#2 Jason’s Deli
206 locations in the West, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, South
How did this up-and-comer snag second place? Largely because of its devotion to organic food: About one-fifth of all its ingredients are organic, from blue-corn tortilla chips and whole-wheat wraps to field greens and spinach. Plus, its creative salads—like the Nutty Mixed-Up Salad with organic field greens, grapes, chicken breast, feta cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries, pumpkinseeds, raisins, and organic apples—make you actually want to order the greens.
Our judges applauded the portion-control option: Reduced sizes of, say, a stuffed baked potato, are $1 less. Jason’s menu also highlights ultrahealthy sandwiches and provides the nutitional info.
We love: Being able to build any sandwich on an organic whole-wheat wrap.
Danger zone: High-sodium counts on some sandwiches; if sodium is a concern, stick to the ultrahealthy choices.
#3 Au Bon Pain
280 locations nationwide
A pioneer in healthy fast food, Au Bon Pain serves up sandwiches, soups, salads, and hot entrées made with whole grains, veggies, and hormone-free chicken.
New this year: Portions, a 14-item menu of nutritious small plates—from appetizers like apples, blue cheese, and cranberries to salads like chickpea and tomato—all of which are less than 200 calories. Another impressive feature: Au Bon Pain provides on-site nutritional information via computer kiosks, so before you even order you know each option’s calories, fat, and sodium. “It’s a great way to empower customers,” praises judge Amy Jamieson-Petonic.
We love: Yummy low-cal soups, from Jamaican Black Bean to Fire Roasted Exotic Grains and Vegetables.
Danger zone: The sodium counts can get high if you don’t pay attention.
Next: #4 Noodles and Company
Comments (200)
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yo my name is marisa too.
What about Arby’s they seem really healthy compared to McDonald’s. What about subway? I think they should make a list of nationwide drive thru restaurants and another of nationwide general fast food restaurants.
While Panera may have some healthy options, MANY of their menu items are LOADED with calories. Check out the Sierra Turkey, my (former) favorite. It is laden with fat and calories. If I go there now I have a plain turkey sandwich.
http://www.livestrong.com – Started by Lance Armstrong. This is the best website for tracking daily calories and excercise on a single page on daily basis. It has amazing collection of foods with calorie information and very easy to add to your daily activity. It has free registration too.
Blimpie and Subway also have healthy options…I’m a little shocked to see they missed this list.
healthy? really? It’s articles like this that perpetuate the myth that “eating fast food can be healthy.” And perpetuating such myths is one of the many reasons why our country’s citizens are generally obese or overweight.
Its healthy relative to other fast food options; the reason for the article.
you really think that McDonlads is healthy food??? in this list it’s #8
go do some research…
Amen!!
Putting McDonalds at #8 completely discredits this list. Go check out the nutritional facts at MCDs and come back to me and tell me it’s HEALTHY!
if you order the right stuff then you will be fine its the people that order all the fat fried and battered stuff all the time that are obese and over weight!!! Speak for yourself
What an excellent choice as #1. Panera is my personal choice, too, but, reflecting the comments by Liz, check the web site nutrition index before ordering. If you a low-fat seeker as I am, there is only the Smoked Turkey breast that cuts the mustard, so to speak, and the low-fat bean soup is a bulls eye. The other sandwiches are very dense in fat calories! As are those bakery goodies,
I find it hard for you to consider yourself a health website when you recommend sandwiches with meat in them. How could Subway not make this list? Less than half on McDonalds offers veggie burgers. Also, Taco Bell will substitute beans for meat in any burrito. Are you just counting calories here? What are the criteria for ‘healthy’ in this list?
The fact that a sandwich has meat in it doesn’t make it unhealthy. Humans were designed to consume meat. Lean turkey breast is an excellent food low in fat and high in protein.
Hello Jeremy,
Ive been studying nutrician for ten years, on the internet.
Getting old has its consequences, & knowledge is power.
But who said that meat is not good food.
Like all things, too much of a good thing is bad for you.
As you age past 50 years, you will discover that cabbage, carrots onion & tomato, will be your favorite foods, if you dont want cancer & health problems. And you may need to take Collagen, Vitamin /mineral & B complex.
But dont forget the meat, some of it is good for you too.
Lee Geiger
I’m am really into nutrition and I was shocked to see Panera over Jason’s deli. Jason’s deli was the first to remove PHO (partially hydrogenated oils), MSG, and recently High fructose corn syrup. I went on Panera’s website and they still have items with all of the above! I’ve been a jason’s customer since ‘88 when they started the heart healthy movement. Jason’s , you’re my #1.
I’m 62 years old, 5′8″ and 152 lbs. I eat at Micky D’s, Noodle Co, Panera as well a Ruby Tuesday’s, Big Boy, frozen meals from the grocery and occasional home cooking.
Where you eat is not important. It is only about what you eat. Good and bad choices are up to the individual, not the restaurant. None of these purveyors are inherently healthy or un. IMO at least.
Mike, your common sense will be much too difficult for the self-proclaimed food officionatos to comprehend. They are so blinded in their convoluted belief that they need to dictate how businesses should run themselves. They never consider personal choice or market demand as a business driver. I agree that it matters not whether you pay $150 for your meal or $5, or whether it is presented to you in 3 minutes or 45 minutes. What matters is the choices you make when ordering. AND- how you balance your intake with your personal metabolism and level of physical activity. I happen to believe McDonald’s is the greatest restaurant organization in the world. So do 55 million people every day in 121 countries. Even at that, it represents less than 1% of the eat out decisions made daily. Restaurants are NOT responsible for the state of obesity, individuals and their choices, as always, are the primal cause.
Calories in, calories out. True, it’s simple!
AMEN!!! Just because there are lots of bad choices you COULD make at fast food restaurants, there are always ways to make good choices (just like anything else in life). I can eat healthy at just about any fast food restaurant. WILLPOWER can always win out.
I THINK YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! FAST FOOD MAY BE A BIT ON THE UNHEALTHY SIDE BUT NOT ALL OF IT! I AM 134 IB’S AND I DONT CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK BECAUSE I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE I AM!
I have to protest that Boston Markets is not right up there in the top ten. While it is owned by McDonald’s they are few and far between, but serve some of the healthiest food I have seen during my final career as a long distance trucker. I don’t know if Mickey Dee’s shut them down as uneconomic or not as profitable as they were hoping for, but it goes to show that that organization can design and operate a truly good franchise type. I personally detest the McDonald’s menu, especially the cardboard like burger buns, which can’t come close to the standard and taste that Wendy’s offers. Anything less than Wendy’s and I was “slumming”! [retired 3 1/2 years but still have my Road Warrior card!]
