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To support all of your efforts in the gym, you follow a set eating plan to a T.
But what about when you find yourself with no other choice but to eat on the road or stop off with friends to grab a bite?
Your options for eating out are no longer limited to diet-destroying foods. More restaurants are offering healthier fare with more protein and fiber and less fat than ever. But navigating the daunting and often tempting menus can be challenging.
Below are 10 healthy options from popular chain restaurants to get you going in the right direction. Read on to find the diamonds in the rough.
1. Chipotle
This Mexican grill has gained serious steam as of late. It’s Mexican food fast, but many see it as a step or two above Taco Bell. Although many think of it as health food, Chipotle still has some high-calorie, high-fat items that will bust your waistline much like traditionally unhealthy establishments. The trick is to choose side items wisely and nix any fattening additions.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Chipotle
Top Pick: Burrito Bowl with chicken, brown rice, pinto beans, and fajita vegetables
Calories: 515
Protein: 42g
Carbs: 57g
Fat: 15g
2. Buffalo Wild Wings
Beer and wings may sound good for game day, but making it a regular habit can wreck your gym efforts. Luckily this restaurant has some better options – just avoid the calorie-laden sauces and side items.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Buffalo Wild Wings
Top Pick: Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Side Salad
Calories: 680
Protein: 57g
Carbs: 64g
Fat: 22g
3. McDonald's
Ah yes, Mickey D’s. The granddaddy of the fast-food world. McDonald’s has surprisingly been on the forefront of offering healthier options, causing others to follow suit. With plenty of salad and grilled chicken options, it’s easy to choose something that won’t have you tipping the scale in the wrong direction.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - McDonald's
Top Pick: Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken and Fruit n’ Yogurt Parfait
Calories: 440
Protein: 31g
Carbs: 58g
Fat: 10g
4. Burger King
Burger King is another traditional “gain-killer,” but there are some surprising options there. Grilled chicken, fruit, and skim milk would do any body good. With ample supplies of protein and complex carbs, this meal is great in a pinch.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Burger King
Top Pick: Premium Grilled Chicken Sandwich (without Mayo) with Apple Slices and Skim Milk
Calories: 515
Protein: 40g
Carbs: 49g
Fat: 24g
5. Chick-fil-A
As the go-to place for chicken (not beef!), Chick-fil-A has offered fit fare for a while now. If you opt for the grilled and green items, you can’t go wrong.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Chick-fil-A
Top Pick: Grilled Nuggets - 12 count with Side Salad and Fruit Cup
Calories: 370
Protein: 40g
Carbs: 38g
Fat: 10g
6. Subway
Subway is famous for its healthy eating campaigns. With the ability to customize any sandwich, your options are virtually endless. Still, it can be easy to slip up and start piling on unwanted calories.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Subway
Top Pick: 6-inch Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki with Apple Slices
Calories: 405
Protein: 26g
Carbs: 63g
Fat: 5g
7. Panera
It’s tough to find a low-calorie option in a place that specializes in bread. But if you read the whole menu, you’ll find a healthy breakfast that you can eat any time.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Panera
Top Pick: Power Breakfast Egg Bowl with Steak and Half Classic Salad
Calories: 370
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 17g
Fat: 17g
8. Taco Bell
What on earth could be healthy from Taco Bell? Well, satisfying your late-night hunger pangs doesn’t have to be something that satisfies your fat stores as well. Go with high protein and fiber and you won’t feel the need to order more.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Taco Bell
Top Pick: 2 Steak Soft Tacos with a Side of Black Beans
Calories: 460
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 48g
Fat: 14g
9. IHOP
Everybody loves breakfast! Often considered a guilty pleasure, IHOP has many healthy items as well. If you order a la carte, you can get a simple egg and meat dish with wheat bread and fruit.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - IHOP
Top Pick: Simple and Fit Two-Egg Breakfast (Scrambled egg substitute, 2 strips of turkey bacon, whole wheat toast and fresh fruit)
Calories: 350
Protein: 25g
Carbs: 48g
Fat: 8g
10. Chili's
Chili’s has been known for its high-calorie food for some time, but with a little know-how, you can find a few muscle-friendly meals to suit your needs. You can’t go wrong with grilled fish and veggies.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Chili's
Top Pick: Lighter Choice Grilled Salmon with Broccoli and Rice
Calories: 480
Protein: 49g
Carbs: 37g
Fat: 17g
But what about when you find yourself with no other choice but to eat on the road or stop off with friends to grab a bite?
