The Best Meatless Fast Food Options
Photo by Mike Mozart/Creative Commons
It wasn’t that long ago that finding a vegetarian option at a fast food restaurant was borderline impossible. Oftentimes, even fries were cooked in animal fat, rendering them unsuitable for anyone who was trying to cut meat out of their diet. But luckily, times have changed, and it’s now easier than ever to find meat-free options at most fast food spots.
Of course, it’s now possible to snag a plant-based burger or other dish that contains faux meat at fast food spots, but I wanted to explore the meatless options that specifically don’t include plant-based meats. These are the best options I found at popular fast food restaurants you might frequent.
McDonald’s
In some parts of the world, there are tons of meatless options on the McDonald’s menu. In the U.S., though, we have fewer options. If you have to eat at McDonald’s as a vegetarian, you’re best served by going in the morning and ordering the fruit and maple oatmeal and a hashbrown. The oatmeal tastes surprisingly healthy considering it comes from the home of the Big Mac. If you’re there for lunch or dinner, however, you have fewer options. The fries are vegetarian (but not vegan), and you can always opt for a side salad.
Starbucks
If you want to get a bite to eat with your morning coffee, you’re in luck—Starbucks has a wide range of meat-free options to choose from. Most of the sous vide egg bites are fair game, except for the bacon and gruyère variety. The spinach, feta and egg white wrap is also a solid option, especially if you’re trying to get some veggies into your diet. You can also opt for the rolled steel-cut oatmeal, which you can customize with a variety of toppings. The berry trio parfait does the trick if you’re looking for something that’s on the lighter side.
Chick-fil-A
Although Chick-fil-A doesn’t have the absolute best meatless options, you can still make a decent meal out of what they offer. The waffle fries are vegetarian, as is the mac and cheese. You can also get a crunchy kale salad along with sweeter options like the Greek yogurt parfait and cup. If you’re lucky, you may live near a Chick-fil-A that started serving up cauliflower sandwiches in February of 2023. The cauliflower is breaded, fried and served as a sandwich with the chain’s signature pickle chips. This option sounds like one of the more delicious vegetarian options on fast food menus right now, so I hope they start selling it at all Chick-fil-A locations soon.