The calories-counting obsession is both funny and disturbing. Eating healthy could be the easiest thing, if we just use some common sense. Forget counting calories altogether, or any. It doesn’t have to be that complicated at all.
Just try to eat fresh, local, unprocessed food as best as you can, try to remember balance and moderation – mixing meat (or any protein), veggies, fruits, bread (or any carb).
I’ve learned to just eat whatever I have a craving for, but always remembering balance and moderation. So if I order fries one day, I’ll try to stay away from fried food for the week. Also, eat good stuff! Of course it’ll be more expensive, but guess what, because it’s fresh and good quality, it tastes better, and I get more satisfaction out of it. So I don’t need to eat a lot to be satisfied, which actually saves money and keeps me healthy. We confuse quantity with quality, gorging with satisfaction. Very different things!
That’s so true, for example, in Irvine, CA, we have a marvelous fast-food chain (Fat Bob’s House of Fat) which serves a magnificent three-pound double bacon cheeseburger with mayonaise, butter, blue-cheese crumbles. It’s unprocessed, and, therefore, very healthy.
jian, yours is the most sensible approach to eating healthy that I’ve read here – quality trumps quantity. Have practised it all my life, and never had a weight problem. Also, being active helps. Don’t drive when you can walk.
This article lacks (to say the least) in credibility. I live outside foodie mecca Portland, OR, and pretty much everyone I know who is either watching weight or just looking out for health/sustainability defaults to Subway, second choice Chipotle/Qdoba/Baja Fresh (they are indistinguishable) if eating fast food.
I have never heard of Jason’s Deli or several others on this list. I’d also like to know if anyone sponsored this research and if so, who.
I thought Panera Bread was a bakery. Maybe this is the start of some marketing effort by this company to get the word out. (Yes I know it’s been a hot stock, what I mean is, maybe they are now trying to expand their customer base beyond people who buy their bread at bakeries.)
Just Googled Panera Bread: http://www.panerabread.com/menu/
Their site lists over 1250 odd franchises in 40 states plus Canada. I had heard of them here in Ontario! I will check one out some day just to compare.
First, I live on the east coast and haven’t heard of most of these places. I have to say that places like McDonald’s don’t make it easy to use healthy menu foods. When you go to the drive-up they still post everything with fries and options to “biggie” size it. You really need to read the menu and give it some thought. Most of the calories are still in grease, special sauces and salt. I like places like Subway that let you see what’s in your meal.
A lot of these places have many food choices that end up in the ‘Not That’ category (of the ‘Eat This, Not Fat’ website).
When Chipotle and McDonalds (SNACK WRAPS HEALTHY?!?!) make this list… makes me think that there wa$ $ome in$entive to get the$e companie$ on thi$ li$t…..
http://sulafonline.wordpress.com
When Boston Market first debuted in this area as Boston Chicken, the food — especially the soup — was barely salted. Now the salt in Boston Market food is through the roof. Just check the labels on the supermarket versions.
Panera’s is a nice place, and chewy bread is hailed on most diets as being better for you than bread made with highly refined flour and sugars — but you still must use your head when eating at any type of franchise. Preservatives and processing are a big part of high volume soups etc. We call it airplane food — ready to be heated up for the masses — but that’s because we remember when airplanes served food. Ha-ha.
Low fat is not necessarily healthy if it’s high in sugar (e.g., low fat caramel sauce). Lots of folks would argue that replacing fat with sugar (esp. liquified sugars) is very bad for you.
Also, the article fails to look at sodium levels in food. Sugar + salt = fat in your body. Want to lose weight? Drop salt and salty/sugary foods from your diet. You can eat the fat as long as it’s not accompanied by sugar or too much salt.
There was a Taco Del Mar in Lincoln for a while– I went once. My friend and I both agreed that the food was mediocre at best and spent the afternoon taking turns vomiting. Taco Del Mar wasn’t open long.
@ Fuzzy –
How does salt make you fat? Granted, salty foods tend to be pretty unhealthy all around, but I could eat salt and die of starvation (of course, there are a number of things in that diet that would kill me first). If you mean that it makes you retain water, that’s true, but I really can’t see how something with no nutritional value (other than sodium) could make a person fat.
Thanks!
@Selene,
Panera has been selling soup and sandwiches for as long as I’ve known about them.
I ONLY WISH Panera could make a decent cappuccino and I would eat there every time. Please Panera get your act together and you will get all my lunch money.
Any time you see “whole grain” you gotta ask yourself: 1. how many carbs? and 2. how much high fructose corn syrup? Both carbs and high fructose corn syrup contributes to obesity, especially in children.
This is a joke, right?
Whatever system was used to gauge “healthy” is very arbitrary… first off, all of these fast food restaurants use animal products from factory farming operations, which are by default severely unhealthy to all involved.
So if people want to think some pus-infested yogurt parfait from a cow that stands in place all day, pumped full of hormones and eats corn instead of grass & hay, is “healthy,” be my guest. Or that a “lean turkey sandwich” is actually doing them any good.
Why not list fast food joints that actually have healthy food/agricultural systems behind them.
There’s far more to health than the number of calories and carb/fat/protein breakdown.
Whatever people choose to eat from these fast food joints, they’re getting a cocktail of chemicals in one way or another.
Most of these places aren’t on the coasts, so I am shocked to see how many people saying this list can’t be legit just because they live on the coast and haven’t heard of them.
Or like Selena, saying Panera is “just” a bakery so it is a marketing scheme.
Just because a place offers unhealthy food doesn’t mean it CAN’T be healthy. It is up to you to make those decisions, not the company who, yes, is in it for the money. They are a business, they HAVE to make money.
Agree with Panera, but not sure to what extent it fits the “fast food” genre – the decor/ambience is conducive to hanging out for a while. I’d also like to give a shout out to Sweet Tomatoes, a salad bar chain that’s also not really fast food but gives a good quick nutritious option. (You also have some tempting and not-quite-so-healthy options like all-you-can-eat pasta and desserts… but if your will is good, check it out.)
Also, I could mention that if you’re near a Whole Foods store, you can get good stuff quick from their salad/hot bar/deli…
I really like the veggie burgers at Burger King. McDonald’s should offer them, too.
It is so amusing that you didn’t have Burgerville listed. They are a West and West Coast restaurant that is very successful. McDonalds is stealing the Burgerville marketing (apple slices, milk, sustainable, recycling, local, low cal, etc etc.) because McDonalds HAS COMPLETELY FAILED TO PENETRATE THE PORTLAND, OREGON MARKET. McDonalds is considered a joke here and neighborhoods rally to keep them out. We accept a certain amount of Chipolte, Taco Del Mar, and Subway but when it comes down to it…Eat Local!
