Mmm, Taco del Mar has the yummiest fish tacos!

love love love Panera's Mediterranean veggie sandwich!

Love me some Noodles and Co.

Atlanta Bread made the list? I'm not surprised that they're healthy, I'm just surprised they're high profile enough to be included.

I love Panera. Their pick two is perfect for lunch (half sandwich with a cup of soup or half salad) and the fact that you can get an apple instead of chips always makes me happy.

PANTERABREAD!

i think this list is rather deceiving, because a lot of people will see the title "10 healthiest fast food chains" and possibly make a bad decision off of the menu, when really these might be the 10 fast food chains with some of the healthiest CHOICES. because i love the cinnamon crunch bagel at panera but god only knows thats not healthy at all!

There is an ABP in my building so I go there a lot and get their low fat/low sodium soups. I agree with laellavita though, all of these places have really unhealthy options in addition to the healthy choices.

I like Panera! Haven't been there in ages, but they have yummy sandwiches.

I love Panera!

Jason's Deli is awesome, but of course the salad bar is the healthiest option. They still have ice cream soft serve machine and lots of pasta choices, so like laelavita said it's all about choice. Their Spinach Veggie wrap is good too.

McDonald's? Seriously? Even over something like Subway???? Where the heck is SUBWAY on this list??

I'd say even a place like Cosi is pretty healthy if you steer clear of the bagels/bread - lots of good salad options.

I like Panera, Corner Bakery and Au Bon Pain, they're pretty much the same anyway. But you still have to be conscious of what you're choosing b/c there are some choices at these places that are so good either.

Agreed, laella. Pretty much every fast food place has something healthy on the menu, it depends on what you order, not where you go.

I loooove Panera, but when I am out and unexpectedly famished I usually go to McDonalds and get a grilled chicken snack wrap with barbecue sauce.

I just want to point out, you don't have to stay away from breads or pastas or bagels to have a healthy meal. Carbs are not the enemy.
But I do agree, it's about your choices.
Just don't be boring constantly, enjoy eating- it's just easier to eat healthy and enjoy it at home.

i don't think we have any of these in canada... i remember there was a chipotle across from my hotel last time i was in chicago and i ate there like ten times

I don't eat at any of these places...

I'm not much of a fast food person, but I usually navigate around the menus at most places pretty well and there's usually at least one or two acceptable things on the menu. Likewise, you can get totally unhealthy things from a lot of the "healthy" places. So this ranking system doesn't mean a whole lot to me.

I love panera. Their bread is heaven. I've only ever been to 3 places on this list, so it doesn't really apply

i am shocked that panera is #1. dont get me wrong, it is delicious. but i worked there for 4 years in high school and the first 2 years of college and when i was bored i would look over the nutrition info...yikes. everything from the bakery side is evil (not so surprising). but a LOT of their soups, sandwiches, and even salads are really bad too. sierra turkey has 1000 calories! i mean, there ARE healthy choices. but it tends not to be anything on the menu. and not anything i order when i'm there

The "Eat This, Not That" books have Panera on the "Not That" list... so be careful what you order. Be safe and break down the menu items by every ingredient... focaccia bread alone packs tons of calories!

The thing I like about Panera is the fact that they list their calories ON the menu board.

you took the words out of my mouth, jessr...i also worked there, during college, and while there are ways to make healthy choices, not much on the menu is healthy as is...i must say the fact that i worked there for so long and still love their food is a testament to the taste factor, though

All the calories and nutrition info is available on their Web site, it's easy to look it up before you go.

I love Panera! But lately I've really been in to Roly Poly!

There are only a few options at Panera that are pretty healthy. I don't think Einstein's is healthy at all, unless you get a whole wheat bagel, no schmear (sp?) etc. I have one near me, and I've been there a few times, but it's really not that great.

Also...Mcdonald's?! Subway isn't on the list even, and although I don't think Subway is that healthy either (like their meatball subs...gross, plus there is no real option for wheat bread - all they do is dye white bread a 'wheat' color, when it really is refined flour, and try to sell it off as wheat).

Panera's not actually that healthy. David Zinczenko addresses it in the Eat This, Not That section of Men's Health. You can see it on their website. I used to go there all the time and think I was eating healthily, but they've got sneaky calories.

Um...excuse me... where is subway?? I work there & i know people tend to make it unhealthy (adding bacon, extra cheese, pounds of mayo) but it is soo easy to make something healthy & under 6 grams of fat!

chipotle, though you have to be careful of what you get and how much you eat--those burritos are easily enough for 2 meals.

McDonald's really?

Hell yes to Panera Bread!

totally not surprised by McDonald's on the list...on a recent road trip i ate there, and you can get a great salad and yogurt.
panera bread is healthy, just like everyone said, depending on their choices.
for example, their mediterranean veggie sandwich is great, but when I get it I order it with whole wheat bread, and usually nix the cheese and avocado spread, and an apple on the side.

i heart noodles n co!

I love Panera Bread! It's so fantastic! Although I've gone in there for a nice warm cup of soup & ended up coming out with a wonderful orange sconce! but we've gone in for their awesome sandwiches & cups of soup & were well fed for a really great price! I just hope they can get thru this recession!

I try not to eat at any of these places but good to know Panera is pretty healthy.

How did McDonalds make this list

yeah i thought panera really wasn't that healthy? even though they come across as it.. but their sandwiches have like 1,000 calories in them. i guess it's just the ingredients maybe, like if everything is fresh? chipotle is my fave, though i know a burrito is over 1,000 calories. but i don't care! i could eat chipotle everyday =)

Panera just opened two locations in Toronto (well, a little north of the city), and I'm obsessed. That apple salad is AMAZING! We also got a Chipotle about a year ago, and while I enjoyed splitting a chicken burrito with my fiance, I can honestly say it's a once a year kind of meal!