Looking for inexpensive, fast food places with healthy selections.

[Anonymous]

My husband is gone for the next 18 months (military) and I am home alone with a 19 mo DD. She doesn't eat much (for now), and when I cook, so much seems to go to waste and is really a waste of time and money. Plus, I'm not a great cook anyway, so the food tends to be hit or miss. So, I'm looking for places to eat that aren't too expensive, but also have healthy selections. Usually DD and I share a plate, but as she gets closer to 2, I know she'll start eating her own meals - so preferably would like more than chicken nuggets, burgers, or grilled cheese.

Not too much is coming to mind and I could use your help. I've come up with three places - but have to think there are more.

Chicken Out - has a great selection of healthy items and healthy kids menu
Boston Market - side dishes have healthy selections and can get rot chicken.
Silver Diner - Kids menu has salmon and flounder, grilled chicken for under $5 - served with veggies not fries

Any other suggestions out there? help!

[Anonymous]

KFC now has grilled chicken. You can get green beans, rice, or corn on the cob for healthy sides.
Chipotle is good if you leave off the sour cream, cheese, gauc, and skip the rice. (my 3 yr. DD loves the black beans and rice)
More of the typical fast food places offer grilled chicken sandwiches, salads, fruit cups, sliced apples, yogurt, etc. now - i.e. Burger King, Wendy's, McDonalds. You just have to make the right choices. BK even has skim milk, yeah!

[Anonymous]

Chick-Fil-A
Corner Bakery
Qdoba

[Anonymous]

chipotle
bagel city (monday nights 1/2 price)
Balducci's hot food bar (put it in a soup container instead of the box- 1/2 price)

[Anonymous]

PP, isn't that stealing? IF there is a lower price for soup than for the bar and you try to pass off bar food as soup?

[Anonymous]

I have good luck with the prepared food from places like Whole Foods or Balducci's (sweet potato purees, risotto cakes, rice and beans, salmon cakes, assorted veggies).

[Anonymous]

Subway

[Anonymous]

Baja Fresh

If you can find some inexpensive ethnic restaurants for thai, indian, mexican etc in your area you can both split a dish and an app or something like that and get healthy and interesting options

Whole foods is good for tons of options for prepared foods to go; however I always find myself overwhelmed at whole foods trying to decide what to get for me and/or DC and family, but that might just be me

[Anonymous]

Wegmans prepared foods

$6 meal has generally a boneless chicken breast and 2 sides

$10 meal a couple other main dish choices and 2 sides

They also have a great salad bar and a hot food bar

Also $4.99 rotisserie chicken

[Anonymous]

OP, sorry to hear that DH is going to be away for 18 months. My DH is military too and it's hard being left on your own for so long with a little one. My 23 month old DS loves California Tortilla. We have it once or twice a week. And Nando's too, although the service at the Nando's in Chinatown can be very slow. Not sure where you are, but Teaism does some great healthy bento boxes. DS also loves all things Japanese, so we eat sushi about once a week.

DS also loves to eat pasta but I'll make that at home. I'll just cook whatever pasta I have on hand, then mix it with e.g. chopped up fresh tomatoes, avocado, cooked chicken, roasted red peppers, tofu, ham, peas, corn, mushrooms etc. I'll usually serve this with shredded cheese so that DS can sprinkle it on top. This meal is super easy and quick to cook, and you can vary it according to what you have in the fridge.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP - thanks so much everyone for some great ideas!

[Anonymous]

california tortilla
Chik Fil A

[Anonymous]

good thread

[Anonymous]

Chipotle

Panera -- this place I love. There are some less healthy options but a variety of healthy ones and things are somewhat fresh. Great variety of soups, salads and sandwiches.

Whole Foods deli and buffet.

[Anonymous]

Um, Chipotle is not healthy. Go ahead and google it.