The Best Fast Food to Eat on a Diet

Fast food and dieting go together like…well, they don’t really go together at all! But if you’re trying to lose weight (swim-suit season is just around the corner) and a drive-thru window is the only option you have time for, there is a healthy way of ordering that won’t totally blow your day’s calorie count! In fact, SELF came up with two days’ worth of meals from various fast food and chain restaurants that are low in calories and saturated fat and contain a healthy balance of protein and carbs. Consider this your busy girl’s menu to getting slender and sleek!

DAY 1
Breakfast at McDonald’s
Order: The Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without the brown sugar (You’ll get plenty of sweet satisfaction from the raisins, cran-berries and diced apple) and a small nonfat latte.
The skinny: 350 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated), 61 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 16 g protein

Lunch at Wendy’s
Order: One small chili, a hearty mix of ground beef and beans with a slightly spicy kick, and a side salad with one packet of Italian vinaigrette dressing
The skinny: 320 calories, 13 g fat (4 g saturated), 31 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 20 g protein

Dinner at UNO Chicago Grill
Order: A half order of the 8-oz top sirloin (that’s right—steak on a diet!) with a side of brown rice and a second side of roasted seasonal vegetables.
The skinny: 460 calories, 18 g fat (3 g saturated), 42 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 38 g protein


DAY 2
Breakfast at Dunkin’ Donuts
Order: One Egg White Veggie Flatbread sandwich off of their DDSmart menu (It’s about 60 percent lower in calories and 80 percent lower in fat than their regular sausage, egg and cheese croissant) and a medium coffee with lowfat milk.
The skinny: 328 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated), 38 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 20 g protein




Lunch at Subway
Order: A 6-inch roast beef sandwich on 9-grain bread with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, green peppers, onion and olive oil blend. Feel free to add more veggies if you like—they’re filling and full of good-for-you nutrients, but add only minimal calo-ries and no fat.
The skinny: 415 calories, 9 g fat (6 g saturated), 45 g carbs, 10 g fiber, 30 g protein

Dinner at Panera Bread
Order: A half order of the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, which comes loaded up with chunks of chicken, tomato, red onion, pecans, Gorgonzola and apple chips and white balsamic apple vinaigrette dressing, plus one cup of black bean soup.
The skinny: 430 calories, 20 g fat (5 g saturated), 47 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 26 g protein

Want more easy, slimming and delicious meals and snacks? Check out the SELF Drop 10 Challenge: Our new and im-proved eating and exercise program was designed to help you zap 10 pounds in just five weeks. Register today, and every day at five o’clock sharp we’ll send you an email with the next day’s menu and workout all mapped out. It works—and it’s free!

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By Lucy Danziger and the staff at SELF