Amy’s, pioneers of better-for-you freezer and pantry options, opened its first drive-thru cafè two years ago in California. But recently, the company made headlines with its announcement to expand its drive thru into a nation-wide franchise, taking on fast food empires like McDonald’s.
Amy’s Drive Thru is the first 100 percent vegetarian fast food restaurant. It offers organic, non-GMO, and local versions of fast food favorites, with vegan and gluten-free options available for almost all items on the menu. The cafe offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and beverages, including coffee drinks and fresh squeezed OJ.
The cafe offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and beverages, including coffee drinks and fresh squeezed OJ.
So as someone with my master’s in human nutrition, I thought a comparison of the nutritional stats of Amy’s stacked up next to those of major fast food chains.
Some of the comparisons may surprise you, but keep in mind health is not equated to calorie counts, and the ingredients matter. All foods can be part of a good-for-you diet, but filling up on whole, plant-based foods is definitely a solid choice if you’re looking to improve your healthy eating game.
There’s a lot more to health than tracking macros and avoiding food groups, but taking a peak at what’s in your fast food can help you make informed choices for your body and brain.
1. Amy’s “The Amy” Burger vs. McDonald’s Big Mac
Amy’s double burger comes with two patties and tons of flavor. Weighing in at 770 calories, it’s a filling option with 40 grams of fat, 10 grams saturated fat, 35 mg of cholesterol, 33 grams of protein, and 9 grams of fiber.
If you order it vegan, the calories scale back to 750, the saturated fat drops to 6 grams, and cholesterol zeros out.
A McDonald’s Big Mac actually has fewer calories (540) and less fat (28 grams). However, Big Macs also have more cholesterol (80 mg), a third of the fiber content (3 grams), and less protein (25 grams).
Not to mention “one or more dough conditioners,” including DATEM, ascorbic acid, mono and diglycerides and enzymes, as well as calcium prioinate (a preservative), and other fun additives like hydrolyzed corn, caramel color, and potassium sorbate.
It’s also doubtful that McDonald’s has the same commitment as Amy’s does to use organic, non-GMO, and/or locally sourced ingredients.
2. Amy’s Organic Vegan Burrito Bowl vs. Chipotle Sofrita Bowl with Brown Rice
Bottom Line: Amy’s has more calories, but McDonald’s has way more sketchy ingredients.
Both are veggie-friendly Mexican-inspired dishes filled with fiesta-worthy flavors. Nutritionally, the Amy’s burrito bowl has 300 calories, 7 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fiber, and 1030 mg sodium.
A Chipotle Sofrita bowl with beans, cheese, romaine lettuce, fajita veggies, and brown rice contains 625 calories, more than double the Amy’s version. It also contains 14 grams of filling fiber, 27 grams of protein, and 1300 mg (a full day’s worth) of sodium.
However, both are decent, yet salty, options for a vegetarian Mexican-inspired fix.
Nutritionally, the Amy’s burrito bowl has 300 calories, 7 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fiber, and 1030 mg sodium.
3. Amys’ Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese vs. Noodles & Company Wisconsin Mac & Cheese
Amy’s has both regular and vegan mac. The vegan version is made with non-dairy cheese, broccoli, and bread crumbs, and packs 520 calories, 22 grams of fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 5 grams fiber, 9 grams of protein, 1150 mg sodium, and 0 mg cholesterol.
Noodles & Company’s famous Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, by comparison, contains more than double the caloric content, totaling at 1050 calories per regular-sized bowl. It also contains 46 grams fat, 26 grams saturated fat, and 140 mg cholesterol.
Just like Amy’s, Noodle’s mac contains 5 grams fiber. Noodle’s contains more protein (40 grams), and at 1300 mg, a full-day’s worth of sodium.
The vegan version is made with non-dairy cheese, broccoli, and bread crumbs, and packs 520 calories, 22 grams of fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 5 grams fiber, 9 grams of protein, 1150 mg sodium, and 0 mg cholesterol.
Amy’s, dairy or not, is certainly lighter in calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium. The vegan and gluten-free options are also great for those with allergies or dietary restrictions.
4. Amy’s Organic Cheese Pizza (Single Serve) vs. Uno’s Single Serve 7″ Individual Cheese Pizza
I should mention that the Amy’s vegan and gluten-free options are also great for those with allergies or dietary restrictions. Noodle’s has gluten-free pasta, but no dairy-free options. But again, their mac does have more protein, if you’re into that kinda thing.
Amy’s Drive Thru offers several pizzas, with vegan and gluten-free options available. The regular cheese pizza contains 540 calories, 24 grams of fat, 9 grams saturated fat, 20 grams of protein, 4 grams fiber, and 30 grams cholesterol.
