Specialist Doctors USA

Who doesn’t love fast food? You may hardly find a person among thousands of people who dislike the tastes of fast foods. But you will be surprised to know that most fast food provides high calories, sodium, and saturated fat. Even, a single fast-food item may supply more than your daily recommended limit of fat, sodium, and calorie intake. But, there are lots of low-calorie fast food available too. If you want to eat fried chicken, try to order the lowest calorie fried chicken, for pizza or burger selection, do the same. You just need to know how to order the best one. The simplest way to select the best low calorie fast food is to check the restaurant’s website.

Here, in this article, I’m giving you a list of the 25 best low calorie fast food items, but you will get more than 100 options in different restaurants.

Best Low Calorie Fast Food

General Considerations to Select the Best Low Calorie Fast Food

Firstly, try to select fast foods having less than 500 calories.

Secondly, avoid fast foods that are high in cholesterol, fat, and sodium content. Rather, select foods that are high in protein, vitamins, and fiber, low in fat and calories.

Thirdly, select grilled foods and avoid fried fast foods as much as possible. For example, order grilled chicken rather than fried chicken. Because grilled food is always healthier than fried food. 

Fourthly, try to order small size because big size provides a high amount of calories. Most importantly, forget about prices or super-sized alternatives. Definitely, you should calculate the calories of your meal from the nutrition chart. Even, you can eat half of your meal and save the rest for later to decreased calorie counts.

Next, try to consider some side dishes including veggie items, salads, juice, or fresh fruit to balance your meal with all nutrients. But avoid fast food salads with high-calorie toppings like cheese or other fat contents.

Most importantly, try to avoid mayonnaise and oil-based sauces. Rather select ketchup with your fast foods.

Lastly, order zero-calorie drinks, rather than any other options. Fruit juice is best for all time.

Above all is just a simple guideline to order your best low-calorie fast food. According to the guideline some of the healthier fast-food options are listed below –

McDonald’s: Hamburger

McDonalds Hamburger
Picture Courtesy: McDonald’s

If you like McDonald’s burgers, then Hamburger is a good choice as the best low-calorie fast food. Its main ingredients are a regular bun, 100% pure beef patty, salt, and pepper. It has no artificial flavors. Even, no preservatives or artificial colors are used. Ingredients of hamburgers topped are chopped onions, tomato ketchup, pickle slices, and mustard.

According to USDA, a single McDonald’s Hamburger provides 250 calories, 9 g total fat (11 % DV), 31 g total carbs (11 % DV), and 12 g protein (25 % DV).

Saturated Fat:             3.5 grams (17 Percent Daily Values)
Dietary Fiber:              1 gram (5 Percent Daily Values)
Calcium:                      20 milligrams (2 Percent Daily Values)
Total Sugars:               6 grams
Iron:                             3 milligrams (15 Percent Daily Values)
Cholesterol:                 30 milligrams (9 Percent Daily Values)
Potassium:                   200 milligrams (4 Percent Daily Values)
Sodium:                       510 milligrams (22 Percent Daily Values)

 *** Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Subway: Roast Beef Sandwich

Roast Beef Sandwich

Picture Courtesy: Subway

If the sandwich is your favorite choice, opt for Subway’s roast beef sandwich without any hesitation. The high amount of protein and low amount of calories makes it the best low-calorie fast food sandwich option. The serving size of a single sandwich is 233grams. The main ingredients of this classic fast food are Angus Roast Beef, Hearty Multigrain Bread, and plenty of fresh veggies. According to Subway’s nutrition calculator, one Roast beef sandwich provides –


