"15 Keto-friendly Fast Food Options Available for Ordering in Most Locations"
For those following a ketogenic diet, finding fast food options that align with their dietary needs can be a challenge. However, with a few modifications, many popular fast-food chains offer keto-friendly choices. Here's a guide to help you navigate your fast food choices.
## Common Fast Food Options for Keto Dieters
McDonald's, known for its burgers and fries, also offers keto-friendly options. The Grilled Chicken Salad is already a low-carb choice, and by removing the bun from any burger, you can significantly reduce the carb intake. The Egg McMuffin can also be made keto-friendly by ordering it without the muffin [1].
KFC, famous for its fried chicken, offers grilled chicken, which is a very low-carb option with either 0 or 1g of carbs per serving [4].
Cookout, another popular fast-food chain, offers a lettuce-wrapped grilled chicken option, which can be enhanced with cheese, bacon, mayonnaise, and Texas Pete to add flavour without the high-carb bun [5].
## Tips for Making Fast Food Keto-Friendly
Avoid high-carb buns by opting for lettuce wraps or skipping the bun altogether. Choose low-carb proteins like grilled meats such as chicken, beef, or fish. Add healthy fats like cheese, bacon, and mayonnaise to increase the fat content. Select low-carb vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados instead of high-carb options like onions or bell peppers. Be mindful of sauces and dressings, as some can be high in carbs, so choose wisely or ask for them on the side.
## Additional Keto-Friendly Fast Food Options
Wendy's Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad contains 13g carbs, with 7g being fiber. Carbonated water or soda water is a carb-free option available at many fast-food locations. Arby's offers an entree-size roast chicken salad with 8g of total carbs per serving. Condiments such as ketchup or relish can contain sugar and increase the carbohydrates in the meal, while full-fat mayonnaise is a low-carb alternative.
Some fast-food chains offer breadless subs or sandwiches, such as Subway's black forest ham salad. Chick-fil-A offers grilled chicken nuggets, a suitable keto fast food. Hard-boiled eggs are a convenient, low-carb snack option, containing under 1 carbohydrate per large egg. Burrito bowls are suitable keto fast foods, as they contain the same ingredients as burritos without the tortilla. Buffalo Wild Wings offers traditional style Original Buffalo wings that contain 2g of total carbs per 6-wing serving.
By applying these modifications, individuals on a keto diet can enjoy fast food while maintaining their dietary goals. Remember, the keto diet prioritizes calorie intake from fats and strictly limits carbohydrate intake. Larger, entree-sized salads from various fast-food chains can be suitable options for some keto diets and provide enough energy to keep a person full. Grilled chicken, beef, turkey, buffalo, salmon, tuna, and other types of jerky are naturally low in carbs.
[1] McDonald's Egg McMuffin Nutrition Facts: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/nutrition/all.html [4] KFC Grilled Chicken Nutrition Facts: https://www.kfc.com/us/en/nutrition/menu-items/grilled-chicken.html [5] Cookout Grilled Chicken Lettuce Wrap Nutrition Facts: https://www.cookout.com/nutrition/nutrition-finder/item/details/grilled-chicken-lettuce-wrap
- McDonald's Grilled Chicken Salad is a low-carb choice for keto dieters, and removing the bun from any burger reduces the carb intake further.
- KFC's grilled chicken offers minimal carbohydrates, making it a very suitable option for those following a ketogenic diet.
- Cookout's lettuce-wrapped grilled chicken, enhanced with cheese, bacon, mayonnaise, and Texas Pete, provides flavour without the high-carb bun.
- Wendy's Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad, with 7g of fiber, can be a keto-friendly fast food option once you account for the fiber in the carbs.
- Arby's entree-size roast chicken salad contains 8g of total carbs per serving, making it a viable choice for some keto diets.
- Chick-fil-A offers grilled chicken nuggets, a convenient, low-carb fast food option for keto dieters, and buffalo wings from Buffalo Wild Wings contain only 2g of total carbs per 6-wing serving.
