But more and more chains are expanding their menus (TG!) to include options beyond your typical greasy BEC. Karen Ansel, R.D., author of Healing Superfoods for Anti-Aging, recommends keeping your fast-food breakfast in the range of 300 to 400 calories, with protein, fiber, and some healthy fat at the top of your hit list.
Whether you're on a long-ass road trip or just extremely lazy in the morning, finding a fast-food breakfast that's actually healthy seems about as impossible as these burpee variations.
But more and more chains are expanding their menus (TG!) to include options beyond your typical greasy BEC. Karen Ansel, R.D., author of Healing Superfoods for Anti-Aging, recommends keeping your fast-food breakfast in the range of 300 to 400 calories, with protein, fiber, and some healthy fat at the top of your hit list.
“If you can squeeze in a serving of fruit or vegetables, that’s a bonus,” she says. “And some chains actually let you do that.”
If you're feeling stumped, try some of these tasty options:
1. Dunkin’ Donuts Ham, Egg, And Cheese Wakeup Wrap
Skip the bagel sandwich and donut and go for this protein-rich option, previously recommended to Women's Health by Karman Meyer, R.D. It's under 200 calories and has nine grams of protein per serving. Solid.
Per wrap: 190 cal, 11 g fat (4 g sat), 15 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 600 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 9 g protein.
2. Taco Bell Breakfast Soft Taco
"Skip the meat and this egg and cheese wrap is so light, you can have two and double your protein for a total of 14 filling grams," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D., creator of BetterThanDieting.com.
Per taco (egg and cheese): 170 calories, 9 g fat (3 g sat), 15 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 330 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 7 g protein.
3. McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal
"The trick to making this whole-grain bowl healthy is to ask for it without brown sugar and cream," says Ansel. "Then it becomes a decent non-egg option with five grams of fiber."
Per oatmeal cup (without cream): 290 calories, 2 g fat (0 g sat), 61 g carbs, 32 g sugar, 130 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 5 g protein.
4. Starbucks Spinach, Feta, & Cage Free Egg White Breakfast Wrap
"This toasty whole-grain wrap delivers nearly half your vitamin A and a quarter of your calcium, and serves up spinach and tomatoes," says Ansel.
Per wrap: 290 calories, 10 g fat (3.5 g sat), 33 g carbs, 4 g sugar, 830 mg sodium, 6 g fiber, 19 g protein.
5. Sonic Jr. Breakfast Burrito
You'll get tons of protein and choline with Sonic's breakfast burrito, according to Elizabeth Shaw, R.D.N. (who previously recommended it to Women's Health). And don't let the "Jr." in the title fool you-it's got enough staying power to keep you full until lunch.
Per serving: 300 cal, 17 g fat (7 g sat), 24 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 900 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 12 g protein.
6. Chick-fil-A Egg White Grill
If you could eat Chick-fil-A literally 24/7, their grilled breakfast sandwich is a great healthy option-especially because the English muffin has less saturated fat than the biscuit, according to Jessica Ivey, R.D.N.
Per sandwich: 300 cal, 7 g fat (3 g sat), 31 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 970 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 25 g protein.
7. Smoothie King Original High-Protein Banana
Lindsey Pine, R.D.N., previously recommended this smoothie to Women's Health because it's a "good combo" of carbs, healthy fats, and protein, basically guaranteed to keep you full on the go. (And 28 grams of protein is nothing to sneeze at.)
Per 20-oz smoothie: 350 cal, 12 g fat (1.5 g sat), 37 g carbs, 23 g sugar, 230 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 28 g protein.