http://www.google.com/notebook/feeds/06489183147668501159/notebooks/BDRgMSwoQr9uU5LQh/NDQGGDQoQme6s6eIj2008-12-12T21:47:33.529Z2009-01-06T21:18:46.002Z<h1>America’s Healthiest Restaurants: Shining Examples of Fast-Food Fare</h1> <div> </div> <div> <ul></ul> </div> <div><hr></div> <div></div> <div> <div><p><b>Noodles &amp; Company</b><br> <a href="http://www.noodles.com/">noodles.com</a><br> Why does this Colorado-based chain top our quick-serve list? Noodles &amp; Company combines 19 fresh vegetables with seven types of pastas in Asian, Mediterranean, or American entrees (think Indonesian Peanut Sauté or Wisconsin Mac &amp; Cheese).<span></span></p> <p><b>We love:</b> The Trio—soup, noodles, or salad paired with your favorite protein, plus a side salad or a cup of soup.</p> <div> <hr></div> <p>  <br> <b>Chipotle Mexican Grill</b><br> <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/">chipotle.com</a><br> The idea is simple: Build your own gourmet burrito, fajita burrito, taco, or burrito bowl. The flavor and the healthiness are in the details—naturally raised, antibiotic-free meats, organic beans, and even hormone-free sour cream. Corn tortillas give you a whole-grain option, and the tortilla-less Burrito Bowl lets you ramp up the proteins and veggies.</p> <p><b>We love:</b> Anything with the chipotle-adobo-marinated grilled steak.</p> <div> <hr></div> <p>  <br> <b>Cosi</b><br> <a href="http://www.getcosi.com/">getcosi.com</a><br> Any chain that calls small appetizers “Shareables” has the healthy idea down. Cosi’s central theme—the hearth—yields tasty hearth-baked entrees (in the locations where they serve dinner), from Alpine Chicken to Grilled Wild Alaskan Salmon. High marks for baby carrots as a substitute for chips to go along with sandwiches.</p> <p><b>We love:</b> The delicious, healthy fruit smoothies in a green tea base.</p> <div> <hr></div> <p>  <br> <b>Panera</b><br> <a href="http://www.panerabread.com/">panerabread.com</a><br> The bread is fresh and tempting (and you can go whole-grain). But look to Panera’s soups for great low-calorie and low-sodium options. Fresh fruit cups and apples make for healthy sides, and we give the restaurant special kudos for offering kids’ meals that come with organic cheese and all-natural peanut butter.</p> <p><b>We love:</b> “You Pick Two” combos. You can get half a sandwich paired with a vegetarian soup</p> <div> <hr></div> <p>  <br> <b>Au Bon Pain</b><br> <a href="http://www.aubonpain.com/">aubonpain.com</a><br> This chain boasts hormone-and antibiotic-free chicken. Plus, it provides a great nonfood nutritional tool: computerized kiosks available in most locations allow you to plan your meal and even sort the menu by your goal—whether it be high fiber and protein; or low carb, fat, cholesterol, sodium, or calories.</p> <p><b>We love:</b> The restaurant’s recent move to using preservative-free chicken, for better flavor and less sodium.</p></div></div>djchuang