6 Best Fast Food Chains for Affordable Healthy Eating Options
Written by
Kathryn Jackson
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean skipping the drive-thru and spending a ton of money. Among the burgers and fries, some fast food restaurants offer nutritious meals that are budget-friendly. From grilled protein options to veggie-packed bowls, these fast food chains have some of the most affordable, healthy choices when you’re on the go.
Also here are the states that offer the cheapest fast food.
In-N-Out Burger
- Price: $3.05
The protein-style burger has a lettuce leaf wrap instead of a bun with tomato, pickles, cheese, grilled onions and In-N-Out’s special sauce. At just 200 calories, this juicy burger packs 12 grams of protein and only eight grams of carbs, per Good Housekeeping.
If you skip the sauce and ask for mustard and ketchup, you will save 80 calories and nine grams of fat, according to Eat This, Not That!.
Jack in the Box
- Price: $6.49
The chicken fajita pita is a great choice with grilled chicken strips, shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, grilled onions, tomato and whole grain pita bread. The flavorful sandwich contains 330 calories, 35 grams of carbs and 27 grams of protein, according to its website.
Starbucks
- Price: $8.95
An eggs and cheddar orotein box at Starbucks contains white cheddar cheese, two cage-free hard-boiled eggs, grapes, sliced apples, honey peanut butter and multigrain muesli bread.
The protein-packed box has 460 calories, 40 grams of carbs, which includes five grams of fiber and 22 grams of protein, according to its website.
Panda Express
- Price: $10.65
String bean chicken breast is a healthy choice at Panda Express with string beans, chicken and pieces of onion. Nutritional value for this Panda Express dish is 210 calories, 13 grams of carbs and 12 grams of protein, according to Eat This, Not That!. Add brown rice as a side for extra fiber.
Taco Bell
- Price: $10.96
This veggie bowl from Taco Bell features black beans, seasoned rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, shredded purple cabbage, lettuce, reduced-fat sour cream, avocado ranch sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.
Taco Bell’s veggie bowl has 420 calories, 13 grams of protein and 47 grams of carbs of which 10 are fiber, according to Eat This, Not That!. Cut the carbs, calories and fat by asking for “easy” rice and skipping the sour cream and cheese when ordering.
Chick-fil-A
- Price: $11.39
A super salad choice is the market salad with grilled fillet which has blueberries, strawberries, red and green apples, grilled chicken breast, mixed greens and blue cheese crumbles.
According to its website, this salad with the added zesty apple cider vinaigrette dressing packet is 550 calories (230 of the calories comes from the dressing), 42 grams of carbs and 28 grams of protein in one tasty bowl. The granola and almond mix adds an extra 7 grams of fiber.
Lower-calorie salad dressing options include light balsamic vinaigrette dressing at 80 calories, fat-free honey mustard dressing at 90 calories and light Italian dressing at 25 calories.
Editor’s note: Rates and fees are accurate as of April 21, 2025.
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