Chipotle and Panera Might Be Worse for You Than Straight-Up Fast Food

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FWIW, the scientists acknowledge direct comparisons can be tricky, since meals at most of these places are highly customizable. They also didn’t crunch any stats beyond calories, so no details on how other nutrients like fat, carbs, protein, or sugars compare between the two types of restos. They also didn’t examine how ingredients are sourced or whether there’s a higher overall quality of food at the fast-casual places. So, clearly, more research is needed to see how the fast vs. fast-casual worlds fully stack up. (Want to burn fat 24 hours a day? Check out The Body Clock Diet!)

The lesson here is this: Even if you’re grabbing a quick meal at a spot that’s purportedly “healthier” or of a “higher quality,” resist the urge to order on autopilot. Give the menus’ nutritional stats a scan first. Chains with 20-plus locations are required to list calorie counts and make their nutrition stats available. #TheMoreYouKnow.