh and tempting (and you can go whole-grain). But look to Panera’s soups for great low-calorie and low-sodium options. Fresh fruit cups and apples make for healthy sides, and we give the restaurant special kudos for offering kids’ meals that come with organic cheese and all-natural peanut butter.

Au Bon Pain
This chain boasts hormone-and antibiotic-free chicken. Plus, it provides a great nonfood nutritional tool: computerized kiosks available in most locations allow you to plan your meal and even sort the menu by your goal—whether it be high fiber and protein; or low carb, fat, cholesterol, sodium, or calories.

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6 Comments


  1. 1
    linndseyy said:

    we need au boun pain & cosi’s here in texas !

    March 31st, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
  2. 2
    Katie said:

    This isn’t exactly healthy but amazingly delicious - Cosi has the best Blue Cheese spread - NUM!!! Have it on their pita bread and stuff it with veggies…mmmm!!

    March 31st, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
  3. 3
    lovely said:

    I prefer Qdoba to Chipolte. Yummy!

    March 31st, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
  4. 4
    Amanda said:

    So.. I agree with these. AND I LOVE CHIPOTLE.. however. when eating there be careful what you eat and the portion size. I get the Burrito Bol and w/ extra cheese and extra chicken to make it last a two full meals. It has about 1100 calories but I eat it in two. Even that will catch up to you. Check out the Saturated Fat. Its great, just be careful.. The portions they give you are usually more than a correct serving size. Check this out.

    http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

    March 31st, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
  5. 5
    Amanda said:

    OH.. Im not sure what your restrictions are but that chipotle nutrition calculator is pretty fun, I use it every time I go there.

    http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

    March 31st, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
  6. 6
    laura said:

    i LOVE chipotle… when im going to school in minnesota… my friends and i would drive 30 minutes to get a burrito and one for later :) dining hall food is horrible…

    April 1st, 2008 @ 1:52 am

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