Bites Nearby: Healthier Fast Food Choices

There’s no doubt about it, grabbing fast food solves the problem of what’s for breakfast or dinner.

For parents seeking healthier choices at the drive-thru window, Patch has taste-tested some of these more nutritionally balanced food items for you to try at your local locations. (Nutritional information provided by Burger King Corporation.)

The BK Kids Breakfast Muffin Sandwich, BK Fresh Apple Fries and Fat Free Milk (*This combo has 355 calories, 42 grams carbohydrates and 18 grams of protein.) A yummy breakfast muffin sandwich consisting of an egg and a slice of melted American cheddar cheese sandwiched between a toasted English Muffin. Adults and kids alike will love the BK Fresh Apple Fries—slices of apples cut like French fries. Yes, they are fresh, not fried, and are served with a packet of low-fat, gooey caramel sauce. This is a tasty on-the-go choice for the young athlete heading out to an early morning sporting event.

Whopper JR, BK Garden Side Salad With Fat-Free Ranch Dressing and Diet Coke (*This combo has 440 calories, 45 grams of carbohydrates and 17 grams of protein. Hold the mayo and save 80 calories.) Adults who are trying to save on the calories, should order a flame-broiled Whopper JR instead of a regular Whopper. The Whopper JR has all the taste of a Whopper, and consists of an all-beef patty, topped with crisp lettuce, red-ripe tomatoes, mayo, ketchup, crunchy pickles, diced onions, and served on a toasted sesame seed bun.

Skip the French fries and order a freshly made BK Garden Salad—freshly chopped greens, shredded carrots and sliced red-ripe tomatoes and croutons. Counting carbs? Eat it without the bun and say no to the croutons on the side salad.

BK Veggie Burger, BK Fresh Apple Fries and Fat Free Milk (*This combo has 525 calories, 63 grams of carbohydrates and 31 grams of protein. Hold the mayo and save 80 calories.) The BK Veggie Burger consists of a Morningstar Farms Garden Veggie Patty that is made with onions, carrots, mushrooms, green and red bell peppers, black olives and water chestnuts. If you’re watching your weight, the BK Veggie Burger has fewer calories than a Whopper, and when ordered with the BK Fresh Apple Fries, makes for a nutritionally balanced meal. It's an excellent option for meatless Fridays.

Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich and BK Garden Side Salad (*This combo has 570 calories, 57 grams of carbohydrates and 40 grams of protein. Hold the mayo on this sandwich and save 110 calories.) Chicken lovers will want to try this juicy, grilled chicken sandwich. It starts with fresh baked ciabatta bread and a warm, flame-broiled chicken filet. It’s topped with crisp lettuce and red-ripe tomato. BK’s Garden Side Salad is a healthy choice side accompaniment to this sandwich.

Hamburger, BK Fresh Apple Fries and Minute Maid Apple Juice (*This combo has 385 calories, 57 grams of carbohydrates and 13 grams of protein.) A flame-broiled, all-beef patty, topped with crunchy pickles, mustard and ketchup, is sandwiched between a toasted sesame seed bun. This lower-calorie hamburger meal is perfect to eat while watching a game or on the go. Order it up with those yummy BK Fresh Apple Fries and an apple juice.