Diabetes Friendly Fast Food Restaurant Guide

An easy to use reference guide for eating out with diabetes. Check out our list of restaurant links to nutrition info you can use to find diabetes friendly fast food. Also includes a guide to the best food choices to order at each meal.

This post originally published in 2015 now updated with healthy options and images.

We've all heard the old saying, "Failing to plan is planning to fail". Think about it, it's true. If you go into a situation with no plan, you will most likely fall back to your usual routine. If that routine is ordering a double cheeseburger, then that's probably what will happen. Next thing you know, it's 10 PM and you're thinking "I blew my diet again today". So how can you have fast food with diabetes and stay on track?

Jump to:

• Before You Dine Out
• Fast Food Options:
• Sit Down Dining:
• Pizzas
• Sweets/Desserts/Drinks
• Helpful Diabetes Articles
• At The Restaurant
• Comments

RELATED TOPICS:

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• 19 diabetes low carb meals you can (almost) make without a recipe
• 26 More Diabetes Low Carb Meals You Can (Almost) Make Without A Recipe

Before You Dine Out

Check the website of your favorite fast food restaurant or pick up a copy of the menu nutritionals. Compare your favorite choices to your current eating plan. Pay special attention to the carb levels listed on menu items if you are on a diet for diabetes or otherwise monitoring carb intake. You may need to eat a smaller portion/share or pick a healthier choice. Here's a list to help you get started:

Fast Food Options:

Look for healthier alternatives when visiting fast food chains. Many offer smart choices like a grilled chicken sandwich, whole grain bread and healthy salads. Switch out the side of fries for apple slices or a fruit cup. Small burgers and grilled chicken salads make a healthy choice. Add a touch of barbecue sauce to jazz it up!

• Arby's
• Blimpie
• Burger King
• Chick-fil-A
• Chili's
• KFC
• Hardees
• Long John Silver's
• McDonald's
• Quiznos
• Sbarro
• Sonic
• Starbucks
• Subway
• Taco Bell
• Wendy's
• White Castle

Sit Down Dining:

Top picks for diabetes management include menu options like broth based soup, fresh vegetables, lean meat and lettuce wraps.

• Atlanta Bread Company
• Applebee's
• Bob Evans
• Olive Garden
• Outback Steakhouse
• Pizza Hut
• Ruby Tuesday
• Steak 'N Shake

Pizzas

• Domino's Pizza
• Godfather's Pizza
• Papa John's Pizza
• Pizza Hut
• Sbarros

Sweets/Desserts/Drinks

Smart choices include unsweetened tea, smaller portions and fresh fruit. Look for Greek yogurt based desserts for a higher protein treat.

• Baskin Robbins
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Dairy Queen
• Dunkin Donuts
• Krispy Kreme
• Smoothie King
• TCBY

Call ahead and ask the restaurant if they will honor special requests including:

• type of cooking oil used
• trim fat from poultry or meat
• leave butter, gravy or sauces off or serve these on the side
• salad dressings on the side
• sharing entrees or ordering an appetizer as a main dish

Helpful Diabetes Articles

• 5 Things You Can Do Every Morning to Help Control Type 2 Diabetes
• I Have Type 2 Diabetes- Now What?
• Diabetes Control: A1C Conversion Chart & Tips

At The Restaurant

BREAKFAST-

• Multi-grain pancakes - leave off butter and add fruit
• Oatmeal with low-fat milk and fruit
• Egg white veggie omelet
• Whole grain cereal with low-fat milk
• Lower fat yogurt

BEVERAGES-

• Sparkling water
• Unsweetened iced tea
• Juice and sparkling water mix
• Water with lemon

APPETIZERS-

• Fresh Fruit
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Tossed salad with light dressing or lemon juice

MAIN DISH/ENTREE-

• Grilled poultry, fish and vegetable dishes
• Pasta with vegetables (Primavera)
• Limit excess use of butter and salt used at the table
• Order sauces and dressings on the side

SALAD BAR-

• Fresh veggies/lettuce
• Beans- chickpeas, kidney beans, edamame
• Avoid creamy pasta salads and non veg items like ham, cheese,etc.
• Choose lemon juice, vinegar or other lower cal dressings

SIDE DISHES-

• Veggie side dishes are usually good choices and can be combined to form a lower calorie entrée
• Order butter or sauces on the side (baked potatoes, etc)
• Order yogurt (if available) in place of butter

DESSERTS-

• Fruit Sorbet
• Fresh fruit
• Split dessert with others at the table

FAST FOOD-

• Small hamburger versus the larger size
• Roast beef can be lower in calories than some burgers
• Try a carton of milk instead of milkshake- even a carton of whole or 2% milk will be lower in calories than a milkshake
• Grilled or broiled fish or chicken
• Make a salad at the salad bar or order a side salad instead of fries- watch the salad dressing
• Try extra lettuce/tomato on your sandwich instead of cheese
• Pizza with thin crust and lots of veggie toppings

Visit the Ultimate Online Guide for New Type 2 Diabetics for more information including a fast food guide. With just a small amount of planning you can enjoy a delicious meal and stay on track!