If you want to make healthy food choices when using an online ordering app like DoorDash, it can be overwhelming to know what to order.  Restaurants, including fast food, have more health conscious menu options which makes it easier to eat better. If you want some guidance on your next DoorDash delivery I’m going to walk you through on how to decode any menu and give you specific meals to order from popular US food chains.

How to Find Healthy Meal Options on DoorDash

I was hopeful when I saw a “healthy” button at the top of the home screen. However, it may not help you find a meal that you are looking for.

Im not sure what criteria the app uses to be listed as a “healthy” restaurant. While it did include a decent amount of health conscious restaurants, it also mixes in restaurants that only have fried foods and no vegetables, which I would not consider as a healthy place to order from.

The other downside is the healthy filter only shows restaurants and not specific meals. This means you are still left to decide on your own what is healthy or not from the menu.

Below I put together my top tips for ordering from any restaurant, so that you can find healthy choices from ANY menu through the DoorDash app.

Top Tips for Ordering Healthy Options from any Restaurant

• 1. Order Bowls– these are great because you get to customize what you add inside. They are more filling than just a sandwich, and have more flavor than your average salad.
• Pro tip: you can also search “bowls” from the homepage of your DoorDash app to pull up restaurants that have these.
• 2. Look for COLOR (or request color add ons)- Color means there are fruits and vegetables, which most Americans are not consuming enough of. If your meal is several shades of brown, then chances are you are eating a crispy chicken sandwich + fries. If your meal doesn’t come with any produce besides 1 tomato slice, see if you can modify the order to add extra vegetables like lettuce, onion, cucumber, or sauteed peppers
• 3. Go for Grilled Proteins- This might taste different than the fried option, but if you are aiming to eat healthier or lower your cholesterol, it is better to avoid fried meats.
• 4. Swap sugary drinks- order unsweetened tea with lemon, seltzer water, or fruit infused water. A medium lemonade, frozen coffee, or soda will easily have 45-90gram of added sugar, which is 2-4x the recommended daily amount. Yikes!
• 5. Add Healthy Sides– instead of fries, add a side salad, fresh fruit, or a sauteed vegetable if your meal doesn’t already come with any fruits or vegetables.
• 6. Use Half the Dressing– if getting a salad or bowl with a creamy dressing, start with half of the packet. Or if you prefer to go heavy on the dressing, opt for a lighter option like a vinaigrette. 
• 7. Look at Calories Ahead of Time– You might not have time for this- which is why it’s lower on the tip list. Use the above suggestions first as an easier way to order. Calorie needs are individualized, but in general a modest calorie range for a meal could be between 500-800 calories. If what you are ordering is way above this range you can split the meal in half and eat the leftovers later! Take out containers can be deceiving and its hard to eye ball what is a modest portion.

What are Healthy Options from DoorDash?

These meal suggestions are based on overall calories, sources of lean protein, and inclusion of fruits and/or vegetables. I prioritized items that were lower in sodium, but did not use low sodium foods alone as a deciding factor for what is healthy.

If you need to order a lower sodium meal, you will love the ideas in Low Sodium Fast Food Options | Healthy Dietitian Approved Meals 2026.

If you visit McDonalds the most, you can find options in Low Sodium Meals from McDonalds post.

Panda Express

Plate Combinations:
1. Mushroom Chicken + Super Greens + White Rice (645 calories)
2. String Bean Chicken + Super Greens + White Rice (615 calories)
3. Broccoli Beef + Super Greens + White Rice (575 calories)
4. Black Pepper Chicken + Super Greens + White Rice (705 calories)
5. Broccoli Beef + String Bean Chicken + White Rice (720 calories)

If you order from Panda Express regularly, and want to lose weight, I put together a guide for what to order in Panda Express Lowest Calorie Meals (That Are Actually Filling).

Chipotle

• 
  1. Burrito bowl with Chicken, Steak or Sofritas
  Filled with a light portion of brown rice, black or pinto beans, lettuce, peppers, salsa, and guacamole
  
• 2. Chicken or Steak Quesadilla
  Filled with brown rice, beans, salsa, and fajita veggies with red chimichurri on the side.
  Eat half for lunch and save the other half for later!
  
• 3. Steak or Chicken Tacos (soft or hard shell)
  Add chili corn salsa, fajita veggies, and lettuce
  
• 4. Chicken or Steak Salad
  Filled with brown rice, pinto beans, chili corn salsa, fajita veggies and chipotle honey vinaigrette on the side

CAVA

You can create endless combinations that can match what you are in the mood to eat at CAVA!

You really can’t go wrong, as long as you use a veggie base, top with a protein, and a complex starch. Here are a few premade bowls directly from their menu that are moderate in calories, high in fiber, and high in protein.

1. Steak and Harrissa Bowl
2. Grains and Greens Bowl – any chicken or braised lamb
3. Grains and Greens Bowl- black lentils and veggie toppings of choice
   

Subway/Jimmy Johns/Jasons Deli

• Go for a 6” sub instead of a 12″
• Use whole grain bread
• Go heavy on veggie toppings such as cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, peppers, tomato, and onion.
• Swap calorie heavy condiments like aioli and mayo for vinaigrette, mustard, and oil/vinegar.

Subway specifically has changed their menu, so I created a more in-depth guide on what specific sandwich to order if you are looking to lose weight, manage blood pressure, or watch your blood sugar in Healthiest Subway Bread | Top Sandwiches Ranked by a Dietitian.

Chick-fil-A

1. Egg White Grill and fruit cup
2. Grilled chicken sandwich + kale crunch salad
3. Cool Wrap
4. Chicken Tortilla Soup Bowl
5. Market Salad

Starbucks

1. Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich + avocado spread + fruit
2. Rolled Oatmeal with cheese stick or egg white bites for protein boost
3. Spinach Feta and Egg white wrap
4. Potato cheddar and chive bakes- add fruit and a latte with dairy milk for a protein boost
5. Egg white and roasted pepper egg bites + oats

Biggest Takeaway

When you order DoorDash you can find nutritious and satisfying options. Making healthy choices doesn’t always mean eating bland or eating the exact same meal. By making healthy swaps and focusing on grilled proteins, beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables you can eat your meal guilt free while working towards your health goals.

Eating at home is the best way to save money while eating balanced portions and getting in more whole foods. However, we all know there are seasons of time when life gets hectic and we need food to be delivered. Picking healthy DoorDash options is 100x better than skipping a meal or grabbing empty calorie packaged foods like chips or cookies that won’t give us the energy we need for our day!

Laurie Thenedy, RD

Laurie is a Registered Dietitian passionate about helping healthcare professionals lower their weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol so that they can regain confidence and energy to live a more full life.