Road-Trippin' Vegetarians Rejoice: Here Are Your Healthiest Fast Food Options

Eat fresh with a meat-free meal; Subway's all-veggie sandwich is a great choice for the vegetarian on the go. Get extra spinach for an added dose of iron!

How to order: 6" on 9-Grain Wheat; No Cheese (optional); Add Black Olives, Cucumbers, Green Peppers, Jalapeños, Lettuce, Red Onion, Spinach Tomatoes; Yellow or Deli Mustard; Add Avocado

The salad variant of the sandwich is a great gluten-free option. The amalgamation of healthy veggies is super low in sodium, carbohydrates, and sugar, with tons of vitamins C and A, and even a good dose of iron. It's also vegan!

How to order: Black Olives, Cucumbers, Green Peppers, Lettuce, Red Onions, Spinach, Tomatoes, Avocado; Olive Oil Blend and Vinegar

McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal is one of a handful of vegetarian breakfast options. While it is high in fiber and vitamins, be wary of the sugar content and add your mix-ins accordingly.

How to order: no cranberry-raisin blend

The land of the golden arches also offers this yogurt parfait, which has 4 grams of protein, and only 150 calories, the Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfait gets a solid “not bad” from us.

How to order: as is

While it may not be particularly filling, you can't really go wrong with plain veggies. This side salad is easy to deconstruct and you know exactly what you're getting when you order.

How to order: as a substitution for fries

Rest easy knowing there are no added ingredients in McDonald’s egg patties; when you order without meat, you're still getting high amounts of protein from the eggs.

How to order: no Canadian bacon, no salted butter (optional: no cheese)

Panera has a multitude of meat-free options on their menu. This 400-calorie breakfast sandwich with a sprouted grain bagel as the "bun" is a nutritious, quick, and filling option.

How to order: as is (no cheese, if you're vegan)

Another veggie based option at Panera is this cheesy, Caprese-salad-inspired flatbread sandwich with nut-free pesto and arugula.

How to order: as is (no cheese, if you're vegan)

Panera offers this low-fat vegetarian soup, which is full of flavor, fiber, and weight-loss boosting benefits. Be mindful of the sodium content, because while there are many upsides to lunchtime option, there are still over 1,000 milligrams of sodium.

How to order: as is

It's hard to go wrong with a 170-calorie classic salad. Raw veggies are naturally low in fat and calories but high in vitamins and minerals.

How to order: as is, dressing on the side

You don't have to eat meat in the morning to get a high dose of protein: Panera's quinoa oatmeal is high in fiber, protein, and nutrients — making for an excellent on-the go breakfast.

How to order: as is

Another impressive option from Panera, this fiber-full soup is high in protein (nearly 20 grams) and only adds up to 350 calories.

How to order: as is (no egg, if you're vegan)

Many vegetarians know the plight of vegetable soup: while it seems like a safe option, some varieties are made with chicken stock. Not at Panera! A bowl of this tasty soup has got tomatoes, zucchini, beans, swiss chard, cauliflower (our fave), bell peppers, pearled barley, and a dollop of nut-free pesto.

How to order: as is

This bowl is full of protein and healthy fats (thanks, extra virgin olive oil!), has no chicken, and is still full of protein. Yummy almonds, olives, and quinoa bring tons of nutrients.

How to order: dressing on the side

Taco Bell's surprisingly healthy Cantina Power Bowl is one of the better items you can order at the drive-thru, and offers an impressive amount of vitamins and minerals thanks to all the vegetables.

How to order: avocado ranch sauce on the side, add guacamole

By ordering your bean burrito Fresco style, you'll skip the dairy while still getting 13 grams of protein and nine grams of fiber, all under 350 calories. While there are 55 grams of carbohydrates, all the ingredients in a Fresco Bean Burrito are certified vegan.

How to order: as is or Fresco style

This simple side dish of plain black beans is full of protein, fiber, and iron, with basically zero sugar and only 80 calories. It's vegan, gluten free, and nutritious.

How to order: as is

This 210-calorie dish has four grams of fiber, seven grams of protein, under 500 milligrams of sodium, six percent of your iron, is vegetarian, and is also literally $1. You can order it Fresco style to save on calories.

How to order: as is or Fresco style

Did you know there are plain ol' vegetables at KFC? We didn't either! This side of green beans comes in at 25 calories, with 0 grams of fat, 260 milligrams sodium, 2 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein.

How to order: as is

The bonus here and the edge that these wedges have over fries? The potato skins. Loaded with trace minerals, the potato skin is nutritious, even though it's fried. Limit your portions, as sodium is high.

How to order: as is

Wendy's is one of the few fast-food places where you can order a loaded broccoli potato, just skip the "cheese sauce" to save on calories while you up your mineral intake from a nutrient-loaded potato (and skin!).

How to order: no cheese sauce, side of salt and pepper

Starbucks has a robust to-go menu, and this 430-calorie bowl is absolutely packed with nutrient-rich, natural ingredients. The dressing is a lemon-tahini blend, which adds a light, citrusy, creamy zest to the whole deal. This bowl is probably one of the healthiest items you can get at a drive thru.

How to order: as is

Are you looking for 100 percent of your vitamin A with hefty helpings of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin C? The 450-calorie PB&J Bistro Box is for you!

How to order: as is

With no fat, low calories, 60 percent of your daily vitamin C, a bit of iron, and a good chunk of fiber, you're in good hands with a plain order of fruit.

How to order: as is

Oatmeal is always a great choice, and the Starbucks blueberry variety is no exception. It's low fat, low cal, and lower in sugar than most on-the-go oatmeal options, with a great dose of fiber, protein, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

How to order: no dried cranberries

If you're looking for a light breakfast, the Starbucks yogurt parfait is a protein-packed alternative to any other sweet you might find at the coffee shop.

How to order: as is (note: don't stir in/eat the honey to cut back on sugar)

There's no sugar in the classic oatmeal until you start adding toppings, so you’re totally in control of your nutrition. The base of oatmeal provides iron and fiber, while being low in fat, calories, sugar (literally 0 grams!), and sodium.

How to order: all topings on the side, no dried fruit

Protein can be hard to come by for vegetarians at fast food restaurants. This box is easy to deconstruct, and has 13 grams of protein from whole ingredients. With apples and grapes, hard-cooked eggs, cheese, pita, and honey peanut butter spread for the apples and pita, you really get a nice variety.

How to order: as is