The Healthiest Things You Can Order from the McDonald's Menu, According to Nutritionists

McDonald's probably isn't the first place you think of to grab a healthy meal, but sometimes it's the most convenient. Luckily, the fast-food joint has made a big push toward helping customers make better choices, like adding calorie counts to their menu, making Happy Meals healthier by 2022, and eliminating trans fats.

You don't need to stick to salads either. "Craving a burger? Go for it!" says Sharon Zarabi, R.D., C.D.N., C.P.T., the program director of bariatric surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. "The 3.5-ounce serving of meat in the classic burger contains a healthy dose of 12 grams of protein and is lowest in calories of all meat patties, at 240 calories and 8 grams of fat," she says. You can add cheese for an additional 50 calories and 4 grams of fat.

Not all burgers on the menu are created equal, though. Zarabi says to skip the bigger burgers, which can sometimes triple your portion size. Your best bet? "Skip the bun, and throw that burger on a side salad with a light dressing," she says.