@ annomons
You’re right it’s about health, and eating local is a healthy choice. I’m from Portland, OR also and we take our health extremely seriously (hence the boycots of McD’s). Truth be told, when you eat local you’re already making a healthier choice; from cutting back carbon emissions to consuming those oh-so-good organics (that many local farmers provide for us). Burgerville has been around for a long time, and I’m surprised they’re not given the recognition they deserve.
some of these restaurants like chipotle have really high calorie meals. i think this list is based more on organic foods etc rather than how much weight you’ll gain eating there. a 2000 calorie burrito is never “healthy”
I can’t believe Jason’s Deli isn’t #1. As Bill Miller noted above; their trans fat and high fructose corn syrup free food is a first for a chain this size. They continue to thrive to serve the best and healthiest food. I have been a fan of Jason’s Deli for over 10 years and am glad to see they are now getting recognition for their commitment to quality food at a reasonable cost. You should visit their website, http://www.jasonsdeli.com, one of their owners posts a food blog daily.
I concur…we just got a Jason’s Deli in Louisville, KY and it rocks!!! Best salad bar EVER. My kids love it too.
Why wasn’t Heart Attack Grill on this list? I’m outraged
uh… so Einstein makes the list because they have a bagel with 4 grams of fiber.. mcdonald’s made the list for having apple dippers… where is Subway? Subway has had apple dippers long before mcdonald’s; it has 2 breads with 4+ grams of fiber, and tons of low fat options…
Cannot believe that there are so few listed as ” Best” or at least “Better “.
This whole article is utterly ridiculous for numerous reasons, beginning with the irresponsible hyperbolic title. An article making such a claim, owes its readers a clear statement of the criteria used to define both “healthiest” and the “pool” of which restaurants were considered. A random splattering of factoids and ommission serves no one adequately. Readers, better do your own homework on the fast food restaurants in your own area; you’ll get no meaningful help here. It’s wrongly skewed in many more ways than can be enumerated in this space. It’s particularly sad that such amateurish irresponsible journalism is featured on a site supposedly about “health”.
This cannot be correct from a west-coast point of view, as I’ve never even heard of any of these places (up to number eight, of course) and I live in L.A..
I also think that this should be looked at through a burger-joint view. Most of the places around here are burger places, such as In ‘N’ Out, McDonald’s, et cetera. We’ve some nice sit-downs, but nothing for people on the go. Although there are some nice Mexican places, nothing remotely healthy in toto.
So glad to see JASON’S DELI made the list at #2. It should be #1. I lived in Beaumont,TX for 10 years and now they have opened in Northern Virginia. I love the place. My children beg to eat there. Check it out if you are in the Northern Virginia area! It is my little slice of Texas in Northern Virginia.
Great choices, but the ones in my neck of the woods are the expensive ones! Give me 2 for $5 at Subway, on whole grain and hold the high fat many, any time!
Hey guys just to let you know if you drink your own blood or urine you will be very healthy
You really do your research. What a great blog! When I ponder the universe, storming heaven, pondering donder and blitzen, or thunder and lightening, I am glad I stumbled upon this.
Apparently “healthy” means low-carb and low-fat, which is ridiculous. This article should be called Top 10 Most Fad-Diet-Friendly Restaurants.
I agree with Seth. Healthy fast food does not exist and I would like to note that while all these wonderful health fast food options are becoming available American’s are getting fatter and fatter. You can not eat these foods and be healthy. Yes they may have one or two items, but not many people can choose those options when it comes down to ordering. I work with overweight women that have struggled for years with the onslaught of media promotions for moderation and healthy fast food and all the fads that frankly leave out the key component that they need to know. If you are overweight and can not stay on a diet you probably have to abstain – just like an alcoholic, and until you give it up – you will never get skinny. (and I don’t mean size zero – you can read my reclaiming skinny article on my site http://www.elementalyou.com )
We have to accept that we can not consume everything we want and once we do, we can be healthy – we are never going to find healthy at Panera Bread.
I have lived in TX most of my life and now recently AZ. Jason’s deli are a staple in TX and were a cult following since the early ’80’s. They have always had an awesome salad bar and many healthy options that were unpopular before the so called “health craze”. We eat at the location in Chandler and Scottsdale AZ. and have noticed all of the new organics on their menu. Jason’s deli is free of artificial trans fats, MSG and High Fructose Corn Syrup in ALL of their foods!! There isn’t another restaurant on this list (Or Subway for that matter) that can claim that!
In my opinion as someone who has eaten at Jason’s deli as a teenager and now as a mother to two teenagers Jason’s deli is and has always been #1 on my healthy restaurant list!!
Every one has their own opinions of what healthy is, but do the research, go to the websites. Clearly Jason’s deli is actively trying to make their meals as healthy and tasty as possible. Keep up the good work!
Come on everyone, it is up to YOU to choose the healthiest offerings from ANY of these establishments; while on the road traveling, or just simply on the go.
Most all of these eateries DO offer healthier choices and it is up to us to make them! (Let’s face it; they are at least thankfully, becoming more healthy than they were)
I used to think that Jason’s was a great place to eat
but the only really healthy thing there is the salad
bar if you don’t eat those teeny tiny muffins which
have over 200 calories each. I see people take five or six thinking they are low fat and calories. Just like Panera and others mentioned here, food is not
healthy when it has 2,000 calories in it like a Jason’s baked potato or literally thousands of grams of salt.
Just because a restaurant has signs telling you how
healthy they are doesn’t mean when you check their actual nutrtional information you will find very healthy food. Panera has one of the highest counts
for salt in everything. I would love to know what you all were using to evaluate these restaurants.
Ick – none of these. While I like Panera, many of their items are filled with preservatives, salt, and sugar. Isn’t this list supposed to be healthy? Also, McDonalds? No. They may have a few options that are healthier than their typical menu, but overall this place is a dud for health. Geting a substantial (e.g., a balance of protein, carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals) healthful meal there is impossible. And their french fries, while they might be fried in canola oil, are still full of fat and, believe it or not, beef flavoring!
ok, there were only 3 of those that are actually in southern california and one of them is Mcdonalds!
Nicole, where is Jason’s Deli in NOVA?
In Falls Church at Pimmit Drive & Leesburg Pike (where Whole Foods is) and in Fair Lakes by Target and Wal-Mart
WOW did McDonald’s pay you to write this article? There is no way that Chipolte should be at #6, but how can McDonald’s be at #8 ahead of a non-listed Subway???
