Sunday, February 1, 2015

Fast Food Analysis

With my recent diabetic diagnosis, I have been making almost all of my meals at home.  We rarely eat out for dinner but I used to have breakfast and lunch out nearly everyday.  I was spending between $10 and $20 a day on fast food.    Looking back now, it was ridiculous but my thoughts were that it was convenient.  There are those days though that I just don't have time in the morning or I haven't been to the grocery store and there isn't anything to bring for lunch.  On those days, fast food is a choice.  I decided to go through the fast food joints nutritional information and compile a list of the best options when trying to stay low carb.

Please note, I am not an expert, I am not promoting any of these places and these are just my opinions.  All the information is available on each of the restaurants websites.  I only included items under 400 calories and 35 carbs.  My combinations are all under 50 carbs per meal.

First up is Arby's.  I guess it should really come as no surprise that they had very few items that fit into my parameters.  They pride themselves on big meaty sandwiches and those proteins carry a lot of calories.  Their sodium content was also really high.

Arby’s
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
SANDWICHES





Classic Roast Beef
360
14
970
35
23
Jr. Roast Beef
210
8
530
22
13
Jr. Ham & Cheddar Melt
210
6
900
25
14
Jr. Bacon Cheddar Melt
280
12
890
25
17
SIDES





Snack Size Curly Fries
240
13
540
28
3
2pc. Potato Cakes
230
14
460
25
2
3pc. Chicken Tenders
350
17
970
25
25
SALADS





Chopped Farmhouse Salad
230
13
780
8
23
Chopped Side Salad
70
5
105
4
5
Light Italian Dressing
20
1
750
3
0
Dijon Honey Mustard Dressing
180
16
230
8
0
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
130
12
470
5
0
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
210
22
310
2
0

My Favorite Combinations
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
Classic Roast Beef
360
14
970
35
23
Chopped Farmhouse Salad
230
13
780
8
23
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
210
22
310
2
0
TOTALS
800
49
2060
45
46






Jr. Bacon Cheddar Melt
280
12
890
25
17
2pc. Potato Cakes
230
14
460
25
2
TOTALS
510
26
1350
50
19

Next up is Burger King.  As a child, I had an allergic reaction to Burger King burgers so I never eat them.  I was disappointed that not one Chicken Sandwich fit into my parameters.  Most were over 600 calories and 50 carbs.  There are 72 carbs in a large fry. 
Burger King
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
BREAKFAST





Quaker Maple Oatmeal
170
3
270
32
4
Sausage Breakfast Burrito
310
19
820
22
14
Egg & Cheese Breakfast Muffin
260
11
830
27
13
Sausage & Cheese Breakfast Muffin
390
23
1130
27
17
Ham, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Muffin
310
13
1290
29
18
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Muffin
300
14
990
27
15
Egg & Cheese Croissanwich
330
18
620
31
11
Ham, Egg & Cheese Croissanwich
390
20
1080
33
17
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissanwich
370
21
770
31
13
Small Hash Browns
250
16
410
24
2
3 pc French Toast Sticks
230
11
260
29
3
BURGERS





Whopper Jr
300
16
460
27
9
Whopper Jr w/Cheese
350
21
640
28
12
Hamburger
230
9
460
26
9
Cheeseburger
270
12
630
27
11
Double Hamburger
320
15
450
26
14
Double Cheeseburger
360
19
670
27
16
Bacon Cheeseburger
290
13
80
27
12
Bacon Double Cheeseburger
390
21
790
27
17
Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe
290
14
720
28
12
King Jr. Cheeseburger
310
17
580
26
11
SALADS





Side Caesar Salad w/Dressing
290
22
710
17
8
Side Green Salad w/Ranch Dressing
240
22
540
6
6
WRAPS





Ranch Grilled Chicken Wrap
310
16
770
21
19
Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Wrap
330
16
700
26
19
Grilled Chicken BLT Wrap
380
19
1030
33
22
Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap
340
16
960
33
21

My Favorite Combinations





Sausage Breakfast Burrito
310
19
820
22
14
Small Hash Browns
250
16
410
24
2
TOTAL
560
35
1230
46
16






Grilled Chicken BLT Wrap
380
19
1030
33
22
Side Caesar Salad w/Dressing
290
22
710
17
8
TOTAL
670
41
1740
50
30

Jack In The Box is up now.  I was completely shocked by the amount of carbs in the Teriyaki Rice Bowl that they advertise on their “Better For You” menu.  690 Calories, 6 grams of fat, 1910 sodium, and 134 carbs!  All of their sirloin burgers have over 900 calories.  Add fries on top of that and things get way out of hand.

