Non-cookers: Where do you eat healthy?

[Gunslinger08]

If you can't/don't cook and want to grab something quick, where do you go and what do you get?

 

[sjwaste]

On days where I come home starving and don't have groceries or just don't want to take the time to make something, Chipotle is often a safe bet.

Burrito, rice, chicken, peppers and onions, corn, mild, and hot salsa. No dairy, lettuce, or guacamole. Burrito bol, same stuff, if I want a couple hundred less calories in it. Can also hold the rice as well.

Also in the fast food realm, my fiancee swears by Arby's. Plain roast beef, obviously no fries, no soda. I don't particularly like them, but it's a lower calorie option.

If you have a Peruvian chicken joint nearby, that's a solid option too, if you can resist the skin and most of the sides.

 

[Kaido]

Subway is probably a good option - a basic sub sandwich with veggies & meat. iirc McDonalds has some salads.

 

[TecHNooB]

McDonalds - Asian Salad w/ Grilled Chicken + Coffee
Subway - Chicken Breast / Ham / Turkey Sub with any veggies and fat free condiments
Sashimi... where ever they serve good sashimi.

 

[Marty502]

McDonalds - Grilled chicken sandwich w/o mayo and a diet soda. Minus the fries if you're more picky.

Subway - What technoob said. It's perfect.

 

[Atty]

Subway or my (Publix) store's deli, their subs are on, in my opinion, better than Subway and their more expensive meat choice (Boar's Head) has no preservatives, etc, and is much healthier for you than their normal deli meat. Their roasted chicken isn't bad either, as long as you can stay away from the Skin.

 

[scootermaster]

First off, it depends on what you're trying to accomplish (low cal? Low fat? Low carb?).

Chipotle, um, is NEVER a safe bet. Just walking into a chipotle is horrible for you. It tastes great, and I love it, but when I eat I make sure I know what I'm doing, and I'm okay with the cals/fat (and SALT!)

Taco Bell, ironically enough, actually has some decent fast food choices.

But the best is probably el pollo loco. Their original pollo bowl is relatively low fat (which is mostly what I worry about). But in general, you shouldn't have the mindset of eating out being "okay". It's not, really. It's something you do when you have to, but when you do, you need to realize you are eating poorly and you shouldn't have the attitude that it's okay because you're eating a burrito bol without the tortilla.

(Well, that's assuming you're trying to lose weight/have some sort of dietary lifestyle change. If not, just eat whatever the hell you want and don't worry about it).

 

[xboxist]

I tend to stop by one of two places:

Subway -- you can build a reasonably healthy sandwhich if you know the basics (no mayo or cheese). Turning it into a wrap probably saves on calories that you'd get from normal bread.

Qdoba -- chicken burrito, rice, beans, and mild salsa (basically just tomatoes). Avoid cheese and sour cream. The portion is HUGE, and should probably be split into two meals, IMO.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: xboxist
I tend to stop by one of two places:

Subway -- you can build a reasonably healthy sandwhich if you know the basics (no mayo or cheese). Turning it into a wrap probably saves on calories that you'd get from normal bread.

Qdoba -- chicken burrito, rice, beans, and mild salsa (basically just tomatoes). Avoid cheese and sour cream. The portion is HUGE, and should probably be split into two meals, IMO.

Not sure how 910 calories qualifies as good, but if you say so.

This is the mentality that I'm talking about. Obviously if you split it to two meals that's different, but the point is, just because you're "avoiding cheese" doesn't mean it's good for you.

 

[xboxist]

Originally posted by: scootermaster

Originally posted by: xboxist
I tend to stop by one of two places:

Subway -- you can build a reasonably healthy sandwhich if you know the basics (no mayo or cheese). Turning it into a wrap probably saves on calories that you'd get from normal bread.

Qdoba -- chicken burrito, rice, beans, and mild salsa (basically just tomatoes). Avoid cheese and sour cream. The portion is HUGE, and should probably be split into two meals, IMO.

