We all know how tough it can be to stick to a bariatric or low-carb diet, especially with all those fast-food temptations. However, you don’t have to give up your weight loss progress when dining out. To help you stay on track, the nutrition experts at the Hook’d Up Bar and Grill Bariatric & Metabolic Institute have compiled a list of bariatric-friendly fast food choices and some useful eating tips. Our professionals are here to provide lifelong support for your nutritional, mental, and physical well-being.
Savvy Choices When Eating Out
It’s important to remember that while our fast-food list can be a lifesaver in a pinch, it’s not advisable to rely solely on these options. Preparing your own meals will always be the better choice. These servings are based on the maintenance/lifetime stage of the diet. If you’re just starting, you can spread out some of these options over multiple meals.
Popeye’s
- Naked chicken tenders (you can add a hot sauce packet)
- Green beans
Tip: You can save money and still get a tender and a side by ordering a kid’s meal.
KFC
- Grilled chicken breast
- Green beans
- Caesar or house side salad with light Italian dressing
Wendy’s
- Southwest avocado salad with southwest ranch (makes 2 meals)
- Parmesan Caesar salad with Caesar dressing
- Grilled chicken sandwich (no bun, add extra lettuce to make a wrap)
- Kid’s hamburger/cheeseburger (no bun, add extra lettuce to make a wrap)
Freddy’s
- Grilled chicken breast lettuce wrap
- Single steak burger with or without cheese lettuce wrap (no sauce, load up on veggies)
- Cup of chili with cheese (no crackers)
Tip: For a different spin, try ordering a kid’s steak burger with a lettuce wrap and substitute fries with chili.
Back Yard Burgers
- Blackened or grilled chicken sandwich (no bun, add extra lettuce to make a wrap, makes 2 meals)
- Backyard grilled/blackened chicken salad with balsamic vinaigrette (no croutons, makes 2 meals)
- Turkey burger (no bun, add extra lettuce to make a wrap, makes 2 meals)
- Kids Jr Burger (no bun, add extra lettuce to make a wrap, makes 2 meals)
- Side salad (no croutons, with balsamic vinaigrette)
Dairy Queen
- Grilled chicken BLT salad
- Side salad
- Rotisserie-style chicken bites
- Rotisserie-style chicken bites salad bowl
- Dressings: light ranch or light Italian
- Sauces: wild buffalo or zesty queso
Subway
- Black forest ham salad/bowl
- Buffalo chicken salad
- Cold cut combo salad/bowl
- Italian BMT salad
- Oven roasted turkey salad/bowl
- Oven roasted turkey & ham bowl
- Steak & cheese salad
- Turkey Italiano salad
- Veggie Delite salad (Add some type of protein: cheese, meat, egg, etc.)
Arby’s
- Roast chicken salad entrée
- Roast turkey & Swiss wrap (no wrap, ask for extra lettuce, makes 2 meals)
- Creamy Mediterranean chicken wrap (no wrap, ask for extra lettuce, makes 2 meals)
- Roast turkey gyro (no bread, ask for extra lettuce, makes 2 meals)
- Roast beef gyro (no bread, ask for extra lettuce, makes 2 meals)
- Jalapeno bacon ranch wrap (no wrap, ask for extra lettuce, makes 2 meals)
- Side salad
- Dressings: light Italian or balsamic vinaigrette
Chick-fil-A
- Grilled chicken nuggets (try a kid’s meal)
- Grilled chicken sandwich (ask for extra lettuce instead of bun)
- Egg white grill (Omit English muffin)
- Lemon kale Caesar salad (omit packaged toppings)
- Grilled chicken cobb salad (ask for no corn, omit packaged toppings)
- Side salad (omit packaged toppings)
- Kale crunch side
- Dressings: Light Italian or lemon Caesar vinaigrette (limit to 1 packet)
- Sauces: cilantro lime, zesty buffalo, honey roasted BBQ sauce (limit to 1 packet)
Note: Watch out for the diet lemonade, as it may still contain a significant amount of carbohydrates due to the lemon juice content.
Chipotle
- Choose lettuce or cilantro lime cauliflower rice as your base
- Choose chicken, steak, or barbacoa beef for your protein
- Toppings can include fajita vegetables, shredded cheese, sour cream (about 1 spoonful), choose either fresh tomato salsa, tomatillo green-chili salsa, or tomatillo red-chili salsa, lettuce
Note: A bowl or salad from Chipotle can easily provide two meals.
Zaxby’s
- Garden or blackened blue zalad (ask for no fried onions and toast, makes 2 meals)
- Garden or blackened house zalad (ask for no fried onions and toast, makes 2 meals)
- Grilled chicken sandwich (ask for no bun, extra lettuce)
- Dressings: Lite ranch, lite vinaigrette, or Caesar
- Sauces: original, tongue torch, insane, nuclear (limit to one 2oz cup)
Slim Chicken’s
- Grilled Slim’s salad (ask for no fried onions and croutons)
- Side salad (ask for no croutons)
- Grilled chicken tenders (can order à la carte)
- Sauces: inferno, buffalo
- Dressings: lite Italian or balsamic
Tropical Smoothie
- Supergreen Caesar chicken bowl (makes 2 meals)
- Buffalo chicken bowl (makes 2 meals)
- All American wrap (omit tortilla)
- Kid’s ham & cheddar OR turkey & cheddar wrap (omit tortilla)
Cracker Barrel
Breakfast:
- 2 Eggs + 2 turkey sausage patties = 270 calories
- ½ piece country ham + 2 eggs = 280 calories
- 3 slices bacon + 2 scrambled egg whites = 270 calories
Lunch/Dinner:
- Grilled chicken tenders (3) + 2 sides
- Spicy grilled catfish (1 filet) + 2 sides
- Hamburger steak (half of steak) + 1 side
- Grilled sirloin steak (half of steak) + 2 sides OR just turnip greens
- Lemon Pepper grilled rainbow trout (1 filet) + 2 sides OR just turnip greens
- House salad with grilled chicken & buttermilk ranch (ask for no croutons, limit ranch to 1 cup)
Approved Sides:
- Green beans
- Steamed broccoli
- Turnip greens
Note: You can add turkey and/or brown gravy to your meats at Cracker Barrel, but remember to ask the server not to bring biscuits to the table.
Olive Garden
- Grilled chicken margherita (makes 2 meals)
- Herb grilled salmon (makes 2 meals)
- 6oz Tuscan sirloin with broccoli (makes 2 meals)
- Grilled shrimp tossed in garlic sauce with a side of asparagus (not listed on the menu)
- Salad without croutons (ask for dressing on the side instead of tossed)
Chili’s
- Cajun grilled chicken (the kind that goes on the pasta)
- Grilled chicken fajitas (no tortillas, ask for light seasoning on veggies)
- 6oz sirloin with grilled avocado (makes 2 meals)
- Grilled chicken salad with 2oz honey lime vinaigrette (ask for no corn & black bean salsa)
- Margarita grilled chicken (ask for no tortilla strips; makes 2 meals)
- Ancho salmon with no spicy citrus chile sauce (makes 2 meals)
- Kid’s meal – grilled chicken dippers
Approved Sides:
- Asparagus
- Steamed broccoli
- Celery with ranch
For more bariatric-friendly recipes and inspiring weight loss success stories, visit our From the Heart blog. If you’re considering bariatric surgery, check out bmi.arheart.com today to see if you qualify.