Healthy Fast Food Chains

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Lyfe Kitchen

Yes, fast food is quick. It's convenient. It's inexpensive.

But it's terrible for us.

While giants like McDonald's are adding relatively healthier options to their menus, such as apple slices and wraps, some restaurants are out to change the way we view fast food entirely.

Lyfe Kitchen, a soon-to-be chain of healthy restaurants, is one such example. The brand, which stands for "Love Your Food Everyday," doesn't use butter, white sugar, additives, or trans fats. The irony? Its founder, Mike Roberts, was the former president of McDonald's. But he's changed his tune, and opened the first Lyfe Kitchen in Palo Alto, California, last year with plans to open hundreds more.

What you'll find on the Lyfe Kitchen menu is a far cry from McDonald's: vegan tofu wrap, soups, sweet corn ravioli, and the fish tacos take the place of Big Macs and fries.

We've got seven more restaurants serving up creative, healthy dishes. Is there one near you?

(Photo: Lyfe Kitchen)

Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill, a fast-food chain with restaurants located in Oregon and Southern California, doesn't do meat. At all. But they've got everything from a vegan chipotle barbecue burger to vegan buffalo wings.

(Photo: Veggie Grill)

EVOS

They're healthy—all of their french fries and burgers are air-baked instead of grilled or deep-fried—but the big deal at Florida-based EVOS is sustainability. One-third of the energy used in the restaurant is offset with renewable wind energy; the cups and bags are biodegradable; and the company purchases Energy Star-certified equipment and fair trade products. EVOS, which serves up a variety of wraps, burgers, shakes and salads, uses ingredients like naturally raised beef and organic milk in its meals.

(Photo: EVOS)

Elevation Burger

Launched by Hans Hess in 2002, Elevation Burger serves up USDA-certified organic, grass-fed, free-range beef and cooks their fries in olive oil.

(Photo: Elevation Burger)

Native Foods Cafe

Founded in Palm Springs, California, in 1994, Native Foods Cafe makes all of their vegan fare from scratch. The popularity of their 13 locations proves even meat eaters can be convinced to eat meatless.

(Photo: Native Foods Cafe)

Lemonade

Southern California's Lemonade is a formula that works. Homemade salads and soups line the counters—you pick what you like, pay, and lunch is served. The imaginative lemonades (we like peach-ginger) don't hurt, either.

(Photo: Lemonade LA)

Burgerville

Since 1961, Burgerville has been committed to offering fresh, local, and sustainable food. The chain's principles set it apart: Burgerville uses cage-free eggs, antibiotic-free beef, and local ingredients. Located in Oregon and Washington, the company even buys wind credits to offset 100 percent of its electricity use and recycles used canola oil into biodiesel.

(Photo: Burgerville)

Pizza Fusion

You'll only find organic ingredients here, and the chain offers a wide range of gluten-free items. Plus, this pizza joint loves the planet: 100 percent of its energy use is offset by renewable wind energy, and its fleet of delivery cars are hybrid. At Pizza Fusion, customers also receive discounts if they bring in their previous pizza boxes to be recycled. And you can even take your kid to Pizza Fusion's free classes on the importance of recycling and eating organically.

(Photo: Pizza Fusion)

Have you eaten at any of these healthy fast food restaurants? How do they stack up against your favorite fast-food brands? Let us know in the comments below.

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