Healthy Vegetarian Options at Fast Food Chains

I have been vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian or pescetarian for six years, and it's been a struggle to find affordable vegetarian fare at popular fast food chains. When friends piled into their cars to get hamburgers and fries, I'd often sit it out--wrongly convinced that there is no vegetarian-friendly fast food at mainstream chains. Boy, was I wrong. Over time, I've found plenty of great vegetarian items at fast food chains. If you're looking for tasty, nutritious, cruelty-free options that you can pick up on a road trip or on your way to work, here are some choices that I've found especially satisfying.

Burger King

You can "have it your way" by forgoing meat entirely. My vegetarian three-year-old erroneously refers to this fast food chain as "Veggieburger King" because of their delicious flame-broiled vegetarian burger. These meat-free entrees are every bit as satisfying as their animal-flesh counterparts. Pair the BK Veggie with a side salad and low-fat dressing for a surprisingly healthy meal.

Subway

The Veggie Delite sub is delicious and nutritious. Try it on any of the six breads offered by the chain, or try using a mixture of cheeses and sauces. A bag of Sun Chips and an unsweetened tea can top the Veggie Delite off without an overload of extra sugar, fat or calories. Despite the generally satisfying nature of the Veggie Delite, many vegetarians believe that the sandwich would benefit from the addition of a meat substitute, such as Tofurkey. You can jump on that bandwagon by asking Subway to offer faux-meats on their menu.

Quiznos

Far greener than Subway, Quiznos now has several nutritious menu options packaged in sustainable earth-friendly materials. Quiznos' vegetarian sandwich includes a copious amount of guacamole and mushroom, which provide a pleasantly meaty texture not found in Subway's sandwich. Unfortunately, you can expect to pay a little more for the Quiznos vegetarian experience. Choose from a variety of soups and salads to complete the meal.

Moe's

Moe's Southwest is, by far, the most vegetarian-friendly fast food chain that I know of. This hip chain offers nearly a dozen filling entrees, from nachos and tacos to burritos and quesadillas, made with vegetarian ingredients. And any item on their menu can be made vegetarian by substituting tofu for meat. Their tofu is well-seasoned and pleasantly textured, so it really complements the rest of the meal. Bonus points for your health: load up with beans (they're good for your heart!) and choose a whole-grain tortilla.

Taco Bell

If there is no Moe's to be found, Taco Bell can offer tasty veggie-friendly fare. Check out the 7-Layer Burrito, which is vegetarian by default and can be made vegan by holding the cheese and sour cream. You might also try ordering a bean burrito. The veggie fajita rap and bean tostada are also completely vegetarian. Taco Bell's side items such as chips, guacamole and Mexican rice are also vegetarian.

Panera Bread

You can't go wrong at Panera. Although the menu changes frequently, there are always several vegetarian and vegan items on the menu. Choose from a variety of sandwiches, salads, soups and side items. You may be surprised by how many cruelty-free, healthy items they have on their menu. All of Panera's cheeses are rennet-free, and most of the menu items are reasonably priced. With take-out and to-go orders available, Panera is one of my personal favorite choices for healthy veggie fare.

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