The Takeaway
- Sweetgreen came out on top for heart-healthy oils, clean ingredients, and flavor that didn’t rely on salt or sugar.
- True Food Kitchen scored big for grass-fed meats, gut-friendly sourdough, and zero seed oils.
- Chipotle offered freshness, but still used processed oils and non-organic ingredients.
- Cava impressed with flavor and variety but fell short on oil quality and price.
- Panera looked healthy but was full of ultra-processed ingredients, bad oils, and misleading labels.
- Seniors should pay close attention to oils, sodium, and food additives — even at so-called “healthy” places.
Why This Matters for Older Adults
You may be trying to eat better — lower inflammation, fewer blood pressure spikes, less gut trouble. But even places marketed as “clean” or “wholesome” can sneak in seed oils, processed ingredients, and sodium bombs.
Why? Because when you're 60+, your heart, kidneys, digestion, and joints are more sensitive to these choices. So Bobby Parrish — a popular food label watchdog on YouTube — went undercover to review five popular “healthy” fast-casual spots with those very concerns in mind. Even though Bobby’s review is for any generation, it makes particular sense for those who are 60+.
You'll find his video at the end of this article.
