Low Carb Fast Food
It's difficult to find low-carb fast food. The bun, crust, breading, condiments, and, of course, fries are all rich in carbohydrates. In general, it is preferable to cook and eat meals at home, but convenience or affordability can force you to eat fast food. Fortunately, low-carb fast food is accessible. We've included a few of our favourites below.
These fast food foods are your best bets for sticking to your low-carb diet. Quick food is rich in calories and trans fats, so it's not a good idea to make it a regular part of your diet. If you're on the go or need a quick dinner, the tips and choices mentioned below will help you stick to your low-carb diet.
Ordering Low-Carb Fast Food in General
Skip the Bun : Certain restaurants offer lettuce-wrapped burgers, or you can still cut the bun and eat the inside with a fork. Avoid fried foods: Some restaurants also sell chicken that has been baked, broiled, or roasted rather than pounded or breaded. Peel the bruised skin off a piece of fried chicken or fish and eat only the meat if you're in a hurry. Limit the intake of french fries, which are rich in trans fats and have been shown in research to increase cravings for more.
Sauces and salad dressings can contain sugar or corn syrup, so have them on the side. Check the ingredients, order it individually, or bring your own.
Fill up on vegetables by visiting the salad bar or ordering a salad from the menu. Add proteins like ham or chicken, as well as healthier fats like sunflower seeds, to your salad. Making a search Information on nutrition: Larger chains publish full dietary information about their products on their websites. Keep an eye on the portions: Share your dinner with mates, or portion out half of your meal as it comes, and take the other half home.
Restaurants & Meals with Reduced Carbs When you're on a low-carb diet, here's a rundown of fast food recommendations for what to order and what to skip. Know that the safest plan is to make up your mind ahead of time and stick to it.
Arby’s
Thumbs Up: Minus the bun: Roast Chicken, Roast Turkey, Roast Ham, Roast Beef, Roast Beef melts, Reuben Corned Beef, and BLT sandwiches and the contents of all subs; Chopped Turkey Club Salad with Buttermilk Ranch dressing.
- A & W
Thumbs Up: Minus the bun: Hot Dog, Cheese Dog, Coney Dog, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, Grilled Chicken sandwich; Ranch dipping sauce.
Thumbs Down: Chicken Strips, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Corn Dog Nuggets, BBQ and Honey-Mustard dipping sauce.
- Blimpie
Thumbs Up: Minus the bun: Deli Subs, Super Stacked Subs, Hot Philly Cheese Steak and Hot Pastrami subs; also Antipasto, Chef, Grilled Chicken, and Tuna salads; blue cheese, Caesar, and oil and vinegar salad dressings.
Thumbs Down: All panini grilled subs, Hot Meatball Sub; Chile Ole and Roast Beef ’n Bleu salads; Blimpie Sauce and Dijon Honey Mustard.
- Burger King
Thumbs Up: Minus the bun: All burgers and Whoppers and Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich; Tendergrill Garden Salad (remove the carrots if you're in earlier phases); Ken’s Ranch dressing; Ham Omelet Sandwich with/without bacon/sausage (minus the bun and honey butter sauce); Veggie Burger okay for Phases 3 and 4 (minus the bun).
Thumbs Down: Tendercrisp Chicken, Tendercrisp Garden Salad, Chicken Tenders; Honey Mustard and Ken’s Fat-free Ranch dressings.
- Carl’s Jr
Thumbs Up: Low-Carb Six-Dollar Burger (wrapped in lettuce leaves); minus the bun: Famous Star, Big Carl™, Guacamole Bacon Burger, most other burgers/cheeseburgers, and Charbroiled Chicken Club; Charbroiled Chicken Salad (lose the croutons); House and blue cheese salad dressings; house and buffalo wing sauces.
Thumbs Down: Teriyaki Burger, Parmesan Chicken Sandwich and all other fried chicken and fish dishes; thousand island and low-fat balsamic salad dressings; BBQ, honey, mustard, and sweet and sour sauces.
- Chick-fil-A
Thumbs Up: Minus the biscuit: breakfast egg, cheese, sausage, and bacon dishes; sausage breakfast burrito (unwrap and discard the tortilla); Chargrilled Chicken Club and Chicken Salad sandwiches minus the bread; blue cheese, Caesar, and buttermilk ranch salad dressings; Buffalo and buttermilk ranch sauces.
Thumbs Down: All breaded and fried chicken dishes; Chick-fil-A sauce and barbecue, honey mustard, and Polynesian sauces; fat-free honey mustard and other low- or no-fat salad dressings.
- Chipotle
Thumbs Up: Salad of Romaine lettuce with Chicken, Beef, Barbacoa, Fajita Vegetables, Fresh Tomato Salsa, Guacamole, Cheese, Tomatilla Salsas, Sour Cream, but NO Vinaigrette (it has 18g NC – sugar!). Burrito Bowl with Chicken, Beef, Barbacoa, Fajita Vegetables, Fresh Tomato Salsa, Guacamole, Cheese, Tomatillo Salsas, Sour Cream and/or queso.
Thumbs Down: Any of the burritos, tacos, or quesadillas – due to the high carb wraps. Also avoid chips, corn salsa, sofritos, beans and rice. Be cautious not to add on too many “extras” – as they do add up quickly.
- Dairy Queen
Thumbs Up: Minus the bun: Grillburgers, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, cheese dogs, grilled chicken and turkey items; side salad (lose the carrots in earlier phases); BBQ, Wild Buffalo, and Ranch dipping sauces.
Thumbs Down: All crispy chicken items; blue cheese, sweet and sour, honey mustard, dipping sauces, all fat-free salad dressings.
- Hardee’s
Thumbs Up: Hardee’s Alternative Options menu: Low-carb Thickburger, low-carb Breakfast Bowl, and Charbroiled Chicken Club “Sandwich” salad.
Thumbs Down: All other burgers with buns.
- KFC
Thumbs Up: Roasted Chicken Caesar or Caesar side salad, both without croutons; roasted chicken BLT salad; Heinz Buttermilk Ranch Dressing; most wing dishes; green beans, KFC Mean Greens.
Thumbs Down: All fried, breaded or crispy dishes and salads; biscuits, most sides.
- Starbucks
Thumbs Up: Cauliflower Tabbouleh Side Salad,Garden Greens & Shaved Parmesan Side Salad, Sous Vide Egg Bites: Bacon & Gruyere, Any of the egg sandwiches without the bun/biscuit/croissant (i.e. Bacon, Gouda & Egg Breakfast Sandwich without the bun/biscuit), Certified Gluten-Free Breakfast Sandwich.
Thumbs Down: Any of the pastries, Caramelized Apple Pound Cake, Cinnamon Raisin Bagel, Cranberry Orange Scone, Double Chocolate Chunk Brownie