Top 5 Healthy Fast Food Options For Your Children

So you’re a stay at home mom that chaperones your kids everywhere, from school functions to the movies. Usually when on the go, you want something fast because the kids are hungry and you can’t think of any options. Unfortunately this means fast food. Fast food isn’t the healthiest kind of choice there is, having tons of fat and calories with each bite, though your kids may not know that. Not only that, but having your kid eat healthy can be a struggle, especially if they’re picky. Not all kids like the idea of salads, after all. However, there is hope. There are some fast food options out there that are a little bit healthier than the average fast food meal. Here are the top five healthy fast food options for your kids as a stay at home mom on the go.

1. Grilled Chicken

A lot of health experts agree that grilled chicken might be the best kind of option for chicken lovers out there. It’s healthy, contains a lot of protein, and isn’t too fatty. Grilled chicken can be in anything, from chicken nuggets to burgers. And grilled chicken can be sold in fried chicken restaurants such as KFC and Popeyes. When on the go, have your kid try out a grilled chicken sandwich or grilled chicken nuggets. It’s healthier, and who knows? They may come to like it.

2. Sandwiches With Veggies

Ah, the classic. Sandwiches have been in kids’ lunch boxes since sandwiches were a thing, whether it be grilled cheese or a sandwich with lots of lettuce and tomatoes with a slathering of mayonnaise. While sandwiches can be unhealthy, especially if you slather on lots of mayonnaise and add cheese, a lot of sandwiches out there can be healthy fast food options. Not only that, but kids are able to eat vegetables if it’s in a sandwich with other things added. Subway and Potbelly are definitely healthy fast food options when it comes to getting a healthy sandwich. So when you decide, “Hey, this might be a day to get a sandwich,” take your kids out to get sandwiches from these places. Have them have fun with customizing the sandwich they want while guiding them to pick healthier food options like vegetables and tomatoes. Your kids will love it, guaranteed.

3. Chili

There’s not many places that sell chili, but Wendy’s definitely has a chili option. Chili has a lot of protein and fiber while staying under the 200 calorie mark. Not only that, but it tastes good too. While you can’t exactly have it as a standalone meal, you can pair it with other options at Wendy’s that can make the meal healthier. Though salad may come to mind, kids might not eat the salad because of “icky vegetables.” But maybe they would like it if the chili was dumped onto the salad instead of dressing, who knows?

4. Tacos

Surprisingly, chicken in tacos is not the healthier fast food option. Steak in the tacos, on the other hand, is able to provide a lot of protein your kids need to keep full longer and has less fat than chicken. Tacos generally have everything, like beans for proteins, lettuce for vegetables, tomatoes as a fruit, and a little bit of cheese to top it off. You might want to skip out on the cheese, though, since it just raises the calories. Kids may start to like vegetables in their food if they keep eating them with something tasty, like the steak. So try a taco out if there is a Taco Bell nearby; your kids may like it!

5. Simple Burgers

Surprisingly, burgers can be healthy fast food options. They may be fatty and contain a lot of calories, true, but they are a good source of protein for your kids. Not only that, but they have vegetables in them, allowing your kids to eat them without you telling them, “Eat your vegetables.” However, it’s best to have an extremely simple burger if you plan on buying one. No cheese, no mustard or ketchup, just a plain burger without the high calorie content. You can even order a burger protein-style if they have it as an option, which means the buns are replaced with healthy lettuce. Again, kids might not want a protein-style burger because of the vegetables and the fact that they may think that a burger is not a real burger if it has no buns. So the next time you go to McDonald’s, Burger King, or Five Guys, just order a plain burger. Your kids will still love it.