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I know your best bet would be a can of sardines from the grocery store, but are there any fast food places (nationwide chains) that offer a meal that could actually be considered a good paleo meal? I was thinking possibly Chipotle's burrito bowl, but don't they use tons of soybean oil? Basically any chain that is considered nationwide.

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Been asked and answered before. And by nationwide I assume US? – Wisper Dec 11 2011 at 12:04
Carnitas don't have soy. chipotle.com/en-US/menu/special_diet_information/… – Andy Dec 11 2011 at 15:14
Yeah sorry about that, US chains. – Ryan Dec 11 2011 at 18:08
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Chipolte Carnitas with guacamole. Search for Ghetto Burrito Bowl. – Denis May 31 at 22:33
^^I had that for lunch today. Delicious! – Nemesis May 31 at 23:55
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21 Answers

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I think you're always out of luck if you're concerned about the oils. They're only ever going to use what's cheapest for the company or what the majority of people think is healthy. Then you've got to worry about where the meat came from.

Or you could just not worry, and take paleo to mean making the best decision from the options available.

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kebab anyone? mmmm – mzrdnan Jun 1 at 11:43
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In n out quadruple hamburger, protein style. with ketchup instead of their sauce, it has.... 920 calories, 60 g fat, 23 g carb, 66 g protein.

I know they don't add anything besides meat into their meat, and it costs around $4. Pretty good fast food option if you're in a pinch, and damn tasty. I should add that I've been to their food processing plant, where they make all of the food that is served in their restaurants except for the TX locations. I was very impressed, especially because they get the carcasses in the morning and the burgers are in the restaurants and served the very same afternoon!

It's also nice to eat around other people so they realize you're not a total lunatic when it comes to only eating you're home-prepared grass-fed meats ;)

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Wow! Sounds like a heart attack on a, an, er pc of lettuce? Too bad you have to wait in line an hour to get it....not! fast – The Loon Dec 12 2011 at 17:03
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oh, its not nationwide, so too bad all those other people. – The Loon Dec 12 2011 at 17:05
and, they need a better menu. Wouldn't it be great to get an extra order of animal style without the animal? Real grilled veggies grilled in real fat? – The Loon Dec 12 2011 at 17:06
Uh, a $4 meal that was butchered that same day? I can't complain too much about that. – Jeff Dec 12 2011 at 19:47
Ketchup? Noes. – Sleepyhouse22 May 31 at 20:27
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Most of the grocery stores in my area sell a cooked ready to eat rotisserie chicken. This is a good fast food option even though it is not 100% paleo. They usually have a little bit of sugar and possibly some flavor enhancers added to them but if you need dinner in a pinch this is a good option. A rotisserie chicken is much better choice than the pizza and burgers we all used to love.

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The rotisserie chickens at Sam's Club are gluten free, so at least I don't have to worry about gluten when I get one there. When I'm tired and haven't planned well, I would much rather eat one of those chickens than pull into the drive through of a burger joint. – Chickenosaurus Rex Dec 11 2011 at 22:55
I recommend the ones at Whole Foods. Just herbs and salt, no additives at all. You can also get the Naked one which is just chicken. – Denis May 31 at 22:35
Sam's Club also has ginormous chickens which are always plump, juicy an tender. Plenty of leftovers to make chicken salad out of! – Nemesis May 31 at 23:56
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I unfortunately (from a convenience perspective) can't do any "national chain" fast food at all. I think it is the cooking oils and maybe other additives (MSG?) that just destroys my digestion. On long car trips we will often stop at fast food type places for the kids. I used to try to get a grilled chicken sandwich and eat just the chicken and vegetables, but the sauces and spices must all have some kind of nasty crap in them because even that often bothers my stomach. Anything fried or pan-fried is bound to have a big dose of these oils too. And getting a plain, unseasoned and unsauced grilled chicken breast that has probably been frozen for a few months is very unappealing. Instead, I will get a bottle of water and look for beef jerky at a gas station, or just skip the meal(s) completely.

If one of the burger joints had decent burgers that were grilled instead of pan fried, that could be an option. I am getting used to high quality grass fed beef, and Burger King burgers (which are supposed to be grilled, though I think they are actually pre-cooked in a steamer and then grilled just to give them some flavor) taste horrible to me. The beef at McDonald's scares me (Google "pink slime"). The meat at Wendy's seems a little better (not great), but the burgers are fried.

