The 2 Best Wendy's Breakfast Items, According To Nutritionists

In order to be successful, fast food chains must hone in on a few menu items and make them absolutely irresistible. Craving a handful of salty fries? McDonald's has them mastered. For In-N-Out, it's their top secret special sauce. Chick-fil-A has addicting AF lemonade and the best chicken nuggets. At Wendy's there are two items that don't necessarily go together, but both of which you can't leave a Wendy's drive-thru without: their signature meaty chili and classic Frosty.

If you've ever dipped fries in a Wendy's chili or a chocolate Frosty, then you know exactly what we're talking about. But sadly, these are not the healthiest items on the Wendy's menu. A large chili may only be 330 calories, but it has 1,300 milligrams of sodium, according to the Wendy's website! Likewise, a medium chocolate Frosty clocks in at 470 calories and 65 grams of sugar. By far, not the healthiest foods out there.

Luckily, Wendy's breakfast menu is a lot more health-friendly, and in case you're looking to shake up your own morning routine, here are the chain's two best breakfast foods, according to nutritionists.

In an interview with Eat This, Not That!, Victoria Goodman, DSC, RDN, LDN, CLT, points out that Wendy's freshly baked oatmeal bar is an easy way to score nutrients in the morning without tallying up a high number in the calorie, fat, or sugars column. Plus, it pairs nicely with coffee! The bar, which is made with whole oats, blueberries, and cranberries, is only 270 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 23 grams of sugar (keep in mind, fruit has natural sugars), according to the Wendy's online menu.

The Wendy's oatmeal bar is rich with antioxidants, which Goodman explains can "improve the immune system and may rid the body of waste products," while also keeping you full. Goodman also notes the fiber in the bar can potentially keep both cholesterol and blood sugar levels in check.

The good news is, you can even indulge in a sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast burrito and still call it healthy. At 340 calories, Wendy's breakfast burrito will fuel your body with 25 grams of protein sans an overload of carbs (via Wendy's website). Goodman says this item "will give you the energy you need in the morning without the crash you might feel with a more sugary breakfast," such as a donut or cinnamon roll, for example.

Finding breakfast foods that you can still enjoy without feeling like you're punishing yourself is key to maintaining a healthy diet, and Wendy's has two great options.