Calories 290
Total Fat 5
Saturated Fat 1.5 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 40 mg
Sodium 740 mg
Carbohydrates 41 g
Dietary Fiber 4 g
Sugars 7 g
Protein 22 g
Vitamin A 30% of DV, Vitamin C 15% of DV, Calcium 2% of DV, and Iron 20% of DV.
*** Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Chick-Fil-A: Grilled Nuggets

chick-fil-a grilled nuggets

Picture Courtesy: Chick-Fil-A

Chick-fil-A’s Grilled Nuggets are one of the healthiest and best low-calorie fast food options on their menu with a high amount of protein. The nuggets are available in a few iconic serving sizes of 5, 8, or 12 pieces. This Bite-sized freshly marinated boneless grilled chicken breasts are awesome in taste. According to Chick-fil-A, this grilled chicken is for tender and juicy backyard-smoky taste. Even, this item is available with guests’ choice of dipping sauces.

Chick-Fil-A’s 12 pieces Grilled Nuggets (serving size 142g) provide 200 calories, a total of 4.5grams of fat, 1g saturated fat, 0 trans-fat, 130mg Cholesterol, 660mg Sodium, 2gm carbohydrates, 0g fiber, 1g sugar, and 38gm protein.

 

Starbucks: Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap

spinach-feta-egg-white-wraps
Picture Courtesy: Workingagainstgravity

If you want to start your day with Starbucks high protein healthy low-calorie fast food, don’t hesitate to go with Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap hot breakfast. This is a good selection for vegetarians with natural flavor. The main ingredients of this delicious menu are wheat flour wrap, egg white omelet, spinach, feta cheese, sun-dried tomato cream cheese spread, tomato blend, canola oil, sugar, honey, yeast, and salt. The serving size of single Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap is 159g and provides 290 calories with other nutrition as mentioned below –

 

Calories 290                               

                                                  % Daily Value *

Total Fat 8 g                                        10%
Saturated Fat 3.5 g                             17%
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 20 mg                              7%
Sodium 840 mg                                   37%
Total Carbohydrates 34 g                   12%
Dietary Fiber 3 g                                 11%
Sugars 5 g
Protein 20 g

* 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs vary.

Chick-Fil-A: Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Picture Courtesy: Chick-Fil-A

Opt for Chick-Fil-A’s grilled chicken sandwich for a low-calorie fast food option. The main ingredients of this sandwich are 1 multi-grain Bun, 1 lemon-herb marinated grilled boneless chicken breast, 2 farm-fresh tomato slices, and green leaf lettuce. The sandwich serves with honey roasted BBQ sauce that makes it juicy and delicious. However, you can add some extra ingredients to make it more delicious like Colby Jack Cheese, bacon, American cheese, Chick-fil-A Sauce, honey mustard sauce, sweet and spicy sriracha sauce, or other ingredients available at an additional cost.

 

Nutrition information (per sandwich) serving size 206g:

380 Calories, total fat 11grams, saturated fat 2, trans fat 0, cholesterol 75mg, sodium 755mg, carbohydrate 44, fiber 2gram, sugar 11gram, and protein 28grams.

KFC: Kentucky Grilled Chicken Whole Wing 

Kentucky grilled chicken

Picture Courtesy: Lovefood

One of the best selections from low-calorie fast food options at KFC. According to their food nutrition chat, Kentucky grilled chicken whole wing is the best option among all of their menus. This item is available in a few iconic buckets of 4, 8, 12, or 16 pieces. However, a single Kentucky grilled chicken whole wing provides 70 calories, a total of 3 grams of fat including only 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 trans-fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 0 carbohydrates, 180 milligrams sodium, 0 dietary fiber, 0 total sugar, and 9 grams of protein. So, an increase in your order quantity also increases the calories and other nutritional values. That means you can eat KFC’s 4 pieces (280 calories) grilled chicken whole wing at a time without getting any bad impact on your health.

