If you are trying to cut down on your sodium intake, then you may want to consider fast food restaurants that serve low sodium menu items. Some of these options include Wendy’s, Chipotle, Panera Bread, and Little Hamburger.
Chipotle
If you’re trying to stick to a low sodium diet, Chipotle is one of the better fast food choices you can make. However, it’s important to make sure you choose the right items. There are a lot of things you should avoid when choosing from the menu.
The Chipotle nutrition calculator helps you figure out exactly how much sodium, carbs, and fat is in each of their items. It will also show you how many calories each item has.
Although the menu is full of salty foods, it is still possible to get a healthy meal at Chipotle. You can customize your order and swap out high-sodium ingredients to create a nutritious meal.
In addition, you can opt for a bowl instead of a taco or burrito. Salads are also an option at Chipotle. These salads replace the tortilla with a supergreen blend. A serving of this salad has about 775 milligrams of sodium.
For added freshness, opt for romaine lettuce. Romaine lettuce has only 5 calories per serving.
For more protein, Chipotle offers sofritas. Sofritas is a soy-based protein. This is a better choice than chicken because it’s low in calories.
If you’re going to be eating rice, choose brown rice. Brown rice has less sodium and more fiber.
When it comes to salsa, use the green tomatillo salsa. This has a much lower sodium content than most other salsas.
To add some flavor to your salad, you can also try a reduced fat balsamic vinaigrette. Just remember that any sauce on your salad will have some sodium.
If you want to limit the amount of fat, opt for a grilled fajita veggie bowl. The vegetables are high in vitamins and low in calories.
Panera Bread
Panera Bread is a popular fast food chain that offers a wide variety of low sodium menu items. There are sandwiches, baked goods, and fresh fruit to choose from.
Panera also offers a wide array of desserts. Some of the desserts are made from lower sodium ingredients, while others are higher in sodium. The company also offers a gluten-conscious menu, which is a good option for those with celiac disease.
The biggest source of sodium is the cheese and processed meats found in many Panera dishes. Luckily, the restaurant does have many substitutions. If you have an allergy, the staff can make recommendations. You can request a low-fat cream cheese, a fat-free dressing, or a side of roasted red peppers and carrots.
Panera offers a wide variety of hot drinks, teas, and espresso beverages. While these are not low-sodium, they are tasty. Another option is their smoothies. They’re a healthy way to start the day. However, they can be high in calories.
For an afternoon snack, try one of Panera’s muffins. Each muffin has about two grams of protein. Combined with fruit, it’s a delicious breakfast or lunch item.
Panera also offers a variety of cookies and cakes. These are generally more caloric than other options on the menu. Depending on the selection, they have about 400 calories.
Panera’s homestyle chicken noodle soup is nostalgic. It has 720-1070 mg of sodium per cup.
Toppings include green onion, mustard, and tomatoes. Overall, this sandwich delivers 550 calories and 33 grams of fat.
Panera’s website has suggestions for low-fat diets. In the coming years, the company plans to eliminate artificial colors and preservatives.
With these options, it’s easy to find something at Panera that fits your diet. The fast-food chain also offers a few low-calorie menu items, such as the Greek Yogurt & Mixed Berry bowl, which has 80 milligrams of sodium.
Little Hamburger
When deciding on the healthiest fast food burger, it is important to know the facts. There are a few options that can be found at popular restaurants.
The standard-build cheeseburger from Five Guys is a great choice. This burger includes a low fat patty and only has a small amount of saturated fat. It’s also one of the lowest in sodium content.
Burger King is another popular fast food restaurant that has some of the healthiest options. They have two low-sodium menu items. A plain hamburger, for instance, has only 242 calories and 380 mg of sodium.
While it may seem that all low-sodium options are similar, they actually vary quite a bit. You should look into the nutrition information for each menu item to find the best low-sodium fast food burger for you.
For example, a burger with bacon is higher in sodium than a plain burger. Also, toppings and sauces can add significant amounts of salt to your burger. Using a reduced-fat balsamic vinaigrette is a good way to keep the salt to a minimum.
If you are pregnant, nursing or have hypernatremia, you will want to limit your sodium intake. Similarly, if you have kidney disease or heart failure, you should pay special attention to your intake.
Another way to find the best low-sodium burger is to look for a ketchup-free option. Some companies, like Arby’s, have a hamburger that is made without cheese. In addition, you should try to avoid foods with processed meats.
If you aren’t too concerned with the number of calories, there are many other good choices for the healthiest fast food burger. For example, the Sour Cream with Chive option at Five Guys has 370 milligrams of sodium.
Sour Cream with Chive
Sour cream is a dairy product that’s made by fermenting cream with lactic acid bacteria. This produces a tangy, rich taste that’s great for baking, sauces, and toppings.
However, sour cream is also high in calories and fat. It’s primarily composed of fats, so it’s important to limit your intake. In addition, saturated fats can lead to an increase in LDL cholesterol, which is associated with heart disease. To reduce your cholesterol, you should replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats.
If you’re looking for an easy, low-fat, and tasty way to eat sour cream, consider making a sour cream and chive dip. You can serve this dip with a variety of veggies, chips, and other dippers.
Using full-fat sour cream will make the dip richer and creamier. But, you can always use a non-dairy alternative. Depending on the brand, you may find that the carb count is a bit higher.
Another option is to substitute Creme Fraiche for the sour cream in this recipe. Creme fraiche contains live cultures and is thicker than sour cream.
Alternatively, you could use cottage cheese with lemon juice and milk as a substitute for sour cream. Cottage cheese is a protein-rich alternative that’s low in fat.
Aside from providing flavor, sour cream can help support your health in other ways. Some types of sour cream have probiotics, which are live microbes that can help your body digest and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. These vitamins are known to play a role in diseases like diabetes, cancer, and immune disorders.
Sour cream is an excellent addition to a balanced diet, but eating too much can be unhealthy. Unless you’re trying to lose weight, it’s best to limit your consumption.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s has a variety of low sodium foods and snacks available. Typically, these are items that contain 400 milligrams or less of sodium per serving. However, not all of these are the same. If you are on a restricted diet, it is important to read the nutrition labels for all the ingredients.
For instance, the “Garden Side Salad and Chili” is an excellent option. It is a balanced meal that contains a lot of fiber, vitamins and minerals. This is a great alternative to a hamburger or hotdog.
Another good source of nutrition is the baked potato. These potatoes are a great source of potassium and fiber. They also provide a boost in protein.
Another low sodium menu option from Wendy’s is the garden side salad. A half-size portion is available. The side salad is packed with vitamins and fiber, and it can be eaten with Wendy’s chili.
Wendy’s also has a wide variety of salads to choose from. They include the garden side salad and lettuce wrap sandwiches. You can also order salad dressing on the side.
One of the simplest ways to reduce the amount of sodium you consume is to ask for the unsalted fries. Wendy’s will make them right on the spot.
The baked potato is another low-sodium option that you should try. These potatoes are packed with vitamins and minerals and are also a good source of iron and potassium. Their sour cream and chive version is a good choice for those with high blood pressure.
In general, fast food restaurants have been focusing more on lowering their fat and calorie counts. If you are on a restricted diet, keep in mind that you may need to adjust your sodium intake as well.
