USA TODAY 10Best
Eat well in a hurry: 10 best restaurants for quick, healthy food
Best Restaurant for Quick, Healthy Food (2024)
Healthful eating doesn't have to be time-consuming. Plenty of restaurant chains cater to health-conscious diners, serving delectable yet sensible meals in a matter of minutes. Whether that represents a portion of the menu or is a restaurant's raison d'être, USA TODAY 10Best's travel editors and a panel of quick-service dining experts have nominated their preferred places for sensible, swiftly served food. Then, readers voted for their favorites.
Here are the 10 best restaurants for quick, healthy food.
- QDOBA Mexican Eats
- Chick-fil-A
- Panera Bread
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Cava
- Jason's Deli
- Mendocino Farms
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe
- Taziki's Mediterranean Café
- El Pollo Loco
Photo courtesy of QDOBA Mexican Eats
No. 10:
Choose your own ingredients — as healthy as you want — from this Mexican fast casual chain that consistently ranks as a reader favorite. Create-your-own options include bowls, burritos, quesadillas, salads, and tacos.
Photo courtesy of pixelfit // Getty Images
No. 9:
Although Chick-fil-A is best known for its fried chicken sandwich, they also offer a grilled chicken breast sandwich on a multigrain bun with less fat and fewer calories but just as much flavor. There’s also a number of salads on the menu, such as the market salad with only 550 calories.
Photo courtesy of monkeybusinessimages // Getty Images
No. 8:
Panera Bread offers an array of ways to eat healthy, from its large selection of salads to its nourishing soups. Diners can also opt to order half portions of sandwiches and salads to help cut back on calories.
Photo courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill
No. 7:
It’s pretty easy to opt for healthy options as you move down the assembly line at Chipotle Mexican Grill. The healthiest choices include chicken, fajita veggies, plant-based sofritas, salsas, and lettuce. Chipotle also has a line of Lifestyle Bowls (order online or in-app) to accommodate high protein and vegan diets, as well as those balancing their macros.
Photo courtesy of CAVA
No. 6:
Designed to align with the Mediterranean lifestyle, Cava offers guests a variety of bowls piled with vegetables. Options include the 550-calorie Tahini Caesar (with mixed lettuces, grilled chicken, hummus, and other goodies), the build-your-own greens and grains bowl, or a simple salad bowl.
Photo courtesy of N/A
No. 5:
This independent, family-owned deli chain offers vegetarian and gluten-sensitive menus, which are not always easy to find on the run. Those menus feature all manner of healthier soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and potatoes, making it easy to find something you'll like that also meets your dietary needs.
Photo courtesy of Mendocino Farms
No. 4:
One of California’s favorite sandwich and salad stops (all with a creative spin), Mendo — as it’s often called — has now expanded to Texas and Washington. They use quality, whole ingredients sourced from farmers and artisans (most of them local) to craft their healthy menu items.
Photo courtesy of Tropical Smoothie Cafe
No. 3:
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers a massive array of beverages that are perfectly designed with your health in mind, with drinks like the Detox Island Green and Chia Banana Boost providing guests with a double punch of flavor and nutrition that's perfect for starting off your day with a bang. Add to that a selection of health-conscious bowls, salads, and wraps, and you're set.
Photo courtesy of Paul Jones
No. 2:
Inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean, which often replaces butter with healthier oils and adds flavor using herbs and spices, choices include a wide array of salads and lean proteins, like chicken and salmon. The Taziki's website also includes an interactive nutrition menu that allows guests to track fat, calories, carbs, and more.
Photo courtesy of El Pollo Loco
No. 1:
This mostly West coast chicken chain is known for its fire-grilled chicken, already making it healthier than any fried chicken option. El Pollo Loco also offers bowls, salads, and a selection of healthy sides.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Allison Levine
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate,... Read More
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website is www.pleasethepalate.com and you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.
Allison Levine
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website is www.pleasethepalate.com and you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a... Read More
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50... Read More
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
