Are you searching for low carb or no-carb fast food to get better results from your weight loss journey? We all know that eating healthy can sometimes be challenging. It takes time to come up with recipes and prepare food. But we’re busy people. Who has hours to dedicate to meal prep? So for those times when you want something quick and delicious but low carb fast food options – this list is for you!
Low Carb Fast Food
Recent research shows we should individualize a diet strategy based on preference, timing, and genetics. For example, the process for weight loss is to eat less and move more. But how you use this strategy determines how successful you will be. A balanced, flexible, long-term approach gives you the best chance for success. Thus, eating foods low in calories that taste great is the best way to burn stomach fat.
Nowadays, there is a trend of eating low-carb fast food for weight loss. In addition, it helps many people succeed on a fitness journey. As a result, there is an increase in the demand for low-carb options. Almost all famous fast-food restaurants offer healthy fast food. These are our top 10 favorite low-carb fast foods where you can get your fix without stopping your weight-loss or keto diet.
10 Places to Eat Low Carb Fast Food
1. Chick-Fil-A: Grilled Chicken Nuggets
Chicken is the signature choice of Chick-Fil-A. Thus, you cannot go wrong with it. Many people demand low-carb fast foods. Chick-Fil-A introduced grilled chicken nuggets to please their customers. You can guess from its name these little demons get grilled, not fried.
Thus, these eight-piece nuggets contain 1 gram of carbs, 3 grams of fat, 25 grams of protein, and 210 calories. To get better results, avoid using ranch dressing. Also, make a conscious decision about what dressings to use. Try plain mustard for a better option. Thus, another option is to order a side salad with grilled chicken and light Italian sauce. Chick-Fil-A also boasts a fantastic grilled chicken sandwich.
2. In-N-Out Burger: Protein-Style Hamburger
Instead of using hamburger buns, this famous fast-food chain uses lettuce leaves. Everyone on a low-carb diet knows the role of bread in weight management; thus, they should limit bread. The bunless hamburger contains 11 grams of carbs, 17 grams of fat, 13 grams of protein, and 240 calories.
You don’t have to compromise on taste and protein. In-N-Out protein-style hamburgers taste as good as traditional burgers. You won’t regret your decision. Also, the crunchy lettuce gives you that mouth-watering experience. Burger King also offers a no-bun burger upon request.
3. Wendy’s: Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad
Craving for some salad but afraid of consuming too many carbs? Then, don’t worry. We have a perfect solution to your problem—Order Wendy’s southwest avocado and chicken salad. The salad includes tomatoes, avocados, lettuce, bacon, grilled chicken, and cheese. It provides for a perfect low-carb diet.
Thus, this is a perfect low-carb fast food option for anyone on a keto diet. It contains 13 grams of carbs, 25 grams of fat, 42 grams of protein, and 440 calories. You will feel full after one bowl. It doesn’t contain any processed or unhealthy ingredients.
4. Starbucks: Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Sous Vide Egg Bites
Starbucks never let its competition win. So, they are offering a lot of healthier menu items. Consider special menu items like sous egg white bites for a low carb fast food diet. Egg white bite makes an excellent breakfast option. Also, eggs are low in carbs but rich in proteins.
Starbucks packs it with a mouth-watering flavor. Eat them with high-fiber crackers. Replace regular muffins or wraps with these delicious egg bites to lose body fat. They contain 11 grams of carbs, 8 grams of fat, 12 grams of protein, and 170 calories. Also, Panera Bread offers similar options, if not better, healthy low-carb menu items.
5. Subway: Turkey Breast Chopped Salad
Another excellent top 10 low carb fast food option is subway’s turkey breast chopped salad. Apart from its foot-long sandwiches, subway offers fantastic low-carb salad options. They pack it with many veggies and protein. Don’t forget to include the subway vinaigrette dressing.
It is rich in lean protein and offers saturated fats, although moderate. Add a lot of veggies and, for more taste, add cheese or avocado. It contains 11 grams of carbs, 1.5 grams of fat, 14 grams of protein, and 110 calories. Thus, it is very fulfilling and keeps you satisfied for hours.
6. Taco Bell: Power Menu Bowl with Grilled Chicken
Even on a low carb diet, you can still enjoy fast food from Taco Bell. Skip tacos or burritos for a power menu bowl to stay true to your diet. Taco Bell’s power menu bowl with grilled chicken is a perfect way to enjoy the night. But it would help if you omitted the rice.