I LOVE Panera. It’s one of my favorites. They offer the best variety of healthy and also other more traditional food. Moreover, they give you an unlimited coffee. Things like that draw me in. Really, I cannot consume that much coffee but it makes me not have to get a medium when I can get a small and refill just a little bit.
I think that is a wise move because in truth people USUALLY cannot drink that many cups and there is a limit to what can be consumed.
You have McDonalds on the list, but skipped Subway? Subway has way more healthy options than McDonalds!
The fact that McDonald’s @ #8 and healthy is even in the same sentence is laughable. This article made for a good laugh. Thanks.
Wow, a lot of negative posts, sounds like those negative people also need a little exercise to reduce their stress along w/ a diet plan It’s just food people, it’s just food. Karen ya hearing me?
I am shocked, shocked, shocked that you have included McDonald’s while ignoring Sweet Tomatoes and other chains that feature large, healthy salad bars.
If you truly want to eat healthy then you must also consider sodium content. Most of the fast-food offerings contain more than half of the rda. And just because it is advertised as “heart healthy” doesn’t make it so. Most of Jason’s Deli sanwiches contain more than 2/3rds of the sodium rda.
@Karen–”Literally thousands of grams of salt”?
Sorry, but a thousand grams is a kilogram, which is 2.2 POUNDS. If any food item had a TENTH that much salt in it, you would be unable to eat it. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Chipotle?
LOL
really?
1 Burrito with Black Beans, Rice, Chicken, Tomato, and Guacamole has:
900 calories
33g of fat (50% of dv)
115mg of cholesterol (38% of dv)
2100mg of sodium (88% of dv)
If you add in additional cheese, sour cream, and salsa you are at 78% of your total dv of fat, 98% of your total dv of sat fat, 62% of your total dv of Cholesterol and 106% of your total dv of sodium.
Where is Subway?!!!! I lost a lot of weight eating subway! It is surprising to see McDonald’s, but not Subway.
What about Subway!?
Really surprised not to see Subway. And folks complaining there “is no such thing as healthy fast food” are wrong. Eating healthy means making the correct choices and understanding the underlying issues (fat, calories, benefits of fruit and vegetables) etc. There isn’t any reason why an apple from Subway is a worse choice than one from the market.
Apples packaged at Subway have preservatives which is why it is worse than an apple picked up at your local farmers market.
Chipotle? REALLY?? So tell me again how the home of the 1000+ calorie burrito is promoting healthy eating? Even a burrito bowl WITHOUT cheese and sour cream has as many calories as a fully-loaded Big Mac. If CMG actually cared about health, their portion sizes would be about 1/2 to 1/3 smaller for starters (but then they wouldn’t make as much money, of course).
They myth of CMG’s healthy image sorely needs to be debunked, but I guess you aren’t going to be the ones to do it. Did you actually bother to fact-check any nutrition info when you wrote this article?
Not bad for a list. I have heard of Panera bread, we have one right here in Ft Walton Beach, Florida. A McDonald, but the rest I haven’t heard of. A little secret about fast food that I would like to share. Always get there for your order early in the morning. That first fry or grill is the best of all. Later in the afternoon or at night you will be eating mostly grease.
What it all comes down to is that differences from item to item within a chain are far bigger than overall differences from chain to chain. Some chains have menus that make it easier to make good choices, others make it a bit harder, but you can choose healthy or unhealthy food pretty much anywhere. That, however, means taking responsibility for what we put in our own mouths. Responsibility for one’s own actions is a bit scarce in the U.S. these days.
I completely agree with Seth. America’s increasing population of overweight and morbidly obese individuals is shocking. I am the type of person that most people deem as “cold-hearted” because of my intolerance for icompetence.
Fast Food is never “healthy.”
I will give kudos to Subway, however, for it’s attempt at making lo-cal sandwiches and meals.
However, Subway didn’t even make it on this list.
If you want to eat healthy, prepare your own food. Then you’ll know exactly how much of what goes into it.
The only thing you should be eating at Baja Fresh is the tacos. Everything else is loaded with huge amounts of sodium. Check the sodium column of their online nutrition table. It’ll make you cringe.
This is a Mcjoke right? Mcdonalds made it while Subway didn’t? I’m not buying this story…..
Panera is da bomb like tick tick.
its relle good and i dont give a crap of the other place something deli.
PANERA WINS!!!
oh yeahhh…
I really don’t know why carbs are villified on this site. It’s misleading — carbs do not make you gain weight. I eat a 65/25/15 diet and I lose weight because I’ve reduced my total caloric intake. It’s all about making good reduced calorie choices. so what if there are “lots of carbs”?
wendys fast food is terrible its tasteless and salty
I live in So Cal. This list means nothing to me. Have never been to almost all of these joints listed. Where is Subway? McDonald’s? Are you kidding me? Really? Cuz they have a bag of apple dippers? Subway has that, too. In fact, they had it long before McDonald’s had apple dippers. I think there is something very wrong here…
Some Fast food is healthy??? ha ha ha
I lived in Mexico City by more 10 years and the healthy options about Mexican food aren’t the same Chipotle. Panera Bread? Be careful with the amount of mayo or dressing in the sandwiches… I tried to order my sandwich without dressing and choose a Sourdough bread, they said no.
i used to work at taco del mar and they dont actually cook anything, its all microwaved in weird bags, kinda gross, hahaha, also mcdonalds wtf?
i kinda think they got paid to put these places on the list
All of you should stop eating meat if you want to really do the right thing.Rent Fast Food Nation.
Wow, I read this list with disappointment and amazement. McDonalds?????? I mean- really, come on……. Like so many before have mentioned it is not all about calories, it’s the quality of the food. How many chemicals are pumped into the grilled chicken breast meat at McD’s?? Tenderizers and flavor enhancers etc., and what kid is really going to eat apple sticks instead of fries? And if they do are the apples organic, or are they also pumped full of pesticides and preservatives? I rarely take my kids to McDonalds and if I do once every couple years they aren’t ordering the “healthy” foods, they want the bad stuff. Just look at the client base and tell me how healthy McDonalds is. You guys should be ashamed to publish this kind of bull—-. Subway is MUCH better, and so is Burgerville with their organic meat and real Tillamook Cheese, and multigrain buns etc.
where is subway ???
I, too, think this article is ridiculous…. and if anyone is keeping track, most of these restaraunts are nowhere in Indiana either….
I also find it difficult to believe that McDonalds made it into the top 10 healthiest fast food chains. This article is probably fixed.
This article is really bad! This is part of the reason our country is sooooooo FAT, because people actually believe they can eat crap like this. If you were to actually look at the incredients list, these are not natural choices, this food is processed and disgusting.
