This is an interesting, quick read. What struck me is that we don’t have most of these restaurant chains here in Michigan! McDonald’s should actually feel good about thier place on the list, especially after the “Supersize Me” debacle.
http://living.health.com/…-food-restaurants/5/
Panera (Option#1) freakin’ ROCKS!!!
When I was a roadie I’d always hit up the Panera if it was an option…
LOVE that joint!
We’ve got a Panera down the street from us and it is the destination for apres ride gatherings. Five stars. The manager of the place is a fine fellow too, always cordial to cyclists coming in. IMO better coffee than Starbucks too.
On one trip to Cincy the team and I ate there for 4 out of 5 consecutive meals… With one gal going 5 for 5.
Were I the type to risk losing everything on a franchise restaurant, Panera would be high amongst the top picks for sure.
Ah, Panera … free WiFi, coffee, bagels, good soups/sandwiches, fireplace going in the winter. Fine establishments. I think there are at least 5 within 10 miles of my house 
Panera does rock. Great bagels, and their coffee is way better than Starsux.
uh, Tom, whoever made that list was smokin’ some serious crack.
that, or money changed hands …
if you look at nutrition info on about every panera sandwich, they actually have more fat and sodium than fast food cheeseburgers
.
It is possible to eat healthy at just about any fast food restaurant. You just
have to be smart about it.
The exception is In-N-Out. No way to get out of a burger there.
Place that I see the most obese people? Souper Salad.
Portion control is as important if not more so than “healthy” options.
-Jot
I never commented on the relative health of the food there (though it is possible to get healthy food just about anywhere if you want to) - just that I really like the place.
Pretty good coffee, great bagels & sandwiches, solid salads, tasty pizza and kickass cookies!
Not trying to hijack Tom’s thread, but I found this both interesting and pertinent to this list…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/25/AR2009022503123.html
–Tris
The exception is In-N-Out. No way to get out of a burger there.
You can order a "Veggie Burger" at In-N-Out. It's basically everything on it except the actual meat patty.
if you look at nutrition info on about every panera sandwich, they actually have more fat and sodium than fast food cheeseburgers
You are saving my sanity!
I mean, I love Panera’s food but man, way to get fat if you eat whole portions and do not train 3-4 hours a day. Everything is yummy but you just don’t know the food is that packed with extra calories unless you read the nutrition info.
…is true for a lot of other chains, too. So I think it is all about portion size and informing yourself first. Pretty much all of them out there have nutritional info available.
You can order a “Veggie Burger” at In-N-Out. It’s basically everything on it except the actual meat patty.
Exactly! You can also get a cheese sandwich or go with the “protein” style if you are an Adkins fan.
Being on the list of healthiest fast food restaurants is like being the smartest kid with down syndrome…no offense to those who have friends or loved ones…just making a point.
It is possible to eat healthy at just about any fast food restaurant. You just
have to be smart about it.
You’re right. Just stay away from fried anything, mayo, and cheese and you’ll do pretty good for yourself.
I know you mean well, but maybe a better way to explain “healthiest fast food” is with just one word: oxymoron.
Has anyone here read Fast Food Nation?
its a fascinating book…and believe me, if you read it, you’ll find it hard to go to any of these places ever again. Even if you make a so called ‘healthy’ choice, what is behind the whole deal will make you think about where it is coming from, and the everything behind it.
While I fully agree with Panera’s position on that list, I can’t belive that McDonalds can even remotely be mentioned in any healthy food context. What is wrong with these people. Mcdonalds is synonim for trash in my household. They successfuly managed to poison this nation for decades with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated soybean oil, their trash that they call “meat”…What has this world come to, McDonalds making a healthy food restaurant list. You gotta be shitting me.
Hmmm. I recently saw a fascinating documentary on McDonald’s, it may have been on NBC. It was fairly balanced journalism and included a discussion of Morgan Spurlock’s critical documentary “Supersize Me” and some insights from nutritional experts.
One thing about your post strikes me:
“They successfuly managed to poison this nation for decades”
If you were talking about the Soviet use of chemical weapons in Afghanistan I’d say the above statement would be accurate. However, people eat fast food through their own free will, and the nutritional information is readily available. We’re big boys and girls. Our parents kept us from eating “junk” before dinner when we were kids and you sound like you’re doing a fine job as a parent yourself. Good- as well it should be.
But consider this: There have been a few times when travelling that McDonalds was the best, safest food alternative in a hurry and a ready resource for safe, if bland and not optimally nutritious, food. McDonald’s takes a lot of heat and much of it is undeserved and inaccurate or exagerated. Is it good for you? Well, it’s relative. If you have access to better food alternatives with less sodium, more fiber and less refined processes then no, McDonald’s menu likely won’t offer too many options that would be high on your list. However, in a pinch the food is safe, repeatable and offers a modicum of basic nutrition. In many cases, it is an acceptable alternative if not overdone.
Also, McDonald’s has pioneered leading edge quality control standards for potatoes (for their french fries) and beef out of safety concerns in the wake of the mad cow disease pandemic. As the world’s largest single consumer of both beef and potatoes McDonald’s restaurants have demonstrated a commitment to food quality and yes, even *nutrition *that is enviable for a company of their size.
I hear you- it isn’t the *healthiest. *It isn’t the best choice when there are better choices, but thier record of sanitation, food quality control and menu planning a testing for their restaurants is the industry standard in fast food. I think that’s enviable.