McDonald's Big Mac, Fries, And Coke
A Big Mac—one of McDonald's most popular offerings. Although it is tasty, the Big Mac is not the healthiest meal. Thankfully, there is still a healthy swap you can make next time you find yourself at the Golden Arches. "At McDonald's a healthier swap for a Big Mac, fries and a Coke (910 calories) would be a Grilled Chicken McWrap with a side salad and water (390 calories)," Sabat explains. This meal is better, she says, because it contains more fresh vegetables and lean protein. And, the Grilled Chicken McWrap is low in calories. It's a win-win!
Wendy's Baconator, Fries, And Coke
Bacon, unfortunately, is a food that promotes heart disease. That's why, Sabat says, you should be swapping your Wendy's Baconator for something healthier. "At Wendy's, instead of ordering a Baconator with fries and a Coke (1380 calories)," she suggests, "a weight-loss-friendly meal could be a Grilled Chicken Sandwich with a side salad and water (425 calories)." Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich is better than a Baconator because, like the McWrap, it is lower in calories and contains more fresh vegetables and lean protein.
Chick-fil-A's Original Chicken Sandwich, Fries, And Coke
"At Chick-fil-A, a weight-loss-friendly meal could be a Grilled Chicken Sandwich with a side of [a] fruit cup and water (320 calories) rather than an Original Sandwich with medium fries and a Coke (1,090 calories)," Sabat explains. So even though a fried chicken sandwich like the Original Sandwich from Chick-fil-A may be tempting, the Grilled Chicken Sandwich is better for you in the long run because grilled chicken loses a lot of unnecessary fat during the cooking process. Or, try Chick-fil-A's cauliflower sandwich!
Domino's Large Cheese Pizza And Coke
Who doesn't love a good cheese pizza? They're delicious but unfortunately, cheese pizza from a fast food pizza place like Domino's is loaded with calories and saturated fat. Instead, Sabat has a healthy swap suggestion. "At Domino's a good swap for a large cheese pizza with a Coke (2,299 calories) could be a thin crust pizza with vegetables, light cheese, and a side salad with water (650 calories)," she says. This thin-crust veggie cheese pizza is way healthier than just a plain cheese pizza because it contains more fresh vegetables and lighter cheese so it's lower in saturated fat.
Sometimes you just need a quick meal on the go! Whether you're at the airport, on a road trip, or booking it to the office from your lunch break, a bite from a chain may be easy—but it's rarely the healthiest option. Thankfully, you don’t need to sacrifice nutrition for convenience. So, next time you're at a drive-thru try some of these healthy swaps!