McDonald’s in the top ten?
I don’t care what “healthy choices” they offer.
Go see the movie “Super Size Me” and then tell me this establishment is healthy for you.
Where is Jimmy John’s on the list? http://www.jimmyjohns.com/ They have lettuce wraps with turkey, need I say more!
This info is nice, but what would be really helpful is to know what healthy food you can eat in the car WHILE DRIVING. I can’t eat a healthy salad from anywhere, but I can manage a McDonald’s chicken sandwich. I know eating while driving is not safe, but it is a fact of life.
This article is just… odd. They think “Noodles and Company” is healthy? I went there, and found NOTHING I could eat… it all had (get this) NOODLES! A 270-calorie “snack” is healthy? I don’t think so.
I think showing nutrition information for the “healthy choices” would have been a lot more helpful.
All we need to do is eat the way our ancestors did: fresh veggies, olive oil, fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grain, chicken, fish, very little dairy and no red meat. All in moderation combined with exercise is the key to great health.
To marisa , let me know what this system is all about
I’m so glad to see Jason’s deli on the list. We lived next door to the founder in Beaumont in the early eighties when they were just getting started. I knew then they were on to something good.
I write a food column and also have a blog and enjoy eating healthy. My Carolina Kitchen http://www.mycarolinakitchen.blogspot.com
I’m a diabetic. I went off insulin and got my blood sugar into the “normal” range (5.7 a1c), and also lost 15 pounds, in less than three months since diagnosis. I did this with a strict low-carb diet (less than 20 grams of carbs per day). I used to be a vegetarian, and I ache constantly for fruit and corn and peas and pasta and rice and beans, but I can’t have them and also keep my eyesight and my feet.
There is basically no fast food restaurant that is “healthy” enough for me. Even Boston Market chicken is made with sugar.
Articles like this one are clueless about what “healthy” really means. When so many people are overweight as a result of problems metabolizing sugar and starch, we really need to start taking this into account. (No, obesity does not CAUSE diabetes; most obese people don’t become diabetics, and most diabetics aren’t obese.)
Panera Bread. Are you kidding me? Have you checked their nutritional info online? One meal has more sodium that you need for a whole day. They are bad for blood pressure.
You can go to any restaurant – including fast food – and get something that is either healthy or unhealthy. It’s all up to the individual.
Jasons deli has gotten rid of artificial trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, and MSG from the table. We are currently working on our carbonated drinks. Subway HAS NOT.
On the sodium content–yes it is pretty high, but to those who favor our tomato basil soup–it now has 1/3 less sodium than it previously did….we’re still working on it!
I’ve been with the company for 4 years and have not seen a restaurant sooooo busy just by word of mouth. we don’t have commercials on tv. We have a manager that is used strictly for marketing.
the menu items are suitable for everyone. We have vegetarian options, which a lot of restaurants are limited to having. we have soups (some of which are homemade), salads, pastas, potatoes, paninis, and a lot of new stuff coming in every few months. Everything is made fresh daily! fruits and vegetables are cut daily, meat and cheese sliced daily, portioned to perfection, and we provide some of the best customer service. Not to mention our catering and deliveries are outstanding. Subway??? I dont think they will over power what we have done with food in the past 33 years. I always got less than I paid for at Subway. They put 2 pieces of meat and 2 slices of really small cheese on bread….Never fills me up.
With Jason’s, there’s always enough to take home and enjoy later.
Highest quality food, great place to work, highest personal standards…
Thank you america for voting us #2 on the healthiest restaurants.
Next year, we WILL do better!
We are expanding our chain up north. We just opened in Chicago and are opening one in NJ next month!!!
Visit Jasondeli.com for upcoming stores in your area! feel free to email or call our offices to perhaps have a jasons near you!!
the more calls, letters, etc–the quicker we can take action and the sooner you can eat higher quality food!
Where in the world are these places? I live in So Cali and have only heard of Chipolte and McDonalds.
What about COSI? Love their bread. Salads are always fresh. Granola bars are an absolute necessity in the afternoon!
Also, stopped by BK recently and saw they were promoting meals for 650 calories! That’s a big number. Not sure it’s worth promoting!
I recently started the Weight Watcher program and purchased a book called The Dining Out Companion which highlights major restaurants, their menu, and point values for items. I have never been to Jason’s Deli, so decided to try it out today. Just checked my Weight Watcher book, and there is NO WAY I am going there!! The points for their menu items are outrageous!! The Nutty Mixed Up Salad that you highlight is 21 points!! That’s my entire point allowance blown on one meal!! The tuna salad is 11 points — with no bread. Chicken Panini — sounds healthy — 20 points. Healthy Heart turkey wrap — 11 points. Sorry to say, I will have to stay clear of that restaurant.
You can not live on peanut butter bagels, or cream cheese burritos. Subway offers the best most balanced, and affordable, meal available everywhere. To not mention them, is wrong.
I am shocked they missed Chick-Fil-A. Their chargrilled chicken sandwich is grilled, and put on a whole-wheat bun with leaf lettuce, tomatoes, and a couple of pickles, at only 270 calories, 330 with the honey barbecue sauce. They offer good sized side salads at only 60 calories with fat-free honey mustard dressing, my favorite.
But I agree about Paneras. I love their Sierra Turkey sandwich, but recently found out it has nearly a 1,000 calories, if I remember correctly. However, I live south of Atlanta and there aren’t any around us, not even the Atlanta Bread Company. In fact, the only one in the top ten that is around us is McDonald’s.
I can’t believe Chick-fil-A is not mentioned ANYWHERE on this list. They have a ton of healthy options! Their nuggets and signature sandwich are 100% chicken breast… the BEST of the BEST!
They also have wonderful salads, soup, chargrilled chicken breasts, fresh fruit, fresh squeezed lemonade, fresh brewed tea, etc…
PLUS, they are known for their terrific customer service and philanthropy.
They are definitely my choice!
By ranking 8th on this list, McDonald’s is leading the way in responding to consumers, something the company does well as I learned in cowriting my book, Everything I Know About Business I Learned at McDonald’s (McGraw-Hill).
Good to see that there are healthy alternatives for those of us who need a quick meal but don’t want fries and a hamburger. Here are some more good fast food choices: http://straighthealth.com/pages/five/fastfood.html
This list is a sad joke, based on a totally wrong perception of what is healthy food.
Grains — especially whole grains — are SO bad for you, if they aren’t carefully and specially prepared.
Read Nutrition and Physical Degeneration to reboot your perception of healthy eating. And throw away this worthless list.
