Tolerable chain fast food?

[Eddie]

As much as I'd really like to participate in this conversation, I recognize that I just shouldn't.

Apparently I have no discriminate taste.

There are few things I've eaten at a fast food joint that resulted in me saying "that was just bad", and I can't think of anything I haven't finished.

There have been times I've thought I wouldn't order the same thing again. But there really aren't any fast food places I simply won't go to because of their food. I can find something to eat anywhere - and it is rare that I don't enjoy it.


Oh...and that guy that says McNuggets are the most disgusting thing he has ever eaten in spite of having eaten an unwashed warthog rectum? Apparently he has no discriminate taste either...

[LA Ute]

Carl's Jr has a new turkey burger. They claim the 3 turkey burgers they offer are under 500 calories.

I had the guacamole turkey burger tonight, and it was pretty good. The bun appeared to be whole wheat, and the guac was nice. I have no clue if it's really under 500 calories (I would assume it is, considering it's a specific number and not "a healthy alternative" or something vague).

I had one of those the night before last. It really was pretty good. I didn't have the guacamole version, though; too hard to believe the 500 calories for that one.

Hey niku - surprisingly, mayo is a decent (not perfect) source of monounsaturated fat. So it's better to have on your sandwich than a lot of other things. Cheese, for example.

[Surfah]

My guess is that of the 500 calories, 300 of it is the bun and the cheese. It would be great if fast food would start offering those 100 calorie thin bread alternatives like the kinds you can buy in stores. They taste great and work perfectly on sandwiches.

I prefer the Wonder Smart White. 2 slices for 100 calories and it tastes great and isn't razor thin.

[HBCoug]

For those of you in Utah, the Teri Yaki Grill is a great and relatively healthy "fast food" alternative. No drive-thru, but I've never waited more than 5 minutes for my food. Chicken/steak combo (mild, medium, or extra spicy) over white or brown rice with a side of steamed veggies and teriyaki sauce. They also do a ginger salmon, pulled pork, or shrimp alternative. I've really become a fan of the place. The regular bowls run about $7 - $8 bucks, but the chicken or steak "littles" give you plenty of food for $5 - $6.

[Borg]

The biggest variable on Subway is the bread quality. If you can get the bread soon after it is baked it makes a big difference. Sometimes I swear they use day-old bread (against franchise rules) and it crumbles in your hands when you eat it. I find it is easier just to ask them before ordering which bread is the freshest and then go with that.

I agree about the bread. The thing that really bugs me, is that the do all that stuff...nice fluffy fresh baked bread..."toasted?" ...great...all your customed toppings...and then the roll that freakin' contraption up tighter than you would a sleeping bag to strap on a backpack!

By the time you get it out to eat it....it looks like a shriveled up, pile of dough and toppings. I HATE it when the roll that up like it will explode if they don't.

I always ask them to take it easy when they roll it up.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I agree about the bread. The thing that really bugs me, is that the do all that stuff...nice fluffy fresh baked bread..."toasted?" ...great...all your customed toppings...and then the roll that freakin' contraption up tighter than you would a sleeping bag to strap on a backpack!

By the time you get it out to eat it....it looks like a shriveled up, pile of dough and toppings. I HATE it when the roll that up like it will explode if they don't.

I always ask them to take it easy when they roll it up.

I am finding the Subway quality so unpredictable that don't each there much any more.

[LA Ute]

If you want a lot of control over your calories, Pollo Loco is great. (Not sure if they are found outside California.) You can order the char-broiled chicken and use it any way you want - for example, removing the skin. You can also get a side or two of veggies and mix and match the items you buy in a pretty healthy way. If you are in the mood you can also pig out in a pretty unhealthy way.

[TripletDaddy]

I prefer the Wonder Smart White. 2 slices for 100 calories and it tastes great and isn't razor thin.

I agree overall. there are several low cal bread options now for making sandwiches at home and they taste great.

But for Carl's specifically, I don't think they could get away with a sandwich on a slice of Wonder. Those oro-wheat thin slices look a little more commercial, almost like a pita, and could probably be used at a fast food restaurant.

The low cal bread proliferation has been a nice development at the grocery store. I would also include the explosion of no calorie juice options (Vitamin Water type stuff). Stuff like that makes it a lot easier for people to stick to a weight control regimen long-term because you aren't having to totally eliminate good stuff from your daily diet.

