Ideal Bite

Foodaroo is small and just starting, but anyone can submit a cool local restaurant in their area. The site has reviews, menu scans, and lots of attributes to search for, like vegetarian friendly, and locally owned. Check it out and add the best places in your area! I made it myself, so if you have any suggestions let me know also! www.foodaroo.com

I'm really surprised that Ideal Bite would endorse McDonald's on any level. They take a terrible toll on the health of people and of the environment. Anyone who cares enough about the environment to read Ideal Bite should want to avoid McDonald's completely, even if they do use recycled content in their napkins. Come on.

I'm sure there are some other local stores out there, However I just wanted to mention a small fast food joint that started in the Tampa/St.Petersburg area of Florida called Evos. They are very enviro friendly, with awesome food!! They have vegetarian options and Free range meat options. They also feature Air baked Fries!! They have finally branched out to a few other states, so check them out! www.evos.com

And avoid all the unnecessary packagings. Plus, you can choose healthier items. And save time. And money. :-)

OK, the subject didn't appear in the comment above. I said: Or just pack your snack at home. And avoid all the unnecessary packagings. (etc. etc.) By the way, I was also surprised that you would mention McDonald's as an environmentally-friendly place. ;-)

If you ever find yourself in the Portland area and need a quick bite be sure to find a Burgerville (39 restaurants along the I-5 corridor in Oregon and Washington). They have veg options, and use local, vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free beef in their burgers, cage-free eggs in their breakfast items. Their utensils are compostable and they have full recycling stations in their restaurants. When I get railed into McDonald's I have to walk out with the tray liner and kids meal bags so I can recycle them.

The only time driving through is LESS harmful is if you have a Hybrid, mine shuts off completely while sitting in a drive-thru. However, if I turn it off to go inside, when I come back out and start it back up, the gas engine is being used again. But agreed, for road trips, pack your own snacks.

This is another small place just starting out, but Elevation Burger is a simple burger place with grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic free beef, and veggie and vegan burger options. The fries are even cooked in olive oil, a healthier alternative to other cooking oils. I think there are only a few, some in the Virginia area, one opening in New Jersey, and one in Texas, but worth the stop for the healthy alternative if you happen to be around one of these areas. www.elevationburger.com

If you are lucky enough to be driving in the West and catch an In & Out - I just found out that they serve (you have to ask, its not on the menu) a burger wrapped in lettuce sans the bun. A MUCH healthier option as well as more local option. They also don't freeze their food, its all fresh and made right there on site.

Many posts here of locally owned burger joints that might not be present right off the highway but its obviously well worth the exit ramp diversion to seek these out and give them your patronage, support local and let's put the king and golden arches on the back burner.