I keep hoping a national chain that serves grilled grass-fed burgers will spring up. Guess I won't hold my breath...

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Even if they taste bad, I would still say you are probably better off with the burger. Check the ingredients list of "chicken breast" at major chains, and you will generally find some wheat by-product and other fillers. – Tom R. Dec 11 2011 at 19:05
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It isn't the bad taste of the burgers so much as the fact that I'm probably eating pureed butcher room floor scrapings mixed with enough ammonia and preservatives to give it a shelf life of 10 years. – UncleLongHair Dec 11 2011 at 23:42
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I just pick some smoked fish or gravlax from grocery store and add it to salad. No bad oils or anything.

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Chipotle carnitas aren't fried in soybean oil! I usually get the salad with pork, guacamole, and salsa. The fajita vegetables are not safe, unfortunately. http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/menu/special_diet_information/special_diet_information.aspx You could also trick them into giving you 3 sides of carnitas if you're feeling gutsy. http://paleohacks.com/questions/20014/have-you-tried-the-ghetto-burrito-bowl-chipotle-menu-hack#axzz1gG7CzOt5

I also like In N Out burger, because I can weasel them into giving me half a pound of hamburger with nothing else but lettuce. I can't find an official statement about what they fry their food in, but google tells me it's cottonseed oil. It's at least tastier than McDonald's brand omega six.

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If I have to, I'll hit a fast food burger place and order a hamburger, no bun, no condiments, and a side salad, no dressing. I throw them together and it basically works. The ingredients are low quality, but as an occasional fast meal it seems OK.

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Wendy's has 3-4 entree type salads. Anemic iceberg lettuce with chicken breast and options like small mandarin orange slices. Decent in a pinch. I wouldn't consider the beef (hamburgers) of any national food chain. "USDA approved" has all the credibility for me of "mail delivered by the exacting professional standards of the USPS."

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When I have to eat out on the run, I usually try to find a little authentic taco stand. The soft tacos aren't bathed in soy oil, and the portions are pretty decent. You can get one or many tacos, and the beans and rice either aren't offered or they are on the side. There are plenty of healthy toppings like fresh salsa and cilantro to round out the meal.

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i eat spring roll wraps or sushi (i eat rice) from publix

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Hero Burgers

if only they would use beef tallow for the sweet potato fries

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What about stopping at the local grocery store and getting an apple, banana, and some raw almonds. That will fill you.

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Plus heavy cream. – Huray Dec 28 2011 at 13:45
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Try an unwich at Jimmy John's. I prefer the Beach Club as it is mostly veggies and not full of preserved meats like salami. There's conventional mayo in the sandwich, but in a pinch it's fine.

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Fast food sucks. I'd rather fast until good food becomes available personally. Although there is one exception.. wendy's sweet potato?

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jeeze. hows about just getting a salad. or the apple slices and a coffee at mcdonalds.

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Pollo Loco grilled chicken with their fresh salsas on the side.

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Burger (ask for lots of veggie toppings, don't eat the bun).

McDonald's chicken breast on salad (ask them to hold the glaze on the chicken and don't eat the croutons.)

Mixed (or not mixed) pre-cut fruit container from produce store or grocery store. Starbucks used to make a good one but they stopped. Be careful, some "fruit salad" mixes could have syrup, avoid those.

Steamed chinese food dishes (of the protein & veggie variety).

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Carl's junior/hardees...you can get any of their burgers on lettuce wraps minus cheese. Awesome taste and paleo friendly

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The discount grocery store (i.e. Sale A Lot) is faster to get in and out of during lunch time then any of tradition fast food drive thru(s). For I quick lunch I pickup fruit, jerky, and almonds. I everything I need is in the first isle or the check out counter.

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If I have to eat fast food, I normally just go for a salad minus the dressing. I haven't died yet.

Breakfast is a little easier. Lots of places will just give you sides of eggs, bacon, etc. You can also order fruit...McDs has apple slices and grapes. Just skip the yogurt and the candied walnuts.

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How about 5 Guys burgers? Anyone know much about them??

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