^^ Well, this is a nice blog tho… Anyway, maybe i can make an article about healthiest fast food. Thanks Guysssss!!!!
I don’t think this is a horrible list but it does look to be gloriously partial, in that it’s looking at a “thing or two” and random habits of goodness. Problem is it will be interpreted at a blanket endorsement.
Someone said it well earlier with the comment on Chipotle…. try about double that. I’ve done some real life tests on it and find a burritto, chicken can easily flop in around 1,500 calories!!
The big secret, the real test is HOW DO YOU FEEL after you’re done eating at any of these places? I can only imagine how it feels after eating at some of the bread factories. Not nice…
Most of these places leave me beat, exhausted and done…
This is part of what I teach in my book, Strength for Life; I call it “Cravings to Consumption”… how to master nutritional freedom without ever dieting!
As for Fast Food, we have one place here in Colorado that clearly didn’t make the list for some reason which has NOTHING to do with the food. It’s Tokyo Joes… AMAZING, Fast, Healthy Japanese… everything (NOTE THE EVERYTHING) on the menu is amazing. Healthy, delicious… way, way superior to any of these. It’s ONLY CO so that must be the kicker.
I also believe that there’s another “fast food” that people miss… and it’s one I’m close to, in fact I created the world’s finest, premium nutrition shake as a “Life Performance Fast Food,” It’s called Full Strength. It’s clinically proven to swap fat for lean muscle. but more on that is easy to find.
I can understand mcdonalds being on the list it is moving toward healthy options and taco del mar just launched there 320 calories burrito. That is moving forward. What has subway done, nothing. they are trying to get people to eat more with there footlongs. 80% of there footlongs are over a 1000 calories. the tuna has 100g. of fat and 60g of saturated fat. The BMT is so greasing that it soaks through the paper and the grill marks on the chicken look painted on. I work at subway and everything is processed. Now Jersey mikes and quiznoes fresh slice their meat, but subway is processed. Its not Eat Fresh, its Eat processed. I mean whats with the fat family guy character advertising a 1000 calorie sandwich for subway, there making fun of everything jared did for them. Subway is losing my loyalty. And yes i still work there but i grill my own chicken and bring in my own veggies.
Nice restaurants, though “fast food” and “health” doesn’t get on very well with each other :P
See ya.
Campaign 2.2
“criteria” is plural. So the sentence should read “Using criteria that were created with the help of our expert panel…”
hey i freaking love there food
I hope the author of the article checks the blogs and regroups and tries again.
Seems there are alot of agendas and advertising here. Whats up with that?
PANERA BREAD IS BY FAR THE GREATEST-THEY HAVE HEALTHY, LOW FAT CHOICES- U B THE BOSS & TAKE CONTROL. NO ONE MAKES U EAT ANYTHING- IT’S Y 0 U R CHOICE, & PANERA BREAD HAS MANY!!!
I have NEVER SEEN ANY of those restaurants on that list…except McDonalds, and Ive done a lot of traveling.
You’ve got to be kidding me. A NOODLE house? BREAD restaurants? These are loaded with carbohydrates, which are just sugar. Good/bad carbs – they are all carbs. Who paid health.com to run this, the wheat industry?
I used to eat a Au Bon Pain frequently, always thinking that I was making healthy choices (wraps, rice bowls, etc.). Then, I looked at their in-house nutritional content computer… ouch! I was eating tons of satfat, cholesterol and sodium in these apparently healthy selections.
McDonald’s is on this list? RU e-FF-ing kidding me? No wonder Obama got in the whiye house, the U.S. populace (sheep) are MORONS! A Mickey D’s Big Mac has about 540-580 calories! Choke on that living health dot com!
I love Mexican food in most all of its forms, but I have to say that Chipotle is the most uninspiring Mexican food I have ever tried, bland, dumbed-down gringo fare. And where is Subway? I’ve never even heard of most of the places on this list.
“Using criteria that was created with the help of our expert panel … “
Criteria is plural.
Fast food chain stores may not destroy you if you are careful about what you order. But they will destroy your community. They drive local restaurants out of business and turn distinctive neighborhoods into one big urban sprawl. If you don’t have time to sit down for a meal at a spot run by one of your neighbors, then there is something wrong with your lifestyle. A frantic lifestyle will kill you no matter what you eat.
I can’t believe McDonalds is on this list, and Subway is not. I am travelling musician, from coast to coast and 8 of these 10 restaurants I’ve never heard of. I think there must have been some money changing hands in order to be on this list. I think the way to lose weight is 1. eat less 2. Do more. When you do eat, stick with fruits and veggies and non processed foods. This list is ridiculous.
Well, I went to fit4lyfe.webs.com, and it looks like nothing but a scam to me. This is just my opinion, but I don’t trust it.
It would be much better if you listed all of the restaurants on the first page so that we don’t have to hunt for them by going thru 100’s of comments.
In N Out Burger – mostly California, scattered in the west. As a highly allergic individual who cannot eat in most fast food restaurants, I find their protein style (wrapped in lettuce/no bun) works for me – easy to skip the fries and shakes when you’re allergic to potatoes and milk and yeast and wheat and . . .
This whole article is a sham. Healthy is not what they offer. They do offer solutions but they are not really what the body needs to be healthy. I’ve been to many of these places and usually end up going to the supermarket right afterward just so I can actually eat something.
Give me a break. These “judges” must have worked hard to develop selection criteria that would keep Subway off this list.
This is an interesting piece…if only for the reason that it will get people thinking a LITTLE bit. I agree with most of you saying “no such thing as healthy fast food” but — americans , at least if we can get TINY steps. might as well.
I will also say – i;m AMAZED McDonalds can be on there and not SUBWAY!! I am a vegan for 25+ years, and a travelling musician, I eat Subway a cpl times a week on tour – you can get their whole grain/honey oat bread — with ALL VEGGIES, they also have a veggie patty but it isn;t vegan (eggs, probably milk).
PANERA is also a place i’ve been pleasantly surprised. THEY WIN on one level by having a BOOK WITH ALL INGREDIENTS and nutritional info — right behind the counter, you can look on demand. That is simply incredible if you think about it. So– dietary needs, allergies, curiosity — all solved in the most logical way – full disclosure.
Also worth mentioning is that Pizza Hut has removed the hi-fructose corn syrup from sauce, and has ORGANIC ingredients and natural pepperoni. Frito Lay has removed all hydrogenated oils, and even artifical colors/flavors from most items. So — these companies ARE listening …to the bottom line. KEEP BUYING NATURAL/LO FAT/LO SODIUM/VEGAN stuff — and they will keep making it available.