You reduce your carb intake by almost one-third by saying no to the rice bowl. Subtracting the rice makes it a high-protein, low-carb fast food. It contains 50 grams of carbs, 19 grams of fat, 26 grams of protein, and 180 calories. Eating healthy fats like avocado can balance your meal as well. To further maximize your results, exclude beans, and you will cut carbs even more.
7. McDonald: Bacon Ranch Grilled Chicken Salad
McDonald’s impresses its customers with the variety of fast foods they offer. This is because they study the needs of their customers. Also, McDonald’s provides customized options. It contains 7 grams of carbs, 12 grams of fat, 14 grams of protein, and 180 calories. Another low-carb fast food option on the menu is bacon ranch grilled chicken salad.
McDonald’s adds chicken, bacon, and deliciousness to this salad. Almost all low-carb eaters know that meat doesn’t contain carbs. Thus, they are the perfect choice for a healthy food meal plan. But always be mindful about toppings and dressing.
8. KFC: Grilled Chicken Breast
Want some chicken? Head to KFC for their mouth-watering grilled chicken. Although chicken is low in carbs, fried chicken can ruin your diet. Thus, ordering KFC grilled chicken is the best way to please your chicken cravings.
It is a healthy choice, in contrast to other chicken options. Also, it contains no carbs, making it a fantastic low-carb diet fast food option. It has 0 grams of carbs, 7 grams of fat, 38 grams of protein, and 210 calories. In addition, a seasoned chicken is juicy with its out-of-the-world taste and a side dish of green beans.
9. Chipotle: Lifestyle Bowls
How can we forget to add Chipotle’s lifestyle bowls to our diet? Also, they offer 30 bowls, all under 20 grams of carbs. In addition, you can customize a bowl with guacamole, vegetables, salsa, and lettuce.
The bowls compete with the best healthy diet fast foods. They contain 18 grams of carbs, 26 grams of fat, 19 grams of protein, and 370 calories. So chipotle is the perfect place to look for some tasty low-carb food. Go for a customized burrito bowl. Also, you can order a lifestyle bowl. Both are perfectly healthy foods. Do not add beans, corn, rice, tortilla chips, or tortillas. Instead, add meat, avocados, greens, veggies, and salsa.
10. Jimmy John: Turkey Tom Unwich
Finally, we have a fantastic turkey to unwich from Jimmy John’s with 225 calories and 2g of carbs. It contains 4 grams of carbs, 22 grams of fat, 13 grams of protein, and 266 calories. Many people cannot imagine sandwiches without bread. However, Jimmy John’s lettuce wraps make you forget about the bread. Also, they are like regular sandwiches; the only difference is the lettuce wraps.
Why Is It Essential to Eat Low-Carb Fast Foods?
The high levels of carbohydrates people eat may be to blame for the high obesity rates, especially in the US. In addition, processed foods have high sugars and starches that can cause insulin spikes. Understanding high carbs help avoid them when trying to lose weight. There are three different carbohydrates: simple, complex, and fiber.
High Carb Food –
High-carb food is made from refined grains and added sugars. As a result, they also add less healthy fats and artificial flavors. Starches are other high-carb food like white bread, pasta, and cereals. Your body digests refined grains quickly, which causes a spike in blood sugar levels. In addition, processed foods can cause insulin resistance, high blood cholesterol levels, and body fat.
High Glycemic Index –
The high glycemic index foods are high in calories. They make you hungry because you quickly digest them. A high-carb diet can lead to obesity problems like type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
The best way to avoid high carbs is by avoiding junk and fast food because they put your body at risk for heart disease and diabetes. You can find out how healthy a carbohydrate food is by looking at the label. The higher a carb food is on the glycemic index, the higher the number of sugars. So what do high carbs mean for your health: high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body fat, and cardiovascular diseases?
Processed foods cause your body to store fat instead of energy. Thus, they cause insulin to store sugar as fat when your body does not use it. So when you eat high carbs, your insulin is higher than usual. Unfortunately, high insulin levels also cause high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Added Sugars –
Many added sugars mostly found in high-carb foods are high in calories and offer no nutritional value. Avoid them by avoiding high-sugar food like candies, cookies, cakes, ice cream, flavored yogurt, and chocolate bars.