Not sure how 910 calories qualifies as good, but if you say so.

This is the mentality that I'm talking about. Obviously if you split it to two meals that's different, but the point is, just because you're "avoiding cheese" doesn't mean it's good for you.

Of course "avoiding cheese" doesn't automatically make a meal good for you. But not having cheese is obviously better to some degree than having the cheese. I think we're all adults here and know that if you can avoid eating out, do so. But if you have to stop by a fast food place and grab something, you can do some little things while there to make it a tiny bit better for you, like skipping cheese and mayo (which tend to come on almost everything).

I don't think that anyone's saying, "You can eat healthily by eating burritos everyday."

 

[KoolDrew]

Wherever I feel like going. Usually it's subway, but I go to fast food places often too. A grilled chicken sandwich at Wendy's with no sauce is just a bun, grilled chicken, tomatoes, and lettuce. Perfectly fine on a diet.

 

[Jakeisbest]

Originally posted by: scootermaster

Originally posted by: xboxist
I tend to stop by one of two places:

Subway -- you can build a reasonably healthy sandwhich if you know the basics (no mayo or cheese). Turning it into a wrap probably saves on calories that you'd get from normal bread.

Qdoba -- chicken burrito, rice, beans, and mild salsa (basically just tomatoes). Avoid cheese and sour cream. The portion is HUGE, and should probably be split into two meals, IMO.

Not sure how 910 calories qualifies as good, but if you say so.

This is the mentality that I'm talking about. Obviously if you split it to two meals that's different, but the point is, just because you're "avoiding cheese" doesn't mean it's good for you.

For me I need about 1000 calories per meal to maintain my weight : P

I love getting the Large Quiznos or 12'' subway. I can eat 1/2 during lunch then eat the rest a bit later.

 

[rezinn]

El pollo loco and qdoba are both good choices in my opinion. Chicken + tortillas + rice > hamburger or just about any other fast food. Most people are not salt sensitive so that doesn't need to be a concern. I try to only eat fast food once a week, but it takes a good amount of planning when you're shopping to avoid it.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: scootermaster

Originally posted by: xboxist
I tend to stop by one of two places:

Subway -- you can build a reasonably healthy sandwhich if you know the basics (no mayo or cheese). Turning it into a wrap probably saves on calories that you'd get from normal bread.

Qdoba -- chicken burrito, rice, beans, and mild salsa (basically just tomatoes). Avoid cheese and sour cream. The portion is HUGE, and should probably be split into two meals, IMO.

Not sure how 910 calories qualifies as good, but if you say so.

This is the mentality that I'm talking about. Obviously if you split it to two meals that's different, but the point is, just because you're "avoiding cheese" doesn't mean it's good for you.

910 calories? Depends on what you get and how much they pile on. Using averages:
http://www.chipotlefan.com/ind...d=nutrition_calculator
what I get is 610. Considering that I generally only eat 2 meals a day with light snacks (apples and whatnot), it's not that bad.

Only real downside for what I always get (Chicken, black beans, tomato salsa, rice, peppers and onions) is the salt and cholesterol, and I work out enough to even that out. Obviously eating them every day wouldn't be good, but as as far as takeout goes it's better than most considering the number of calories it packs.

 

[gramboh]

I'm as guilty as anyone as I eat out WAY too much, often at Subway. The problems I see are:

Subway - Huge carbs on a 12inch, it's like eating a loaf of bread. Also the fat free dressings are loaded with sugar. Lots of salt as well. I usually do 12inch roasted chicken on wheat (makes no diff on bread type there really, carb mania) with tomato/onion/lettuce, cheese (oops) and hot sauce and pepper.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: scootermaster

Originally posted by: xboxist
I tend to stop by one of two places:

Subway -- you can build a reasonably healthy sandwhich if you know the basics (no mayo or cheese). Turning it into a wrap probably saves on calories that you'd get from normal bread.

