Reasonably Healthy Fast Food

With our fast paced lives, our typical meal consists of something from the nearest drive-thru. Our jobs are hectic, we have kids and money is tight; so avoiding the ever so frequent McDonalds dinner seems out of the question.

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If you can't whip up a healthy, home cooked dinner, there is still hope. Fast food chains want to keep their customers, but the demand for healthy food is heating up. We want better options. Below are some good options when you have to do something quick and convenient.

Panera Bread

Commited to 100% clean ingredients, Panera weighs in at only slightly more expensive than your average combo meal from a burger joint.

Salads are fantastic and versatile, and are filled with kale, edamame, cabbage, fruits, beets, nuts and artisanal cheese. These are not the typical iceberg salads that may be responsible for a nationwide hatred of salad. They are hearty, flavorful and healthy. A gigantic salad with a piece of fresh bread will run you $10.00.

Soups are a nutritious Panera selection as well. The flavors are changed up every so often, but Broccoli Cheddar, Clam Chowder and Vegetable with Pesto are frequent contenders. Soup is hydrating, so loading up in the summer is beneficial, despite soup being a notorious winter choice.

McDonalds

McDonalds has offered their share of cringeworthy salads, but they've redeemed themselves with the Southwest Chicken Salad. Loaded with corn, beans, peppers and of course, chicken, it packs a decent nutritive punch. It's not my first pick, but certainly not aweful in a pinch. Choose your dressing wisely, vinegar based dressings are the safest bet.

KFC

KFC has supposedly gone back to their ingredient roots, using recipes the Colonel intended. Maybe it's in my head, but it does seem to taste better.

Grilled Chicken Breast with Green Beans is a low carb meal that we all can feel pretty good about feeding ourselves and our children. Sorry, I just can't justify the fried stuff.

Taco Bell

Cantina Bowls have been around a while. And I can't believe it took me so long to try them. Fitting into the chains healthier "Fresca" menu, the bowls are loaded with avocado, beans, lean meat and a little rice. It's the best Fresca menu item and tastes like something from a real Mexican restaurant.

Chick-fil-a

This one is almost too easy. The Southwest Salad comes with corn, beans, peppers, chili lime pepitas and spicy chicken. Avoid the tortilla strips if they give you those; the "blue" corn strips are actually colored with artificial blue #1. I give everything else an A plus. Light Italian dressing has little, to no sugar or fat.

The Kale Salad is amazing too, but kind of sweet, so be aware of that. Otherwise, you get a solid serving of kale greens, nuts and dried fruit (probably the main sugar source).

A Grilled Chicken Sandwich on a wheat bun is a satisfying choice when you are straight up starving. After a workout, I often grab one of these.

Last but not least, the Chicken Soup is loaded with grilled chicken and vegetables. In the winter, they feature a thick, bean filled, Spicy Chicken Soup. Both are filling and pair well with the Kale Salad.

Subway

Alot of positive changes have been made at the sandwich hotspot. Chemicals have been removed from the bread and antibiotics from the meat. But a footlong can still be pretty high in carbs and fat depending on your selections.

Years ago, on a weight loss show, one woman would have Subway employees tear the center of the bread out, reducing the carb load. That's a fantastic idea. Skip the cheese and add more veggies.

Subway salads are awesome too, because they are customizable. Spinach, olives, peppers, tuna, olive oil and vinegar equals perfection.

Now that your mind is turning, work toward transforming your family's diet, whether you have to eat fast food or not.