Fast-Food Salad Roundup

A roundup of the best fast-food salad choices.

Ordering a salad at your favorite fast-food joint may seem like the healthiest option, but there are lots of salads on the menu with more fat and calories than a double cheeseburger with fries. All of our salad picks come in under 400 calories, dressing included!

This small chain features local and organic ingredients and has a strong focus on sustainability. On your next visit, choose the Rad Thai salad. It’s filled with fresh greens, sprouts and seeds, and is topped with a spicy cashew dressing.

This salad is a beauty — filled with roasted turkey, bacon, cage-free hard-boiled eggs and lots of veggies, for only 290 calories. Add the Skinny Honey Dijon Vinaigrette for only another 50 calories per serving.

Fruit, veggies, crunchy pecans, and tender sliced chicken — you will want for nothing with this high-protein salad. The fat-free poppy seed dressing might be the best part!

This popular East Coast chain is known for its soups, but its salads aren’t too shabby either. Order up this salad with mixed greens, beans, quinoa, carrots and a lemony dressing.

Rights Licensed, (to above named client) - See corresponding Invoice for full description.

Saatchi X-Wendy's Salads

Rights Licensed, (to above named client) - See corresponding Invoice for full description.

Photo by: Teri Campbell ©Teri Studios 2012

Teri Campbell, Teri Studios 2012

All “Fresh-Made” salads at this chain are available in full or half sizes. Enjoy this combo of chicken, veggies and nuts tossed with a chili vinaigrette.

A delicious blend of lettuce, tomato, cheese, celery, ranch dressing and a tangy Buffalo sauce. Add a protein option like chicken, tofu, falafel, steak or tuna for an additional 30 to 150 calories per serving.

The self-proclaimed “salad specialists” behind this growing chain are all about creative, healthy and quickly prepared salads. The Palm Beach with shrimp comes in at only 240 calories before you top it with a serving of the Mexican Goddess Dressing. Also take a look at their list of creative “Spa Dressings.”

Mixing up salads with the environment in mind, this joint gives customers freebies for using reusable bowls. This featured summer salad includes local and organic kale and romaine mixed with pickled veggies, sustainable grilled shrimp and other goodies, like fresh basil, crispy wontons and Asian Sesame dressing.

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.

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