Heart Health High Cholesterol Nutrition Low-Cholesterol Fast Food Entrees You Can Make Low-Cholesterol Choices on the Run By Ellen Slotkin, RD, LDN Ellen Slotkin, RD, LDN Ellen Slotkin is a registered dietitian specializing in heart-healthy nutrition, weight management, and pregnancy nutrition. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 20, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Yasmine Ali, MD, is board-certified in cardiology. She is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and an award-winning physician writer. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Fast food can be convenient, tasty, and economical. For years there were little to no heart-healthy choices to be found. But thanks to public demand, there are now more lower-cholesterol options to choose from. We aren't recommending that you frequent fast-food restaurants on a low-cholesterol diet, but if that's where you have to get your meals sometimes, here's how to make a smarter choice. Read on for a list of five low-cholesterol fast-food entrees worth checking out. Dean Belcher / Getty Images Low-Cholesterol Guidelines for Fast Food Know Before You Go: Check out the nutrition information on the websites of the restaurants that you visit most. Try to plan what you will order ahead of time.Size Matters: Select a small-sized entrée. Did you know that in a fast-food restaurant small hamburgers (3.0 to 3.5 ounces) are usually a lower-cholesterol choice than chicken sandwiches? (They average 5.0 to 5.5 ounces). Keep in mind that fast-food chicken is often breaded and deep-fried too. However, if you are avoiding red meat, then chicken is still the better choice.Add a Healthy Topping: Add extra vegetables to your entrées, such as lettuce, cucumbers, or tomatoes.Skip the Fries; Add a Healthy Side: Try a garden salad with low-calorie dressing (or even better, a squirt of lemon).Watch Your Frequency Limit eating at fast-food restaurants to one or two times per month. Cholesterol & Triglycerides: What You Need to Know Some options to check out: Domino's Pizza "Thin Crust Veggie Pizza" (2 squares of 12" medium pizza, 1/8 pizza) Locations nationwide 143 Calories, 63 Calories from Fat, Total Fat 7 grams (g), Saturated Fat 2.5g, Cholesterol 15 milligrams (mg), Sodium 240 mg, Carbohydrate 15g, Fiber 3g, Protein 5gTip: Start your meal with a filling "Garden Fresh Salad" to help limit yourself to just two pizza squares. McDonald's Small Hamburger Locations nationwide (Serving size: 3.5 ounces) 250 Calories, 80 Calories from Fat, Total Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 3.5g, Cholesterol 25mg, Sodium 520mg, Carbohydrate 31g, Fiber 2g, Protein 12gTip: this is not a low-sodium item, and the burger is made with red meat, so plan the rest of your day's meals accordingly. Avoid Red Meat To Reduce Heart Disease Risk? New Study Draws Criticism Taco Bell's "Fresco Crunchy" Taco Locations nationwide (Serving size: 92g) 140 Calories, 70 Calories from Fat, Total Fat 7g, Saturated Fat 2.5g, Cholesterol 13mg, Sodium 300mg, Carbohydrate 14g, Fiber 3g, Protein 6gTip: Ask for extra salsa for an added nutrient bonus. Subway's "Veggie Delight" Sandwich, 6'' Locations nationwide 200 Calories, Total Fat 2g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 280mg, Carbohydrate 39g, Fiber 5g, Protein 9gTip: All 8 varieties of Subway's "Fresh Fit" 6'' subs contain no more than 55mg of cholesterol, 265 calories, and 6g of total fat. Wendy's "Junior Hamburger" Locations nationwide 90 Calories, Total Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 3.5g, Cholesterol 40mg, Sodium 460mg, Carbohydrate 25g, Fiber 1g, Protein 13gTip: Note: this is not a low-sodium item, and it is red meat, so plan the rest of your day's meals accordingly. The word "crispy" on fast-food menus is usually a code word for fried (meaning extra fat and calories you don't need). Avoid crispy foods and choose baked, steamed, or grilled options. A Word From Verywell A busy schedule doesn't have to mean sabotaging your low-cholesterol diet plan. Plan ahead, add healthy extras, and enjoy! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to start a diet to better manage your cholesterol? Changing lifelong eating habits can be scary at first, but our guide will make it easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Domino's Pizza. Domino's Pizza Nutrition Guide. McDonald's. McDonald's Nutrition Facts. Taco Bell. Taco Bell Nutrition Info. Subway. Subway Nutrition Data Tables. 2019. Wendy's. Wendy's U.S. Menu: Nutrition Facts.