You see Clif bars everywhere now. No you can’t live on those but WAAAAAY better than hi-sugar, cholesterol laden choices from other brands of snack bars.
We can ignore the salt, fat, and carbs, but if it’s ORGANIC it’s healthy, huh? No, it doesn’t work that way. The extent that a food’s “organic” quality adds to its nutritional and healthful benefits is tiny next to the basics. Nutrition is so badly misunderstood.
Ewwwwwwwww but cool
You are touting food that is actually so incredibly processed, full of fat causing, un-digestible fillers, VERY high sodium and harmful soy products (most likely toxic GMO soy) – is GOOD to eat! Where did you get your FACTS? Or were you paid to write this propaganda. You know, you could do this much differently – What about explaining the effects of long term use of these types of foods and how the immune and internal organs become compromised from all the toxicity (which makes you FAT!), and over time creates disease… simply from eating food with POOR NUTRITIONAL VALUE… You Missed the bottled water from coca cola – glorified tap water stripped of its minerals and then VERY insignificant amount added in for taste. This article is a sham. Change the website name – Illhealth.com
McDonald’s? Really? This is for the people who made this–
have any of you seen supersize me?
After I saw that, I don’t think that I’ve eaten at micky d’s in three years or more, not that i did before that, either.
Panera is #1? Well, they say they are a bakery, so I tried their apple turnovers – and saw the response next morning on the scale. Most people are far less sensitive to transfat than me, but if you are, avoid Panera.
Tell me where to eat with wheat alergy. Toco Bell you can give you corn shells, Wendys a baked potato. I know its not for everyone. No Panera, No MacD,No Subway… Noodles out of the question… Eat up if you can.. The best you can do Carb free. Thanks
I’ve been eating the same breakfast at McDonald’s across the street for years: Sausage McMuffin w/Egg, Small OJ, & Senior Coffee (I qualify). Inexpensive–the “SAMCHE” was on the Dollar Menu–nourishing, and probably reasonably healthy. But it keeps going up. It was $1.99; then it was 2.65; then 3.18 alternating w/2.65; now it’s 3.72. The SAMCHE apparently went off the Dollar Menu. It’s still a lot cheaper than the other places nearby (Denny’s, Egg & I) so I might keep going anyway.
How about listing the ten healthiest fast food restaurants instead of miles of opinion so it’s virtually impossible to read? You know, 1. blah blah 2. blah blah 3. blah blah etc. A REAL LIST. C. Christy
Well since I’ve never heard of 9 of your fast food places… I guess Mickey D’s is as healthy a eatin as I’m gonna get.
I am surprised not to find Crispers listed. Their spinach salad and portobella mushroom sandwich are scrumpdilicious.
Unfortunately, the only one on the list that is near where I live is McDonalds BUT, I wouldn’t eat there if it was the last place to dine. Good, healthy, food is where you find it!
how about all of us get together and talk about food
Your omission is an obvious, historical fact… Wendy’s has nutritious, quick serving food choices. Staff are pleasant, and salad selections have been available for decades, and at great rates. Try a baked potato sometime, with a side Ceasar salad….you’ll be back for more. Yep!
Yeah, let’s all get together and talk about food, good idea Taylor. Let’s all bring our favorite fast food to my backyard. Bring your own blanket. Then all of those SoCal people can experience what they’ve been missing, and maybe we can get those people who wouldn’t be caught dead eating any of this stuff, well just maybe, one of us can convince them to try it, just once. I’ll film the whole thing. We’ll put it on youtube. Yeah. After all, it is just food. But for me, I’ll probably wait till the party is over and go in the kitchen and fix a real meal.
McDonald’s appearance on a Top Ten list of healthy places to eat is suspect to say the least. Health.com appears to be handing out AAA ratings with the same reckless abandon as Standard & Poor’s has for securities issued by firms on Wall Street. those companies pay S&P to get rated.
Another poster was right about WHAT you eat, not WHERE.
There are always going to be healthy/unhealthy choices wherever one goes.
I opt to avoid things with corn syrup as this makes you FAT! And I ought to know. I weigh 200 lbs.
Jason’s deli may be somewhat healthy but the Customer Service is terrible. I’ve found hairs in my meals at TWO Different Jason’s over the years and when I showed they said “Um, Sorry Dude…”
McDonald’s is NOT the eighth healthiest. Proof? Check out what’s in your beloved chicken nuggets…
Chicken McNuggets®:
White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, chicken flavor (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary). Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness), dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent).
There’s CHICKEN FLAVOR in that, plus ANTIFOAMING AGENT. Also trans fats, artificial flavoring, and LOTS of other yuck.
Is this what healthy means to you?
Irhink Wendys should have been above McDonalds but really; SUBWAY IS MY PICK!!!! iM NOT THAT INPRESSED WITH PANERA BREAD WHO DID THIS LIST HOW DID YOU COME TO YOUR CONCLUSIONS?
Hey. I like foam in my Mc Nuggetts, don’t you?? – :)
Ohhhhhhh..
In America all one is very careful for the health and also there is a America’s 10 Healthiest Food Restaurant which is very helpful for health care and also for healthy living….
I was about to mention Tokyo Joes too, but someone beat me to it! AMAZING, cheap, healthy fast food – hopefully they’ll branch out beyond Colorado soon!
I completely question your research methodology and validity of your information when Subway isn’t even mentioned. Please help me understand?
I really like your blog! I Will subscribe to your feed. Im trying to bulk up but reading all i can in the meantime.
In reference to a comment about Panera Bread using preservatives and “MSG” I will have to inform you, the bread that is baked daily has no preservatives, hence when you buy a loaf you need to eat it within 4 days our it will go bad, put half in the freezer if need be. Yes the soup can be salty, but there at least 2 types of vegetarian soups daily, very low in calories. I have to say, I have lost 20 lbs eating turkey wrapped in lettuce, and veggie soup. It all depends on your “condiments” As for the “cappuccino” comment, Panera bread is not Starbucks, the trademark is bread. Panera has good coffee, and offers skim or 2% milk. They don’t carry whole milk, the juices, and kids meals are all organic, the produce and meat a freshly cut everyday. Panera is safe and clean in every way, you can relax, eat and get free wifi, what more can you ask for? So I can see why it’s number one… the bakery is a sin but there are some low fat muffins, what bakery do you know is low in calories? lol No I’m not a spokesperson for Panera Bread, but I am pretty much there daily, and I am proud of the accomplishment.
I agree…
It’s not WHERE you eat….it’s WHAT.
