9 Healthy Salads to Order from Popular Fast-Food Chains (2023)

FAQs

What is the healthiest salad you can eat? ›

1. Get your greens on. Lettuce — The darker or redder, the better — so think romaine and leaf lettuces (vitamin C, folic acid, potassium). Leafy greens — Jazz things up with spring mix, baby spinach and kale or arugula (beta-carotene, antioxidants).

Though a salad sounds like a healthy option, at some restaurants salads pack more calories, saturated fat and sodium than a cheeseburger. A few top tips: Avoid anything crispy (which is code for fried) and don't use the whole packet of salad dressing (dressings are usually loaded with sugar, sodium and calories).

Yes, the Chick-Fil-A Spicy Southwest Salad is generally considered to be a healthy option. It is low in calories and has plenty of nutritious ingredients like lettuce, baby spinach, Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese, red cabbage and carrots, roasted corn and black beans, and grape tomatoes.

The burger king offers two salads, a side salad, and Chicken Caesar salad. These both are very beneficial for our health.

Romaine lettuce's dark green color, long leaves, and crunchy texture make it a very popular salad base. Two cups of romaine fulfill about 30 percent of your daily vitamin A, and nearly three-quarters of your vitamin K, per the USDA.

When you're trying to pick the healthiest option from a restaurant menu, the default option is to choose from one of the salads. Unfortunately, restaurant salads can conceal a lot of extra fat and calories that make them no healthier than a burger or club sandwich.

Are bagged salad kits good for you? Salad kits are a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, which is never an entirely bad thing. But all the toppings that make these salads taste so good also bump up the saturated fat, sugar and calories.

Salads can be fun, full of variety, and incredibly delicious if done right. They're healthy, have tons of beneficial nutrients, and are super versatile. Eating a salad every day can even help you lose weight.

The Market Salad is the healthiest salad option on the Chick-Fil-A menu. A bed of mixed greens is topped with crumbled blue cheese and a mix of red and green apples, strawberries, and blueberries.

Is grilled chicken Chick-fil-A healthy? ›

Grilled Chicken Sandwich: At 320 calories and six grams of fat, this savory sandwich is a big hit among healthy eaters. A toasted multigrain bun holds a grilled boneless breast of chicken, fresh lettuce and tomato and Honey Roasted BBQ sauce together in one flavorful package. 5.

Chick-fil-a is healthier to eat, because it has less calories in the meal that we have chosen. Sodium is bad for you because if you eat too much it can increse your chances of developing high blood pressure, and that leads to a incresed risk of heart disease, kidney disease and strokes.

Crisp lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and croutons topped with your choice of Renée's Gourmet® Dressing. It's the salad that goes with anything.

Over the past couple of years, they have entirely removed half salads from their menu and now sell a “one size” salad version. As of April 2023, there are four salads on Wendy's menu: Parmesan Caesar Salad, Cobb Salad, Taco Salad, and Apple Pecan Salad.

Wendy's signature lettuce blend, a unique combo of three cheeses, and bacon bits, topped with zesty Renée's Gourmet® Caesar Dressing. Just the right size to satisfy.

So, what's the best lettuce to buy? We prefer whole heads first because they're the cheapest, least processed, most eco-friendly, and potentially the healthiest.

Darker leaves tend to have more dense nutrition, which is my so many people opt for romaine lettuce. It's the healthiest lettuce among all the varieties discussed below, with the possible exception of microgreens. It's crisp and durable like iceberg lettuce, but larger, so it's also an ideal lettuce for sandwiches.

Crispy Chicken, Shrimp, or Tofu

Crispy chicken, coconut shrimp, fried tofu, or any other coated protein that add unnecessary calories and, often, a dose of sugar—making your salad not so diet-friendly.

Are salads healthier than sandwiches? ›

With fillings, most sandwiches hit 600 to 900 calories and 1,000 to 2,500 mg of sodium. In contrast, a full salad starts with greens (maybe even spinach) and raw veggies. With dressing, chicken, cheese, and other usual add-ons, the totals typically hit 400 to 600 calories.

A good burger gives you plenty of energy, protein and a lot of fibre; all of these help you feel satiated. Salads do contain a lot of vegetables that carry vitamins, minerals, and fibre. But the problem is they often lack overall energy and protein.

Eating a salad after a meal can help digestion, while eating one before a meal may help discourage overeating. No matter when you choose to eat your salad it will still come with health benefits. The most important thing is that you have vegetables regularly.

Packaged salads should be safe for consumption because their production must follow food safety practices. 2. Sometimes, packaged salads could be contaminated with harmful microorganisms. But that DOES NOT mean all of them are contaminated.

The healthiest McDonald's salad is the Southwest Salad with grilled chicken. This salad is high in protein and low in fat and calories, making it a great option for those who want a healthier option than the standard fast food hamburger.

"Eating salads on a daily basis as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may support gradual weight loss over time," says Karnatz. "This is because leafy greens are low in calories and high in volume and fiber, which will keep you satisfied for longer," she adds.

You're not eating enough calories.

If you're not over eating, you could have the opposite problem – eating too few calories! When you eat almost entirely nutrient-dense foods, (especially if you eat salad a lot, or lots of fruits and veggies and not a lot of protein) the calorie intake doesn't add up quickly.

You would die of starvation.

Drinking nothing but water is actually natural, so no problem there. Eating only salad is not natural. It is essential that humans get protein and quickest and easiest way to get protein is to eat meat.

