Whether you’re a dieter who’s looking for some delicious, low carb fast food options or you’re just looking for a healthy meal, you’ll find many choices at your local restaurant. From protein-style hamburgers to chopped salads, there’s something for every taste.
Chopped salads
There are a lot of fast food options available if you are looking to eat healthy on the go. Chopped salads are a good alternative to fries and other high calorie snacks. They are packed with flavor and easy to eat.
Most fast food places offer low carb versions of their most popular items. Check the ingredients of the items you plan to order. If you can’t find the nutritional information, you can always ask for the calorie and fat content.
The rotisserie style chicken bites salad bowl from Dairy Queen is the low-carb version of a popular salad. It’s made with shredded cabbage, carrots, sharp cheddar cheese, and all white meat chicken. Served with house-made ranch dressing, it has less than 60 grams of net carbohydrates and a whopping 2 grams of fiber.
You can also eat a low carbohydrate meal at Chipotle. This Mexican-inspired chain offers a wide variety of meats. Top your salad with guacamole, salsa, or shredded cheese to get a taste of the southwest.
In addition to low-carb meals, most fast food chains have a variety of other healthier options for you to choose from. For example, many burrito restaurants offer bowls instead of the standard tortilla.
A few places even have burgers wrapped in lettuce. These options are a great way to reduce carbs while still enjoying a tasty burger.
Fast food chains like Arby’s and Quiznos offer a variety of sandwich and salad options. Some of these are more enticing than others. To help you decide what to eat, you can read the nutritional information for each item online.
In ‘n Out protein-style hamburgers
Protein-style hamburgers are a low carb fast food option from In-N-Out Burger. These burgers can be customized with your choice of condiments, including mustard and onions. The patty is wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun, which saves about 100 calories.
In-N-Out offers two protein styles: the regular burger and the double double. Both contain a 100% beef patty. A regular burger contains 8 net carbs, while a double double has two.
The Double Double contains two beef patties, a spread, and American cheese. It is also offered without a bun. However, a regular burger is served on a bun, adding carbs.
In-N-Out’s “Protein-Style” hamburger is a low carb fast food option that is also less sodium than the regular hamburger. This burger is not listed on the secret menu, so nutritional information is unavailable.
Another protein style burger option is the quad quad. Quad quad consists of four beef patties, a spread, tomato, and onion. There are also three other burgers to choose from: the 3×3, 4×4, and animal style.
All of these burgers are lower in fat, but the quad quad has the lowest fat content. Whether you’re trying to reduce your calories or stay within your carbohydrate limit, sticking to a protein style burger is the best option.
Aside from a protein style burger, you can also get an animal style burger, which is grilled onions with a spread. You can choose from a single patty to four pattys, and you can customize the burger with your choice of meat, pickles, tomatoes, and onions.
Cheesecake Factory
If you’re a low carb eater, you’ll be glad to know that the Cheesecake Factory has some delicious options for you. Unfortunately, you’ll want to keep a close eye on the nutrition facts to ensure that you’re making the right choices.
The Cheesecake Factory has a large selection of appetizers, desserts, and dinners. You’ll also find a selection of keto friendly dishes. However, the majority of the menu is full of carbohydrates.
As a result, you may need to make some substitutions to enjoy your meals at the Cheesecake Factory. One of the easiest ways to make an entree more keto-friendly is to avoid the brioche bun. Instead, use a house salad. This will save you plenty of carbs while still allowing you to enjoy your meal.
The Cheesecake Factory is also famous for their bread. If you order a burger, you might be surprised to learn that a traditional hamburger bun contains 21 grams of carbohydrates. So, you might want to eat the meat and leave the bun to someone else.
Other things to consider when ordering at the Cheesecake Factory are the size of the bun and the nutritional information on the menu. Typically, a bun is larger than a standard bun and can add an extra 1-2 grams of carbs to your meal.
Another thing to watch out for are the dressings. A salad dressing can contain 1-5 grams of carbs.
Sonic Drive-In
Sonic Drive-In is a popular fast food restaurant with over 3,500 locations across the country. If you are a fan of the chain, you will be happy to know that there are numerous keto friendly menu items available. However, it is important to be cautious about the carbs and sugar content of some of their dishes.
Sonic has a long list of hot dog options, but you may want to go for the All American Dog. This item is made from 100% beef and is topped with relish, mustard and chopped onions. Having said that, it isn’t the easiest thing to eat.
The Sonic Diet Limeade is a low sugar drink that is refreshing. A small serving contains 3g of net carbs. Unlike many commercial sauces, Sonic’s uses real lime instead of artificial flavors.
It is also possible to order a burger sans bun. There are several Sonic burger options, including the All American burger.
For a low carb meal, try the Bacon Breakfast Burrito. You can choose to have it as a bowl or a sandwich.
You can also get the breakfast bowl that has a bacon and fried egg. While it isn’t the tastiest burger, it is a great source of protein.
Sonic’s Small Tots are another fun choice. They’re made from whole russet potatoes and are a tasty alternative to the traditional french fries.
Besides the calorie-laden ones, you can also order the footlong quarter pound Coney. The best part is that you can order the item without a bun.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel offers a variety of low carb fast food options. It is a chain restaurant that has locations in over 567 cities across the United States. The menu includes southern favorites, such as country fried steak and fried chicken tenders. They also sell dairy products. Among the other foods available are cheeseburgers, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.
Whether you’re looking for a breakfast meal or a full-course dinner, Cracker Barrel has something for you. Breakfast options include hash browns, pancakes, and eggs. Some breakfast items come with fruit and grits.
For lunch, Cracker Barrel’s salads are a good choice. The BLT is made with a dairy-free bun. You can also order the Southern Grilled Ceaser Chicken Salad. These items contain less than 20 grams of carbs.
The Cracker Barrel menu also has a section for diabetics. The restaurant serves 11 million servings of chicken and dumplings each year. There are many options for vegetarians as well. Those with gluten sensitivity can ask for modifications.
Soup is another option for those who are concerned about carbs. Cracker Barrel has a rotating soup menu. Most of the soups are low in fat and calories, while others may be high in sodium. A bowl of vegetable soup contains 1 gram of fat and about 2 grams of carbohydrate. Adding a sauce increases the sodium and fat.
Fried items are often cross-contaminated, so check with your server before placing your order. Also, remember that grilled sides can increase the fat and sodium content of the meal.
Waffle House
Waffle House has an all-day menu that offers plenty of food options. Whether you’re a vegetarian or you’re trying to stick to a keto diet, you’ll find something to love.
In fact, there are 28 different items on the Waffle House menu that are low-carb enough to satisfy your needs. To avoid getting a dish that is too high in carbohydrates, be sure to check the nutritional information online. If you’re on a ketogenic diet, you may want to avoid ordering anything that comes with syrup and butter.
For example, the Original Angus Cheeseburger has a total of 30 grams of carbohydrates. The hamburger contains mustard, buns, lettuce, and cheese. It’s also got an impressive 17 grams of protein.
However, there are a few Waffle House items that are not keto friendly. For instance, the cheese omelet is packed with protein, but it’s a high-sodium option. Also, the fried cookie is high in fat.
There’s a lot to love about the Waffle House breakfast, but it’s worth considering the carbohydrate content before you make your order. Many of their drinks and side dishes are high in sugar and sodium. This is one of the biggest reasons why you’re probably not going to get very far with your keto diet if you visit Waffle House on a regular basis.
One of the best things to choose from Waffle House’s dinner menu is a grilled chicken breast. Even though the chicken is a very healthy protein, it’s still pretty high in calories and carbs.