Between sports games, road trips, weddings and reunions, eating on the go often becomes a necessity come summertime, but that doesn't mean you have to load up on diet-busting burgers and fries.
Here are eight healthy meals from some of your favorite fast-food joints.
Order the Fruit and Maple Oatmeal without the brown sugar for a filling first meal. Wash it down with a small orange juice to infuse your diet with even more vitamin C.
Qdoba's Naked Salad comes sans the crispy taco bowl, but you'll forget it was ever an option when you discover the flavor of the adobe-marinated fire-grilled chicken over a bed of romaine lettuce with fat-free Picante Ranch dressing, chile corn salsa and a low-fat sour cream. Keep in mind you can make substitutions or additions to create a meal that's right for you.
Panera's "You Pick Two" option allows you to pair half a sandwich with a cup of soup for a lower-calorie, less carb-filled meal. Try a half Meditteranean Veggie Sandwich on Tomato Basil bread and a cup of Black Bean Soup for 5g of belly-filling fiber and11g of protein. Hold the mayo, or substitute bread options to customize your order.
Try the Roma Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwich with spinach and basil pesto on a piccolo roll. With 16g of protein, you'll stay fuller longer and you won't exceed 400 calories for your meal.
Crispy Carnita Tacos divide one serving size of ingredients among three tortilla shells. For a lighter meal, add romaine lettuce, vegetables and Chipotle's green tomatillo salsa instead of higher-calorie additives, such as cheese, sour cream and guacamole.
To avoid a greasy entree, order the Grilled Chicken Wrap with white meat chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes and light ranch in a warm flour tortilla. A side of apple slices and an unsweetened tea are great options to round out your meal.