Chick-fil-A Market Salad

The Market Salad is definitely the healthiest choice. While you can choose between topping it with strips, nuggets or a grilled filet, the healthiest choice is the grilled filet. Ordering it with no chicken at all brings the calorie count down to just 210.

Is Chick-fil-A chicken noodle soup healthy? ›

Health Benefits Of Eating Chick-Fil-A Chicken Noodle Soup

The chunks of white meat chicken are rich in protein, while the celery and carrots provide essential vitamins and minerals. Plus, since the broth is low in fat and sodium, it's an ideal choice for those trying to eat a healthier diet.

But if you had to pick one, the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich is a “healthier option,” says Julie Upton, MS, RD, co-founder of nutrition website Appetite for Health. “At 440 calories, most people can enjoy a Chick-fil-A sandwich without blowing their daily calorie and fat budgets,” she says.

"The combination of the kale crunch side salad with grilled nuggets is one of the healthiest combinations on the menu," says Pankonin. "It's low in calories and high in protein, which is going to keep you fuller longer. It's also packed with vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, calcium, and potassium."

Although many of Panda Express' dishes are high in sodium and sugar, you can still find nutritious choices on their menu. If you are looking for a healthier lunch or dinner, plan ahead by researching lower-sodium, lower-sugar items—or consider the chain's line of lower-calorie Wok Smart entrees.

Luckily, there are lots of healthy options at Wendy's to choose from—fiber-rich chili, salads overflowing with filling, leafy greens, and lean, protein-packed grilled chicken sandwiches. Here's how Goscilo navigates the menu.

coli contamination that sickened at least 37 people. Illness in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania have been tied to a romaine-iceberg hybrid that is unique to Wendy's, and that the fast-food chain uses only on sandwiches, not salads.

Feel free to accompany any of our meals with this freshly prepared side salad. Or order it instead of fries. Salad includes mixed lettuce, shredded carrots and cherry tomatoes delicately laced with a vinaigrette dressing.

Wendy's has simplified the menu to help improve operations, halting the sometimes more complex limited-time offers and removing slow-selling items like wraps and side salads. “The consumer wants core items,” he said. Customer satisfaction also is up.

A fresh bed of mixed greens, topped with a blend of shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses and grape tomatoes. Made fresh daily. Served with charred tomato, crispy red bell peppers and choice of dressing.

What happened to the lettuce at Wendy's? ›

On Aug. 19 the Wendy's company removed lettuce from all sandwiches in a few states. The outbreak was initially limited to two states, but had grown to six states before being declared over. The states with confirmed patients are Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky.

Wendy's offers four premium entrée salads, the popular Apple Pecan Chicken, Spicy Chicken Caesar, BLT Cobb and Baja. They're also offered in half sizes, giving consumers a choice in portion sizes to meet their needs. Two side salads, a Caesar and Garden, round out the line.

Wendy's Southwest Avocado Salad is a relatively healthy option when compared to other fast food menu items. It offers fresh lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and onions, along with black beans, corn, and cilantro ranch dressing, all of which provide plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Made fresh daily with romaine lettuce, grilled chicken breast, Italian cheese, crunchy croutons, and creamy Caesar dressing.

And while reaching for a salad for lunch day-in-and-day-out may seem like a no-brainer, I wondered if you could have too much of a good thing. The short answer is: Yep. According to Food Fix founder Heather Bauer, RD, CND, all those raw veggies can seriously stress out your GI tract.

While spring mix, spinach, and kale are often hailed as the salad bar's nutritional powerhouses, the truth is that romaine is, as far as vitamins and minerals and all that good stuff is concerned, actually very comparable (and in some ways better) than its supposedly-so-much-more-virtuous cousins.

About Superfood Salad Recipe: For those looking to strengthen their immune system, this gluten-free and vegan salad is an immunity quick-fix. It is packed with delicious superfoods like chickpeas, kale, and blueberries that are rich in nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and antioxidants.

Eating salad every day is a great habit to get into. Salads made with a variety of fruits and vegetables make the perfect healthy lunch or dinner. That's because they're filled with tons of nutrients that benefit your body, like fiber, vitamin E, and vitamin C.

"Eating salads on a daily basis as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may support gradual weight loss over time," says Karnatz. "This is because leafy greens are low in calories and high in volume and fiber, which will keep you satisfied for longer," she adds.

Should you eat salad at night? ›

Eating salad as your last meal of the day before going to bed can be fine, but the amount and timing is key. You should ideally eat it at least a few hours before you go to sleep (the ideal time is likely close to 4 hours even).

Cos or romaine lettuce has a better nutritional profile than iceberg lettuce. Even though romaine lettuce still contains a significant amount of water at nearly 95%, the amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals are higher.

Nutritionally speaking, romaine is deemed superior to iceberg. Romaine is packed with nutrients, including vitamins A and C, and good amounts of folic acid and magnesium. The darker green leafy parts provide more nutritional value than the white crunchy centers, but all of it provides fiber in a healthy diet.

Nutrients. Cucumbers are packed with them. In just a single cup of cucumber slices, you'll get 14% to 19% of the vitamin K you need for the day. You'll also get vitamins B and C along with minerals like copper, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.

of superfood salads. Kale, green cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chicory, roasted pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries – all tossed in a classic poppyseed dressing. Seven superfoods never tasted so good!

Dark green leafy vegetables are great sources of nutrition. Salad greens, kale and spinach are rich in vitamins A, C, E and K, and broccoli, bok choy and mustard are also rich in many of the B-vitamins.