10 Fast-Food Restaurants That Serve Healthy Foods
Here are 10 fast-food restaurants that have some healthy options on the menu.
This Is the Cleanest Fast-Food Chain in America
Grabbing a soft drink, fries, and a chicken sandwich on the way to your kids’ soccer practice or a big meeting is something many Americans do every day. While fast-food chains aren’t necessarily known as the cleanest places to eat, some received top marks from consumers.
A 2018 survey from Restaurant Business looked at the overall interior cleanliness, from floors and silverware to tabletops and trays. The survey also asked fast-food restaurant customers to rate the perceived cleanliness of the kitchens and food prep area. The restrooms were also ranked for overall cleanliness, as they can be a major indicator of how clean the rest of the location is.
We’re counting down the cleanest fast-food chains in America, from good to best. Each percentage indicates how many consumers rated each spot favorably in the Restaurant Business survey. Where does your favorite sit on the list?
Papa Murphy’s (63%)
The take-and-bake pizza chain Papa Murphy’s Pizza garnered a 63% overall cleanliness score. A full 65.5% of consumers rate the interior cleanliness of the store as being very clean, but only 44.4% of survey respondents praised the restrooms’ cleanliness.
Newk’s Eatery (64.9%)
Newk’s Eatery is a fast-casual chain that offers up America’s favorites, like soups, salads, and sandwiches. The restaurant had an overall cleanliness score of 64.9% in the Restaurant Business rankings. The chain had consistent scores in all categories, with 64.2% and 66.4% rankings for clean restrooms and interiors, respectively.
Firehouse Subs (65.8%)
Fast-casual sandwich shop Firehouse Subs was rated at 65.8% for cleanliness. Among survey respondents, 66.7% of consumers gave high marks for the cleanliness of the restaurant, and 64.4% ranked the restrooms as clean.
Culvers (67.1%)
Culvers is known for its butter burgers, cheese curds, and now, its high marks in being a clean restaurant, with an overall score of 67.1% in the Restaurant Business rankings. Among respondents, 69.5% of consumers said the interior of the restaurant is extra-clean, and 67.4% appreciated how clean the bathrooms were. And 63.4% of respondents saw the kitchens and prep areas as clean, too. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Chick-fil-A (67.2%)
Just edging out Culvers is Chick-fil-A, with a 67.2% overall cleanliness score. Across the board, the fast-food chain received high marks. A nice 68.6% of diners commented on how clean the interior of the restaurant is, and 65% of people claimed the restrooms were clean. The kitchen and prep spaces also received got high scores, with a 66.5% approval rating in the survey.
If you’re looking for a clean place to grab a quick bite, you can’t go wrong at Chick-fil-A.
Megan duBois is a travel and lifestyle journalist with bylines across the internet and in print at Delish, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Yahoo Lifestyle, and more. Read more about Megan
10 Fast-Food Restaurants That Serve Healthy Foods
Many fast-food restaurants offer nutritious options, including wraps, salads, and burritos.
While most fast foods are based on cheap, unhealthy ingredients, many fast-food establishments now offer healthy alternatives.
Some major chains even focus exclusively on providing healthy fast food.
These can be life-savers when you don’t have the time or energy to cook a healthy meal.
Here are 10 fast-food restaurants that have some healthy options on the menu.
Chipotle Mexican Grill is a restaurant chain that specializes in foods like tacos and burritos.
The company tries to use only organic, local ingredients, with meats from naturally raised animals.
Healthy options: burritos, tacos, and salads, with a variety of meats, veggies, rice, beans, and guacamole
Locations: all over the United States, as well as Canada, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom
You can take a look at their menu here.
Chick-fil-A is a fast-food restaurant that specializes in chicken sandwiches.
They were the first fast-food chain in the United States to offer a menu completely free of trans fat.
They have taken strides to make their dishes more healthy. In particular, their kids’ menu offers fruit cup sides and milk to drink.
Healthy options: grilled chicken nuggets, chicken salads, grilled market salad, and multi-grain breakfast oatmeal
Locations: throughout the United States
You can take a look at their menu here.
Wendy’s is the third-largest hamburger fast-food chain in the world, behind McDonald’s and Burger King.
Although their menu consists mostly of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and French fries, they also offer some healthier alternatives.
Healthy options: chicken salads and chicken wraps
Locations: 30 countries worldwide, mostly in North and South America, Asia, and the Caribbean
You can take a look at their healthy salads here.
McDonald’s is the world’s biggest fast-food chain.
It is famous for its signature burgers, such as the Big Mac.
Most of the offerings at McDonald’s are highly processed and unhealthy. The company has been slammed for its role in facilitating the worldwide obesity and type 2 diabetes epedemics.
However, due in part to this critique, McDonald’s has added several healthy options to its menu.
Healthy options: several healthy salads, mostly made with chicken, vegetables, and fruit
Locations: worldwide, in a total of 119 countries
You can take a look at their salad menu here.
Ruby Tuesday has many restaurants across the globe.
They offer a large menu, ranging from steaks and seafood to pasta and salads.
The healthier options on their menu are marked with the moniker “Fit and Trim.” Those dishes contain fewer than 700 calories per serving.
Ruby Tuesday offers options based on all sorts of dietary needs, such as gluten intolerance.
Healthy options: a variety of meat, fish, and salads, with side dishes like baked potatoes and fresh vegetables
Locations: North America and Europe
You can take a look at their menu here.
The Cheesecake Factory is known for gargantuan portion sizes and high calorie content.
However, due to increased pressure, they now offer a “SkinnyLicious” menu with smaller portion sizes and healthier ingredients.
Healthy options: steaks, fish, seafood, salads, and various appetizers
Locations: the United States, with several restaurants in the Middle East
You can take a look at their SkinnyLicious menu here.
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is an international fast-food restaurant known for its signature deep-fried chicken. This franchise serves mainly unhealthy foods.
However, some of their restaurants sell grilled chicken to serve their more health-conscious customers.
Healthy options: grilled chicken pieces and sides like green beans or corn on the cob
Locations: worldwide
You can take a look at their menu here.
]]>