Qdoba -- chicken burrito, rice, beans, and mild salsa (basically just tomatoes). Avoid cheese and sour cream. The portion is HUGE, and should probably be split into two meals, IMO.

Not sure how 910 calories qualifies as good, but if you say so.

This is the mentality that I'm talking about. Obviously if you split it to two meals that's different, but the point is, just because you're "avoiding cheese" doesn't mean it's good for you.

910 calories? Depends on what you get and how much they pile on. Using averages:
http://www.chipotlefan.com/ind...d=nutrition_calculator
what I get is 610. Considering that I generally only eat 2 meals a day with light snacks (apples and whatnot), it's not that bad.

Only real downside for what I always get (Chicken, black beans, tomato salsa, rice, peppers and onions) is the salt and cholesterol, and I work out enough to even that out. Obviously eating them every day wouldn't be good, but as as far as takeout goes it's better than most considering the number of calories it packs.

I was talking about Qdoba.

 

[nervegrind3r]

wendys: plain baked potato (with skin), side salad w/o dressing, small chili


any chinese place: steam veggies w/ chicken/shrimp, steamed chow mein w/ chicken/shrimp, white rice (basically anything steamed with chicken or shrimp

 

[msi1337]

I go to chipotle sometimes..get a burrito with only rice, chicken, and medium green salsa

one can argue that it is better than most fast foods..but its still quite a lot of calories and sodium

second I like to have a turkey wrap with veggies, no cheese, no dressings etc. at Subway. It is lower calories than the above, and tastes better to me sometimes.
I don't really taste a huge difference between wrap and bread..not into all that carbs

but mainly, sounds like you need to take a cooking class..there are a bazillion ways to make quick healthy meals.. If Rachel Ray can do it..so can you!

 

[DomS]

another vote for subway here. Any place that lets you really customize your food will do really.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Usually Subway, maybe Chipotle for a burrito bol. I don't eat out too often to begin with because I'm vegetarian

 

[dakels]

I live in the NYC area which is the king of having other people cook for you. Restaurants galore of all shapes ans sizes. It's all a matter of how much you want to spend and what kind of food you want. We also benefit from health food places. If I spend a lot ($30+), I eat out at a nice restaurant and get some grilled fish or something, maybe grilled veggie napoleon, etc. Cheaper would be gourmet sandwich and salad place. The gourmet places often use better fresh cut meats and not over salted deli cold-cuts and whole grain breads, etc. There are lots of whole foods style supermarkets here with premade foods which are pretty good quality and healthiness. For instance, I can go to a gourmet garage near my work and grab a piece of grilled chicken or salmon, golden beet salad, israeli cous cous, etc. Thats all about $10-15. I can also go to good health food bar and grab a hot veggie burger which for me (who loves beef) is very tasty, problem is I can easily down 2 since they are not filling.

Now without these more urban resources you have to really get resourceful and dig around your town/local area. Maybe a sandwich shop near you. Maybe a supermarket has a premade food deli of decent quality.

It's less about the place and more about knowing how it's prepared and what it's prepared with. Lettuce can be made more unhealthy then a cheeseburger by adding ton of fatty salty ranch dressing. You can also go to a fast food place and get some moderately ok food, problem with most fast food places is even if the fat content is low, sodium and sugar content is thru the roof. A lot of the fast food mentioned already is unhealthy or tastes like crap. I can't see why you can't have stuff that tastes good and is healthy too. It's easier in the cities but I'm sure you can find spots. Don't forget ethnic spots. Oftentimes ethnic places have some good, healthy food. Indian, chinese, mexican, carribean, etc. can all have some great wholesome foods for cheap. Eat what the locals eat, not what they sell to the gringos. For instance if you see the chinese workers in a chinese restaurant eat, usually what they eat is totally different from what they just sold you, and often much healthier.