Jack In The Box
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
BREAKFAST





Bacon Breakfast Jack
310
14
790
30
17
Breakfast Jack
280
11
780
30
16
Egg White & Turkey Sandwich
250
6
830
31
18
Hash Brown
190
13
350
17
2
Mini Pancakes
140
1.5
350
28
4
CHICKEN





5 pc Chicken Nuggets
240
17
600
13
9
4pc Grilled Chicken Strips
250
7
1070
5
43
Cheeseburger
320
14
820
32
16
BURGERS





Hamburger
280
11
60
32
14
Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
390
21
910
32
19
Jr. Jack
320
15
610
33
14
Jr. Jack with Cheese
370
19
810
33
16
SIDES





Bacon Monster Taco
340
24
660
19
11
Nacho Monster Taco
330
22
930
23
9
Original Monster Taco
270
17
530
19
9
3pc Mozzarella Sticks
280
16
590
22
12
Small Curly Fries
280
16
610
30
3
3pc Stuffed Jalapenos
220
12
730
21
6
Regular Taco
190
11
320
17
6
SALADS





Grilled Chicken Club Salad
360
20
970
12
37
Grilled Chicken Salad
250
9
660
14
28
Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad
350
15
1010
28
34
Side Salad
20
0
10
4
1
Creamy Southwest Dressing
190
19
740
3
1
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
30
1.5
350
4
0
Ranch Dressing
250
25
410
5
1

My Favorite Combinations
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
BREAKFAST





Bacon Breakfast Jack
310
14
790
30
17
Hash Brown
190
13
350
17
2
TOTAL
500
27
1140
47
19
LUNCH/DINNER





Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
390
21
910
32
19
Bacon Monster Taco
340
24
660
19
11
TOTAL
730
45
1570
51
30
Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad
350
15
1010
28
34
Creamy Southwest Dressing
190
19
740
3
1
TOTAL
540
34
1750
31
35

Next is Kentucky Fried Chicken.  I was surprised by how many combinations you can make at KFC.  If you pick the grilled chicken, you can have 2 sides and not feel guilty.  Avoid those KFC Famous Bowls and the Chicken Pot Pie though.  The bowls have 650 calories and 73 carbs while the Chicken Pot Pie 790 calories and 66 carbs. 
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
CHICKEN





Whole Wing-Original Recipe
140
8
450
5
11
Breast- Original Recipe
320
14
1130
13
36
Drumstick- Original Recipe
120
7
380
3
11
Thigh- Original Recipe
290
21
850
8
18
Whole Wing-Extra Crispy
210
15
490
8
12
Breast- Extra Crispy
490
29
1140
20
35
Drumstick- Extra Crispy
160
10
390
5
13
Thigh- Extra Crispy
370
26
760
15
18
Whole Wing- Grilled
80
4.5
250
1
10
Breast- Grilled
220
7
730
0
40
Drumstick- Grilled
90
4
290
0
13
Thigh- Grilled
170
10
530
0
19
3 pc Extra Crispy Tenders
380
20
940
17
33
10 pc Original Recipe Bites
330
15
1100
12
37
Hot Wings (per wing)
70
4
160
3
4
Chicken Little Sandwich
310
18
590
23
14
SALADS





Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad
330
17
810
16
29
Caesar Side Salad
40
2
90
2
3
Crispy Chicken BLT Salad
350
18
990
18
30
House Side Salad
15
0
10
3
1
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
160
17
220
1
0
Fat Free Ranch Dressing
35
0
410
8
1
Light Italian Dressing
15
.5
510
2
0
Creamy Parmesan Caesar dressing
260
26
540
4
2
INDIVIDUAL SIDES





Green Beans
25
0
260
4
1
Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
120
4
530
19
2
Mashed Potatoes without Gravy
90
3
320
15
2
Macaroni & Cheese
170
6
830
22
5






Corn on the Cob
70
0.5
0
16
2
Cole Slaw
170
10
170
19
1
Biscuit
180
8
530
23
4
Sweet Kernel Corn
100
0.5
0
21
3

My Favorite Combinations
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
Breast- Grilled
220
7
730
0
40
Green Beans
25
0
260
4
1
Mashed Potatoes without Gravy
90
3
320
15
2
TOTAL
335
10
1310
19
43






Hot Wings (per wing) x 5
350
20
800
15
20
Potato Wedges
290
15
810
35
4
TOTAL
640
35
1610
50
24

America's #1 Fast Food joint is next, McDonalds.  I was disappointed that there were no Chicken Sandwiches within my parameters.  Even the premium wraps were all over 500 calories.  The Bacon Clubhouse Crispy Chicken has 750 Calories, 38 grams of fat and 65 carbs.

McDonalds
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
BREAKFAST





Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
150
2
80
30
4
Sausage Burrito
300
16
790
26
12
Egg McMuffin
300
13
750
31
17
Egg White Delight
250
8
770
30
18
Hash Brown
150
9
310
15
1
BURGERS





Hamburger
240
8
480
32
12
Cheeseburger
290
11
680
33
15
Grilled Onion Cheddar
300
13
640
32
15
McDouble
380
17
840
34
22
CHICKEN





Grilled Honey Mustard Wrap
260
9
660
27
16
Grilled Ranch Wrap
280
13
720
25
16
SALADS





Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled
230
8
700
22
30
Southwest Salad with Chicken
290
8
680
28
27
Side Salad
20
0
10
4
1
Sesame Ginger Dressing
90
2.5
410
15
1
Southwest Dressing
120
8
300
11
1


My Favorite Combinations
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
BREAKFAST





Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
150
2
80
30
4
Hash Brown
150
9
310
15
1
TOTAL
300
11
390
45
5
Egg White Delight
250
8
770
30
18
Hash Brown
150
9
310
15
1
TOTAL
400
17
1080
45
19
LUNCH/DINNER





Grilled Honey Mustard Wrap
260
9
660
27
16
Side Salad
20
0
10
4
1
Southwest Dressing
120
8
300
11
1
TOTAL
400
17
970
42
18

I was surprised by the amount of things that I could eat at Taco Bell.  Their Fresco menu is awesome but their salads include so many carbs, because of the shell, that I couldn't include them.
Taco Bell
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
BREAKFAST





AM Grilled Bacon Taco
230
14
850
15
12
AM Grilled Egg & Cheese Taco
170
9
330
15
7
Am Grilled Sausage Taco
220
14
440
15
9
Sausage Flatbread Melt
300
17
410
27
11
Bacon Waffle Taco
320
18
670
28
13
Egg & Cheese Waffle Taco
260
13
420
27
8
Sausage Waffle Taco
370
23
550
28
12
Hash Brown
160
11
250
14
1
TACOS, BURRITOS, ETC.





Chicken Chalupa Supreme
350
18
530
31
17
Steak Chalupa Supreme
350
19
530
30
17
Beef Chalupa Supreme
370
21
580
31
13
Fresco Chicken Soft Taco
140
3.5
470
16
10
Fresco Crunchy Taco
150
8
310
13
6
Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco
150
4.5
440
16
12
Fresco Soft Taco
160
7
490
17
8
Chicken Gordita Supreme
270
9
530
31
17
Steak Gordita Supreme
280
10
530
30
17
Beef Gordita Supreme
290
13
580
31
13
Beefy Mini Quesadillas
210
12
560
17
9
Cheese Roll-Up
180
9
430
15
9
Double Tostada
270
11
650
32
12
Mexi-Melt
250
14
730
19
14
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
180
8
540
15
12
Spicy Tostada
200
10
440
22
7
Chicken Soft Taco
160
5
480
16
12
Cool Ranch Locos Taco
160
10
370
13
8
Cool Ranch Locos Taco Supreme
200
12
390
15
8
Crunchy Taco
170
10
310
12
8
Crunchy Taco Supreme
200
12
340
15
8


My Favorite Combinations
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
BREAKFAST





AM Grilled Bacon Taco
230
14
850
15
12
Am Grilled Sausage Taco
220
14
440
15
9
Hash Brown
160
11
250
14
1
TOTAL
610
39
1540
44
22
Bacon Waffle Taco
320
18
670
28
13
Hash Brown
160
11
250
14
1
TOTAL
480
29
920
42
14
LUNCH/DINNER





Chicken Chalupa Supreme
350
18
530
31
17
Fresco Crunchy Taco
150
8
310
13
6
TOTAL
500
26
840
44
23
Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco
150
4.5
440
16
12
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
180
8
540
15
12
TOTAL
330
12.5
980
31
24

Finally, we have Wendy's.  I love that on the Wendy’s site, you can look up individual components.  You can see how getting rid of the bun can reduce the carbs.  For instance:  Baconator has 940 Calories, 57 grams of fat and 41 carbs.  If you lose the bun, ketchup and the mayo it knocks it down to 690 calories, 50 grams of fat and 3 carbs.   I am not saying you should eat this way all the time.  But I know sometimes, I just want a big fat juicy burger.
Wendy’s
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
BURGERS





Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
370
21
850
26
18
Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe
340
18
860
28
16
Jr. Hamburger
240
9
630
25
13
Jr. Cheeseburger
280
12
820
26
15
CHICKEN





Crispy Chicken Sandwich
350
19
620
34
13
Monterey Ranch Chicken Sandwich
380
20
850
34
16
Spicy Chicken Wrap
340
16
810
30
17
Grilled Chicken Wrap
260
10
740
25
19
4 pc Chicken Nuggets
180
12
350
10
9
4 pc Spicy Chicken Nuggets
170
11
500
9
10
6 pc Chicken Nuggets
270
18
520
14
14
6 pc Spicy Chicken Nuggets
260
17
750
14
15
SALADS





Asian Cashew Chicken Salad (Full)
380
13
960
33
36
BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad (Half)
300
14
820
25
21
Apple Pecan Chicken Salad (Half)
350
18
750
31
19
Side Salad
210
13
380
18
4
Caesar Side Salad
250
18
460
18
7
SIDES





Value Size Natural Cut Fries
220
11
240
28
3
Small Chilli
170
5
780
16
15
Large Chilli
250
7
1170
23
23


My Favorite Cominations
Calories
Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Protein
Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
370
21
850
26
18
Large Chilli
250
7
1170
23
23
TOTAL
620
28
2020
49
41
6 pc Chicken Nuggets
270
18
520
14
14
Value Size Natural Cut Fries
220
11
240
28
3
TOTAL
490
29
760
42
17
Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe
340
18
860
28
16
Small Chilli
170
5
780
16
15
TOTAL
510
23
1640
44
31

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