Best Fast Food Restaurants to Eat at When You’re in a Pinch

(And What to Order)

I know — it’s probably a surprise to hear me, your coach, actually recommending fast food. But let’s be real: life happens. You’re busy, stuck in traffic, running between meetings, your kids’ practices, or just forgot to meal prep.

So instead of pretending you’ll always pack chicken, rice, and broccoli in a Tupperware, let’s be adults about it. Here’s how to do fast food smarter.

1. Chipotle

✅ What to order:

Bowl with double chicken or steak
Skip the cheese and sour cream (or get them on the side)
Add fajita veggies, salsa, lettuce, and guac if it fits your plan
Ask for half rice or all cauliflower rice to keep carbs in check

💡 Why:

High protein, customizable, and it’s easy to build a balanced bowl without hidden fats.

2. Chick-fil-A

✅ What to order:

Grilled nuggets (8 or 12 count)
Side salad or fruit cup
Use mustard or buffalo sauce instead of creamy dressings

💡 Why:

Surprisingly macro-friendly. Their grilled chicken is lean and tasty, and portion-controlled.

3. Subway

✅ What to order:

6-inch sub on wheat or multigrain flatbread
Double meat (turkey, chicken, or roast beef)
Load up veggies, skip cheese if needed
Mustard, vinegar, or sweet onion sauce over mayo

💡 Why:

Easiest place to pack in veggies, control portions, and get lean protein.

4. Starbucks

✅ What to order:

Egg white bites

Protein boxes (but skip crackers or chocolate if cutting carbs)

Black coffee or cold brew

💡 Why:

Quick protein-rich snacks, plus caffeine without the sugary overload.

5. McDonald’s

✅ What to order:

Two grilled chicken sandwiches (ditch the buns if low carb)

Side salad (skip creamy dressing)

Or if in bulk phase, Egg McMuffins are surprisingly reasonable

💡 Why:

Sometimes it’s your only option. Stick with grilled over fried, and keep it simple.

6. Wendy’s

✅ What to order:

Grilled chicken sandwich

Apple bites or plain baked potato (no butter or sour cream)

Chili for a decent protein/carb combo

💡 Why:

Their chili actually has decent macros, and you can stay away from the fries.

Bottom Line

Is fast food ideal? No. But your lifestyle doesn’t need to be perfect — it needs to be sustainable. It’s better to grab a grilled chicken bowl or some egg whites on the run than to completely blow your progress on a bacon cheeseburger and fries (or starve and binge later).

Tommy's Take by Tommy Pomatico 6/30