You can also find added sugars in prepared soups or salads. Healthier alternatives include high protein and fiber foods like nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, fruits, and vegetables. For example, peanut butter is a high-protein and carb food that satiates. In addition, it helps you to avoid junk food.
The Last Word on the Top 10 Places to Eat Low Carb Fast Foods
How do you use the top 10 low carb fast foods to achieve better weight loss? You can get better weight loss results by holding down the calories and portions. Two things to remember are those who bend don’t break, and life is about trade-offs.
Never take an all-or-nothing approach to a diet. A diet is not a fad but a lifestyle. Instead, adopt healthy behaviors that also allow you to enjoy life. Almost all famous fast-food chains offer healthy fast food. We have provided the 10 top low-carb fast food options for you. The best healthy fast foods come with green vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats.
To achieve success with your diet, let nothing stand in the way. Whether you have a busy lifestyle or want some variety, there are plenty of healthy low carb fast food options. You deserve the best on your journey, and we hope this list was helpful! So, what’s your favorite low carb fast food diet?
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Q&A Section for “Navigating Low Carb Options at Fast Food Restaurants”
Q1: Is it possible to eat low carb at fast food restaurants?
A: Absolutely! While fast food is often associated with high-carb offerings like fries and burgers with buns, many fast food chains now offer a variety of low carb options. These include salads, bunless burgers, grilled chicken, and more. It’s all about making informed choices and sometimes customizing your order.
Q2: What are some good low carb options at popular fast food chains?
A: At McDonald’s, you can opt for a bunless Big Mac or a salad with grilled chicken. At Taco Bell, the Power Menu Bowl without rice and beans is a great choice. At Subway, consider a salad with your choice of protein instead of a sandwich. Many places also offer lettuce wraps as an alternative to buns or bread.
Q3: How can I customize a fast food meal to make it low carb?
A: Customizing is key. Ask for burgers without the bun, skip the fries, and avoid sugary drinks. Instead of bread, tortillas, or rice, ask if you can substitute extra vegetables. For breakfast items, skip the pancakes or biscuits and opt for egg-based dishes without the bread.
Q4: Are low carb fast food options always healthy?
A: Not necessarily. While reducing carbs can fit into a healthy diet, it’s important to consider overall nutritional value. Fast food can still be high in calories, sodium, and unhealthy fats, even when it’s low in carbs. Balance is crucial, and it’s always a good idea to pair these meals with healthy eating throughout the rest of the day.
Q5: How can I track carbs when eating out?
A: Many fast food chains now provide nutritional information online or in their stores. Apps and websites dedicated to nutritional information can also be helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask staff about carb counts or for ingredient lists – being informed helps you make better choices.
Q6: Can I maintain a ketogenic diet while eating fast food?
A: Yes, it’s possible, but it requires careful planning and customization. Keto diets require very low carb intake, so you’ll need to avoid bread, buns, fries, and sugary sauces. Focus on meals that are high in protein and healthy fats, like bunless burgers with cheese and avocado or salads with olive oil-based dressings.
Q7: Are salads always the best low carb option at fast food restaurants?
A: Salads can be a great low carb choice, but you need to be mindful of the toppings and dressings. Some salads are loaded with high-carb ingredients like croutons or sweet dressings. Opt for salads with fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and low-carb dressings like vinaigrettes.
Q8: What about drinks? What are the best low carb options?
A: Water is always the best choice. You can also opt for unsweetened iced tea, black coffee, or diet sodas. Avoid regular sodas, milkshakes, and fruit juices, as they are high in sugar and carbs.
Q9: Are there any specific fast food chains that are more accommodating to low carb diets?
A: Chains like Chipotle and Panera Bread offer more customizable options that can be tailored to low carb diets. Chipotle, for example, offers salad bowls where you can skip high-carb ingredients like rice and beans. Panera Bread has a menu that includes salads and soups that can fit into a low carb diet.
Q10: What should I avoid at fast food restaurants when on a low carb diet?
A: Avoid bread, buns, tortillas, rice, pasta, fries, and sugary sauces. Be cautious with items that might have hidden carbs, like breaded meats and certain salad dressings. Always check the nutritional information if available.
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