Nando’s: 3 Chicken Thighs

Chicken Thighs

Picture Courtesy: Nando’s

Nando’s grilled chicken thighs are one of the best low-calorie fast food among all of their healthier options. This item comes with different tastes and flavors, named like Xtra hot, hot, medium (hits the spot without scalding your tonsils), Lemon & herb, Mango & Lime (a mere hint of heat but a tidal wave of flavor), and  Plain…ish (marinated in PERi-PERi but grilled with no added spice). The main dish includes 3 boneless flame-grilled thighs with skin. Besides grilled chicken thighs, Nando’s has a few other grilled options like the grilled chicken leg or butterflied whole chicken breast.  3 Chicken thighs provide 420 calories, 28g total fat including 7g saturated fat, 180 mg sodium content, 0 sugar, 0 crabs, and 39g protein.

Pizza Hut: Gluten-free Crust Veggie Supreme

Gluten free Crust Veggie

Great selection for vegetable lovers. Gluten-free veggie pizza provides low calories compared to other pizzas. According to PizzaHut’s nutrition calculator, a single slice serving size provides 110 calories. However, as pizza is enormously calorific, so opt for a maximum of 3 slices at a time over a whole pizza. That means you will get 330 calories for consuming 3 slices. Usually, Gluten-free Veggie Supreme toppings are served with diced Roma tomatoes, fresh green bell peppers, fresh mushrooms, fresh red onions, and Mediterranean black olives. But you have options to modify it as your own choice before placing your order. Other nutrition’s provides a single slice are –

Total fat 3.5g including saturated fat 1.5g, Cholesterol 10mg, Sodium 230 mg, Total carbohydrates 15g, dietary fiber 1g, sugars 3g, and protein 4g.

McDonald’s: Filet-O-Fish

McDonald's Filet-O-Fish

Picture Courtesy: McDonald’s

Filet-O-Fish is always a great choice from McDonald’s classic menu items since 1965 and the best low-calorie fast food option for you. It’s been over 50 years but still, customers are coming back for this delicious fish sandwich. The main ingredients in the Filet-O-Fish are Fish Filet Patty, Regular Bun, Tartar Sauce, and Pasteurized Process American Cheese Half Slice. Fish used in filet-o-fish is sourced from sustainably managed fisheries.


According to McDonald’s food nutrition chart, single Fillet-O-Fish provides 380 calories, 18 g total fat (23 % DV), 39 g total carbs (14 % DV), and 16 g protein (31 % DV).
Saturated Fat: 4 grams (19 Percent Daily Values)
Dietary Fiber: 2 grams (6 Percent Daily Values)
Calcium: 26 milligrams (4 Percent Daily Values)
Total Sugars: 5 grams
Iron: 2 milligrams (10 Percent Daily Values)
Cholesterol: 40 milligrams (14 Percent Daily Values)
Potassium: 300 milligrams (6 Percent Daily Values)
Sodium: 580 milligrams (25 Percent Daily Values)
*** Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

McDonald’s: Chicken McNuggets

McDonald's Chicken McNuggets

Picture Courtesy: McDonald’s

Filet-O-Fish is always a great choice from McDonald’s classic menu items since 1965 and the best low-calorie fast food option for you. It’s been over 50 years but still, customers are coming back for this delicious fish sandwich. The main ingredients in the Filet-O-Fish are Fish Filet Patty, Regular Bun, Tartar Sauce, and Pasteurized Process American Cheese Half Slice. Fish used in filet-o-fish is sourced from sustainably managed fisheries.


According to McDonald’s food nutrition chart, single Fillet-O-Fish provides 380 calories, 18 g total fat (23 % DV), 39 g total carbs (14 % DV), and 16 g protein (31 % DV).
Saturated Fat: 4 grams (19 Percent Daily Values)
Dietary Fiber: 2 grams (6 Percent Daily Values)
Calcium: 26 milligrams (4 Percent Daily Values)
Total Sugars: 5 grams
Iron: 2 milligrams (10 Percent Daily Values)
Cholesterol: 40 milligrams (14 Percent Daily Values)
Potassium: 300 milligrams (6 Percent Daily Values)
Sodium: 580 milligrams (25 Percent Daily Values)
*** Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.