Healthy Fast Food: Is There Such a Thing?
There is! Well, maybe it’s not as healthy as a home-cooked meal, but there are several options out there for healthy fast food when you’re stuck in a bind. These are some things we look for when dining out, because they’re better for our family and we can find more gluten-free options.
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First, find a place without a fryer. Now, this isn’t saying that we don’t eat at places that do have fryers – we do. But I’m very picky about them. In-N-Out for example, has a fryer. That’s because after they cut their potatoes (not open a bag of frozen French fries), they fry them. The potato cutting part is why we will go to In-N-Out instead of any other fast food place with a fryer. All of their ingredients are fresh, never frozen, and you can see inside their kitchen, which is pretty important to me. From a gluten-free perspective, In-N-Out happily wraps your burger in fresh lettuce, and fries only one item on their menu, which lowers the risk of wheat contamination significantly.
Mexican food is almost always on our radar, especially the “slower fast food” Mexican places like Rubio’s and LaSalsa. Most of the time, the kitchen is right out in the open so you can see your meal being prepared, and they usually don’t have fryers in the building. The meats are grilled, fresh veggies are ready to be used as toppings and garnish, and they’re good about offering water, fresh brewed iced tea, and other healthy beverages as drink options. It’s fairly common that all you have to do to make a meal gluten free here is switch out your flour tortilla for a corn one (though I’d always double check that with a manager).
Sandwich shops are a great choice for eating healthier in a fast food atmosphere, too. Panera bread, Jason’s Deli, and Paradise bakery and café are sandwich shops that have locations in multiple states. These types of restaurants (again, no fryers!) serve salads, soups and sandwiches. They often have plenty of fresh fruit on hand for sides, as well. Whole grain bread options are available, and when I have gone the staff and servers have always been knowledgeable about the gluten free options on their menu, which is so important.
Eating healthy while running errands and bringing the kids from activity to activity isn’t always easy. I try to bring a cooler full of fruit, veggies and snacks wherever we go, but sometimes you just need to stop somewhere for a meal. Being prepared to stop and knowing where you’ll eat before you leave the house can keep you from impulsively stopping somewhere that serves fried, greasy and unhealthy food.
Where are some of your favorite “slower” fast food places to eat? I’m always looking to try new things!
Becca Ludlum was born and raised in upstate New York and currently lives in Arizona with her amazing husband and two sons, Michael and Jack. You can find her in a middle school classroom two days a week, and in her kitchen the other five. She’s a master recipe-tweaker and can often be found re-baking a recipe multiple times while trying to reach perfection, which is just fine with her co-workers and neighbors who reap the benefits. Read her personal blog at http://ourcrazyboys.com.
