10 Low Calories Fast Food

1. McDonald's: Spicy Veggie Wrap

Calories: 365 | Saturated fat: 1.3g

 

You’ll often find that vegan and vegetarian options – particularly ones without cheese – are healthier and less calorific than items that include meat. This spicy veggie wrap contains veggie dippers, lettuce, tomato, and spicy relish instead of mayo. 

Skip the fizzy drink and go for a flat white coffee, which contains bone-building organic milk. This will add another 86 calories and 1.9g of saturated fat, making your McDonald’s lunch just 451 calories and 3.2g of saturated fat.

 

 

2. KFC: Regular popcorn chicken

Calories: 290 | Saturated fat: 1.7g

 

Is KFC the healthiest fast food, we hear you ask? Well, it depends on what you get. This option, for example, is made from 100 percent chicken breast, making KFC’s Popcorn Chicken a great lunch over a more calorific burger. 

Two large corn 'cobettes', rather than fries, will add another 165 calories and 0.4g saturated fat. That’s 450 calories and 2.1g saturated fat and a sizeable portion of veg towards your RDA (recommended daily allowance).

 

 

 

3. Pizza Hut: Gluten-free Veggie Supreme x 3 slices

Calories: 363 | Saturated fat: 5.1g

 

As delicious as it is, pizza is notoriously calorific, so opt for just a few slices over a whole one. Gluten-free bases are often lower in calories so if you share a Gluten-free Veggie Supreme, three slices will come to 363 calories and just over 5g of saturated fat. This comes with a decent helping of vegetables, including green chillies, jalapeños, peppers and red onions.

 

 

 

4. Nando's: Grilled Chicken Burger

Calories: 443 | Saturated fat: 2g

 

Grilled meat is usually healthier than fried or deep-fried meat and Nando's has a range of grilled options. Its Grilled Chicken Burger contains PERI-PERI-infused chicken breast grilled with a spice of your choice plus lemon and herb mayo, lettuce, tomato and PERI ketchup, all in a Portuguese roll for under 450 calories. 

Eat alongside a large mixed salad of four types of leaves, baby plum tomatoes, cucumber, and dressing, and your protein-rich lunch will come to just 443 calories and 2g saturated fat.

 

 

 

5. McDonald's: Chicken McNuggets Meal

Calories: 279 | Saturated fat: 1.5g

 

McDonald's is now offering meal ideas under 400 or 600 calories and we're lovin' it. Its meal suggestion of Chicken McNuggets (six pieces) with a side salad and medium Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is just 279 calories and 1.5g saturated fat. 

Even the 600-calorie and under meals are free of French fries, thus proving that if you don't add chips, you’ll make a huge difference to your calorie intake.

 

 

 

6. Pizza Express: Leggera Pizza

Calories: Under 600 | Saturated fat: 5.9g

 

As we know, pizzas aren’t a low calorie option but there are ways to treat yourself without over-consuming. The Pizza Express Leggera range, for example, offers pizzas under 600 calories. Calories are kept down by the hole in the middle which is filled with a fresh, dressed salad. 

Opt for the Leggera La Reine – a combo of ham, black olives, mushrooms, light mozzarella and tomato on a thin base – and you'll get some veg and salad with your meal, and a pizza for under 500 calories.

 

 

 

7. Costa Egg Mayo Sandwich & Cappuccino

Calories: 458 | Saturated fat: 2.8g

 

High street cafes have been a mainstay lunch option for those on the go but they often sell items that have a lot of processed ingredients in them. 

The toasties, while delicious, are too high in saturated fat to make it onto this list. But Costa's healthier choice (by the company’s own admission) is a protein-enriched Free Range Egg Mayo Sandwich on oatmeal bread. 

 

Containing 343 calories and 2.4g saturated fat, if you combine it with a medium cappuccino made with skimmed milk (a great source of calcium, by the way), you’ve got yourself a meal for 458 calories and just 2.8g saturated fat.

 

 

 

8. KFC: Zinger Salad

Calories: 330 | Saturated fat: 2.3g

 

For fans of the Zinger Burger, this is the healthier option. A sliced spiced chicken fillet over crisp lettuce, diced tomato and sweetcorn drizzled with a garlic dressing, the calorie content comes in at under 350 calories. By choosing this, you avoid the refined white bun and creamy dressing that comes in the burger of the same name.

 

 

 

9. Starbucks: Banana Bread & Almond Latte

Calories: 448 | Saturated fat: 2.6g

 

If you’re partial to sweet treats, avoid highly refined products such as almond croissants and go for a slice of banana loaf bread with pecans and walnuts. The nuts provide protein and a slow release of energy, plus the loaf contains bananas rather than chocolate or a thick slather of butter. 

A portion is 374 calories and 2.3g saturated fat; combine this with a tall latte made from almond milk (low in saturated fat compared to other milk options) and you have a sweet breakfast that won’t send your blood sugar levels soaring.

 

 

 

10. Leon: Crispy Chicken Korean Burger

Calories: 399 | Saturated fat: 2.9g

 

There are more and more Leon branches popping up in services and train stations around the country, and while they offer fast food, the company is arguably better focused on health and the environment than other brands. 

 

The Korean burger is stuffed with chicken nuggets, good-for-your-gut raw kimchi slaw and Korean mayo. Not only that, it's a carbon-neutral product so you're doing your bit for the planet too.