The calorie/fat content seems quite modest compared to the Uno’s Single Serve Cheese & Tomato Individual Pie, which contains 1700 calories (1040 of which are from fat), 115 grams of fat, 33 grams of saturated fat, 90 mg cholesterol, and a whopping 2370 mg sodium (more than the daily recommended amount). The Uno’s version also contains 58 grams of protein, 30 percent daily value iron, and 25 percent calcium, delivering some vital micronutrients.
5. Amy’s Chili Cheese Fries vs. Arby’s Loaded Curly Fries
Amy’s Chili Cheese fry dish comes with fries, vegetarian chili, cheese, and other yummy fixings. With 510 calories, 26 grams of protein, 12 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and 1210 mg (almost an entire day’s worth) of sodium, the hearty dish is sure to satisfy a French fry craving.
The pizzas are comparable in terms of numbers, but Subway has been known to add a preservative or two that sometimes creep people out.
Compare this with the popular Arby’s Loaded Curly Fries, which come with cheese, bacon, and other fixin’s, and pack 700 calories, 46 grams fat, 1990 mg sodium, 14 grams of protein, and 5 grams fiber.
While the alleged ‘yoga-mat’ ingredient has since been removed from Subway’s pizzas and was safe for human consumption in the first place, Amy’s commitment to all-natural ingredients gives it a leg up for those avoiding preservatives.
6. Amy’s Vanilla Shake vs. Dairy Queen Vanilla Shake
Bottom Line: Both are decent options for a pizza craving; Amy’s has a leg up on local/organic/non-GMO ingredients, but Subway lets you pack on the veg.
Shakes are yummy. That’s why Amy’s offers them in dairy and non-dairy form. The Amy’s dairy version contains 560 calories, 31 grams fat, 20 grams saturated fat, 50 grams of sugar, and 120mg grams cholesterol.
A medium vanilla shake at DQ contains 660 calories, 23 grams of fat (16 of which are saturated, and 1 of which is trans fat), no fiber, 85 grams of sugar, and 60 mg cholesterol.
Both make for sweet treats, with Amy’s containing less calories, sugar, and cholesterol, but slightly more fat.
Bottom Line: Amy’s has more fiber and fewer calories/fat. But loaded fries aren’t supposed to be a health food anyways, so just enjoy the ones you love when a craving hits.
7. Amy’s Super Salad Vs. Sweegreen Spicy Sabzi
Amy’s offers enticing salads. The Super Salad contains seasonal lettuces, hummus, hummus, baked tofu, shredded carrots, shredded purple cabbage, and pumpkin seeds. It contains 300 calories, 14 grams fat, no cholesterol, 14 grams protein, and 6 grams of fiber.
It’s worth noting that this is without dressing, and Amy’s offers 3 organic varieties, including Ranch, Balsamic Vinaigrettes and Raspberry Vinaigrettes.
Also noteworthy, the DQ menu has trans fat (although a small amount), which has been linked to cardiovascular disease and has been banned from packaged foods in the US and restaurant foods in New York City.
Another vegan option at Sweetgreen, the Spicy Sabzi, contains quinoa, tofu, greens, beets, and sprouts, and contains 430 calories, 30 grams of fat, 14 grams of protein, and 6 grams of fiber. Both make for filling, delicious veggie-packed meals.
8. Amy’s Fresh Squeezed Lemonade vs. Chick-Fil-A Lemonade
Amy’s freshly squeezed lemonade is made with real sugar, and contains 160 calories and 37 grams of sugar per 16 ounce serving.
Chick-Fil-A’s version contains significantly more sugar (55 grams per serving), and more calories (220 per serving).
Impressively, both use real lemon juice and sugar, which is definitely a step up from beverages sweetened from high-fructose corn syrup, which is linked to some less-than-pleasant health impacts, including increased fat in the liver.
The Bottom Line
Bottom Line: Both make for filling, delicious veggie-packed meals.
While it can be fun to compare nutrition stats, keep in mind that the ingredients matter, too. Even if something is low in calories, it is not necessarily better than a version made with real, whole food ingredients.
However, Amy’s Drive Thru makes filling fun and delicious versions of fast-food classics to prove that vegetarian and vegan versions of fast-food can be better-for-you, and taste delicious, too. Not only that, but they’re making fast food fun again for many with allergies, dietary restrictions, people who look for whole foods, those avoiding artificial junk, and those who simply want to enjoy a darn good meal.
Bottom Line: Sugar-sweetened beverages are fun in moderation, and since both use sugar over high fructose corn syrup, they’re both better options than most sodas.
Not only that, but they’re making fast food fun again for many with allergies, dietary restrictions, people who look for whole foods, those avoiding artificial junk, and those who simply want to enjoy a darn good meal guilt-free.