Your options for eating out are no longer limited to diet-destroying foods. More restaurants are offering healthier fare with more protein and fiber and less fat than ever. But navigating the daunting and often tempting menus can be challenging.
Below are 10 healthy options from popular chain restaurants to get you going in the right direction. Read on to find the diamonds in the rough.
1. Chipotle
This Mexican grill has gained serious steam as of late. It’s Mexican food fast, but many see it as a step or two above Taco Bell. Although many think of it as health food, Chipotle still has some high-calorie, high-fat items that will bust your waistline much like traditionally unhealthy establishments. The trick is to choose side items wisely and nix any fattening additions.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Chipotle
Top Pick: Burrito Bowl with chicken, brown rice, pinto beans, and fajita vegetables
Calories: 515
Protein: 42g
Carbs: 57g
Fat: 15g
2. Buffalo Wild Wings
Beer and wings may sound good for game day, but making it a regular habit can wreck your gym efforts. Luckily this restaurant has some better options – just avoid the calorie-laden sauces and side items.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Buffalo Wild Wings
Top Pick: Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Side Salad
Calories: 680
Protein: 57g
Carbs: 64g
Fat: 22g
3. McDonald's
Ah yes, Mickey D’s. The granddaddy of the fast-food world. McDonald’s has surprisingly been on the forefront of offering healthier options, causing others to follow suit. With plenty of salad and grilled chicken options, it’s easy to choose something that won’t have you tipping the scale in the wrong direction.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - McDonald's
Top Pick: Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken and Fruit n’ Yogurt Parfait
Calories: 440
Protein: 31g
Carbs: 58g
Fat: 10g
4. Burger King
Burger King is another traditional “gain-killer,” but there are some surprising options there. Grilled chicken, fruit, and skim milk would do any body good. With ample supplies of protein and complex carbs, this meal is great in a pinch.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Burger King
Top Pick: Premium Grilled Chicken Sandwich (without Mayo) with Apple Slices and Skim Milk
Calories: 515
Protein: 40g
Carbs: 49g
Fat: 24g
5. Chick-fil-A
As the go-to place for chicken (not beef!), Chick-fil-A has offered fit fare for a while now. If you opt for the grilled and green items, you can’t go wrong.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Chick-fil-A
Top Pick: Grilled Nuggets - 12 count with Side Salad and Fruit Cup
Calories: 370
Protein: 40g
Carbs: 38g
Fat: 10g
6. Subway
Subway is famous for its healthy eating campaigns. With the ability to customize any sandwich, your options are virtually endless. Still, it can be easy to slip up and start piling on unwanted calories.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Subway
Top Pick: 6-inch Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki with Apple Slices
Calories: 405
Protein: 26g
Carbs: 63g
Fat: 5g
7. Panera
It’s tough to find a low-calorie option in a place that specializes in bread. But if you read the whole menu, you’ll find a healthy breakfast that you can eat any time.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Panera
Top Pick: Power Breakfast Egg Bowl with Steak and Half Classic Salad
Calories: 370
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 17g
Fat: 17g
8. Taco Bell
What on earth could be healthy from Taco Bell? Well, satisfying your late-night hunger pangs doesn’t have to be something that satisfies your fat stores as well. Go with high protein and fiber and you won’t feel the need to order more.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Taco Bell
Top Pick: 2 Steak Soft Tacos with a Side of Black Beans
Calories: 460
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 48g
Fat: 14g
9. IHOP
Everybody loves breakfast! Often considered a guilty pleasure, IHOP has many healthy items as well. If you order a la carte, you can get a simple egg and meat dish with wheat bread and fruit.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - IHOP
Top Pick: Simple and Fit Two-Egg Breakfast (Scrambled egg substitute, 2 strips of turkey bacon, whole wheat toast and fresh fruit)
Calories: 350
Protein: 25g
Carbs: 48g
Fat: 8g
10. Chili's
Chili’s has been known for its high-calorie food for some time, but with a little know-how, you can find a few muscle-friendly meals to suit your needs. You can’t go wrong with grilled fish and veggies.
10 Best Muscle Building Meals At Big Chain Restaurants - Chili's
Top Pick: Lighter Choice Grilled Salmon with Broccoli and Rice
Calories: 480
Protein: 49g
Carbs: 37g
Fat: 17g