[Surfah]

I agree overall. there are several low cal bread options now for making sandwiches at home and they taste great.

But for Carl's specifically, I don't think they could get away with a sandwich on a slice of Wonder. Those oro-wheat thin slices look a little more commercial, almost like a pita, and could probably be used at a fast food restaurant.

The low cal bread proliferation has been a nice development at the grocery store. I would also include the explosion of no calorie juice options (Vitamin Water type stuff). Stuff like that makes it a lot easier for people to stick to a weight control regimen long-term because you aren't having to totally eliminate good stuff from your daily diet.

Yeah. The easiest thing for me right now (back on the diet <2000 calories) is to not eat out. But when I do, I try and find a salad. Wendy's has decent salads. Chick-fil-A too. I'll grab 2-3 fresco tacos from Taco Bell. But usually I just brown bag it with my portions and calories counted at home.

[Portland Ute]

Chipotle, IMO, has fast food that is actually GOOD, and not just acceptable. Subway is acceptable. I still enjoy fast food burgers, especially In-n-Out, but I'm not kidding myself... they are nutritional poison.

Doesn't have to be that way.

A single Cheeseburger at In-N-Out with an onion is only 480 calories. I guess the big issue there is sodium.

You can overcome that and still not go over your calories for the day.

Just stay away from the milkshakes and fries.

http://www.in-n-out.com/nutritional_info.asp

In fact, if you ditch the spread and substitute ketchup and mustard, you are down to 400. Go "protein style" (toss the bun and sub lettuce) and you are down to 330. Toss the cheese and you are at 240. A regular burger on a bun with ketchup/mustard instead of spread is only 310.

[Portland Ute]

I usually get lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cucumbers, and jalapenos. How many veggies do you get? Do you ask them to give you more than they normally give?

There is a Subway right by my office. Unfortunately, it suffers from bad bread. However, since it's close, I go there quite a bit. I hold the mayo, go with light vinagre and oil, and have them sprinkle with oregano and salt/pepper. Also, deli mustard.

As for veggies, I ask them to load it. especially the spinach since it's very good for you, very low in calories and very filling. It's my way of making the sandwich "stretch" into a more filling meal. You can do the same with the lettuce, but it has next to no nutritional value. Might as well get some value if you are paying!

[CJF]

Doesn't have to be that way.

A single Cheeseburger at In-N-Out with an onion is only 480 calories. I guess the big issue there is sodium.

You can overcome that and still not go over your calories for the day.

Just stay away from the milkshakes and fries.

http://www.in-n-out.com/nutritional_info.asp

In fact, if you ditch the spread and substitute ketchup and mustard, you are down to 400. Go "protein style" (toss the bun and sub lettuce) and you are down to 330. Toss the cheese and you are at 240. A regular burger on a bun with ketchup/mustard instead of spread is only 310.

I was just looking at their website. Looks like they're expanding into Texas. I found out yesterday that I may be transferred to Texas next. So I guess that's good news that In-N-Out will be waiting for me.

[Donuthole]

There is a Subway right by my office. Unfortunately, it suffers from bad bread. However, since it's close, I go there quite a bit. I hold the mayo, go with light vinagre and oil, and have them sprinkle with oregano and salt/pepper. Also, deli mustard.

As for veggies, I ask them to load it. especially the spinach since it's very good for you, very low in calories and very filling. It's my way of making the sandwich "stretch" into a more filling meal. You can do the same with the lettuce, but it has next to no nutritional value. Might as well get some value if you are paying!

Go lighter with the oil (as in none) and you'll get over that hump sooner!

[Portland Ute]

Go lighter with the oil (as in none) and you'll get over that hump sooner!

Exactly. I quit letting them apply whatever amount they felt like a year or so ago.

I sometimes tell them no oil, just vinegar.

It would be nice if they'd offer a balsamic vinegar to mix things up...but, alas! It's Subway we are talking about here...

[TripletDaddy]

Exactly. I quit letting them apply whatever amount they felt like a year or so ago.

I sometimes tell them no oil, just vinegar.

It would be nice if they'd offer a balsamic vinegar to mix things up...but, alas! It's Subway we are talking about here...

balsamic actually has some calories. regular vinegar has none.

Also, same with deli mustard (calories) vs yellow mustard (none).