It’s what you order and how you take care of your body to maintain proper health. Can’t blame the restaurant for feeding you crap foods. It’s your choice on what you order and your choice on maintaining your health. America has highly mistaken why we are the fattest country in the world. No one excersizes anymore. People would rather order pizza, or chinese food sitting in front of the tv rather than taking a walk to the park for a picnic and frizbee golf. It’s all in the intake and how you shed it off. It’s all about movement and goodness that you put into your body.
I run everyday. I like a big greasy burger every once in a while. I can eat that burger and still maintain my healthiness if I continue to run everyday. People just dont have the motive or desire to keep with a routine that will prove their life’s longevity–TOO LAZY TO GET OFF THE COUCH AND RUN. People dont realize they are wasting their lives gluing their butts to the couch.
Nuff said…
none of these are in my area except Mcdonalds
One of the perks of fast food is that it is cheap. Panera and Jason’s Deli are NOT cheap. They may even be expensive. Cheap is Taco Bell, which is not healthy. I need a cheap and healthy fast food restaurant.
Healthy Restaurants- It is good to see fast food restaurants on the list. The latest restaurant resources for free wireless, healthy restaurants, restaurants gift cards, and restaurant reviews are on RestaurantWired.com. Find healthy secret restaurant recipes, restaurant certificates, gourmet foods online.
I see there are no educated people in this blog. First off I sell chicken meat to both whole foods and mcdonalds. Hate to tell you this but the same thing. Given the current human population I bet you any amount of money you will not find much out there that has not been tampered in some way. Subway is one of the worst places for overall health. Sure it is lo-cal but very high in sodium and they don’t have a true whole wheat or multi-grain bread. It’s all about calories. I could lose weight eating at mcdonalds if I keep my calories down.
i love panera but it is not cheap at all! i eat their soups!
Panera has some great options, but watch the SODIUM content — like most restaurant foods, it is way high.
I think who ever posted Panera Bread as the number one fast food place for healthy eating should re look at the nutrition values for these meals, most are very high in both fat and calories. However, if your
really careful you can eat sensibly and healthy, just like every where else
I think most restaurants can be fine if you order the right stuff and bad if you order the wrong stuff.
I lost a significant amount of weight while eating at Taco Bell at least once a week – if you stick with the basic stuff (bean or chicken burritos, plain taco) and order it “fresco style” (salsa instead of cheese/sour cream/sauce/ect) it’s actually pretty reasonable.
What about Chick-fil-a? They have healthy & tasty options, too!
Really? Since when is a 1/2 sandwich with 21% of your recommended daily intake of fat, 17.5% of your saturated fat, 14% of your cholesterol, and 49% of your sodium a healthy option? Go to McDonald’s and order from the $1 menu. Skip the drink (Carry your own water bottle; not from the store, though.) and your whole meal will cost you less and you’ll be full with just 100 or so calories more than this “healthy” sandwich. This article is a joke.
Chick-Fil-A’s broiled chicken sandwich is just 270 calories, if I remember right. It’s on a whole wheat bun, with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles added, which give one some fiber, esp. the bread. Add the little packet of honey barbecue sauce and you have 330 calories or thereabouts. Only 7 points on Weight Watchers.
Now, as for their fried sandwich–yep, it would be higher in calories and fat, but I rarely eat that one.
Chick fil A also serves up a healthy dose of MSG in all their chicken products – just ask them – they will tell you!
Panera food healthy?
I really question the credibility of your heath experts. By simply looking over the nutritional information provided by Panera you can readily see that the food is either heavy saturated with fat, sodium or sugar. I really could not find any dish that can be marked as healthy as every dish either contains too much fat, sodium or sugar or sometimes even a combination of those.
The sticker now placed on every Panera will only mislead the public in thinking that if they eat there they get a healthy meal. ‘Thanks’ to Health.com
I agree with many others. Many of the recommendations are really high in fat/calories although they have ’some’ small calorie options. Chipotle struck me as misleading. Their Chipotle Salad with Chicken, black beans, Corn Salsa, Mild Salsa, Cheese and half a serving of dressing is still 730 calories! That’s a pretty big meal compared to a 6 inch 300 calorie sub from subway.
Just an FYI. For something, animal or vegetable, to be considered “healthy,” it must first be alive. As most of us do not eat living things, we probably mean to say that something is “healthful”–as in full of health. AF
McDonald’s…seriously? This list is a joke.
Mcdonalds? A taco shop? I agree with Bill. There are other fast food places that should have made the list, I.E. Subway. And some of these aren’t even fast food. 0.o
I love it. I lost a lot of weight and look really good
Boston Market is much healthier than Mc Donald’s. Mc Donald’s shouldn’t be on this list. Only 2 other places on the list are found in the Northeast….wonder why that is?
Corner Bakeries food is AMAZING!!! So many fresh items brought in every day, unique salad and soup choices, great breakfasts…something for every one!
Their biggest problem is that there aren’t enough of them!!! They have very loyal customers in the cities that they serve… I wish I had a Corner Bakery around my corner….
Check out a restusrnat called EVOS – they are in Florida, NC, Florida and California. Healthy, green, fun and super tasty! A perfect mix of fast-food and healthy!
This is really not a good list.Subway and Quiznos is a lot healthier than McDonalds.The average sandwhich at Panera and Corner Backery have at least 30 grams of fat.This person did not do their research.
What about sodium content? Most of the foods that Panera serves are high in sodium.
Chris
If you want to eat healthy do not eat in restaurants. Take control of your eating by preparing food at home using fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains and a minimum of meat. If you can join a community garden, do so. This will connect you with the right people and the right food sources. It will also provide you with some good recreation and nice friends.
Gandalf hit it right on. Make your own food at home. People just don’t want to cook. They are lazy. Start reading all the chemicals and sugar in what your eating. No wonder the 60 and 70 yr. old generations are watching their children and grandchildren die before them. Example: Goldfish (wheat, thinking we are being healthy) contain more salt than is the daily allowance for children. Also campball soup. Fruit rollups contain 48% sugar. Now we find out that can goods are lined with BPA (Bisphneol) made in your local chemical plants. I know first hand my husband works in one. It takes some planning and work to eat healthy. Our goal is to live to be over 100 the way God planned it.
I can’t believe Mc Donalds made the list???? I live in Florida, I love ” Chicken Kitchen ” and there food is really healthy, has anyone tried this place out ?
I like chic-fill-a, their chicken strips and fried potatoes, with their beautifully tasting tea. is hard to beat, their service is A-1 to. Just get a life and eat mo chicken
I guess Subway didn’t pay these people as much as McDonalds.
I live in Florida, I love Chicken Kitchen toooo….
i just had some panera bread chicken soup, and they also gave us some bread! it was healthier than any greasy byrger.