The Mediterranean diet is popular for a reason; it’s a balanced, heart-healthy diet based on the foods regularly consumed by those in the Mediterranean coastal region that’s been touted as a great approach to healthy living.
But it’s not always easy to find diet-friendly items when you dine out, especially if you’re dining at your favorite fast food restaurant which tends to use processed foods and hidden ingredients.
So can you enjoy anything on the menu at Culver’s if you follow the Mediterranean diet? The answer is yes, as long as you’re willing to make a few modifications. Here’s the scoop.
Mediterranean diet-friendly food and drink choices on the Culver’s menu
There are a few big things the Mediterranean diet either avoids or limits, which you’ll want to stay away from at Culver’s: highly processed oils, ingredients, and additives, refined grains and sugar, and red meat.
With those foods off the table, that definitely cancels out any of Culver’s famous ButterBurgers, as well as their Frozen Custard and all food items that are fried. That said, there are still some diet-friendly choices on the menu that you can order on the Mediterranean diet with some slight modifications.
Staying away from red meat, your best bet in terms of a lean protein at Culver’s will be the grilled chicken – keep in mind that it does contain some stabilizers and preservatives, but nevertheless it’s your best option. Culver’s does offer several seafood options like shrimp and cod; however all of the seafood items are deep fried and thus should be avoided.
The entree salads at Culver’s are great options for someone on a Mediterranean diet. For most of them, you’ll only need to remove one or two ingredients and you’ll still have a substantial salad that’s diet-friendly – many of them complete with wholesome ingredients like grilled chicken, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Just keep in mind that it’s best to stay away from the dressings available since those all use oils or added ingredients that aren’t exactly diet-friendly – so you may want to bring your own.
Cheese is one of those more subjective items on the Mediterranean diet; some include full-fat dairy in moderation, and others avoid it entirely. Ultimately it’s up to you whether you choose to include cheese in your meal or not, but keep in mind most of the cheese options at Culver’s are likely more processed.
Aside from the grilled chicken sandwich (as long as you forgo the bun) and several of Culver’s salads, you can also enjoy some steamed broccoli or applesauce as a side item. And while most of the dressings and dips aren’t diet-friendly, there are a few that contain less additives and sugar which you can consider (listed below).
If you’re looking for refreshments, the coffee and fresh brewed tea at Culver’s will be your go-to options – everything else contains sugar or artificial sweetener, which you’ll want to avoid.
We’ve got the complete list below of all the items on the current Culver’s menu that make for better-for-you choices on the Mediterranean diet.
| Diet-Friendly Sandwiches, Salads + Sides | Required Modifications |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | No bun |
| Chicken Cashew Salad | No cheese |
| Strawberry Fields Salad | No cheese |
| Cranberry Bacon Bleu Salad | No dried cranberries No bacon No cheese |
| Garden Fresco Salad | No croutons No cheese |
| Garden Side Salad | No croutons No cheese |
| Steamed Broccoli | |
| Apple Sauce | |
| Diet-Friendly Condiments + Dressings | |
| Della Terra Marinara | |
| Mustard | |
| Hot Sauce | |
| Diet-Friendly Beverages | |
| Coffee | |
| Fresh Brewed Tea |
No, unfortunately Culver’s Harvest Veggie Burger contains several ingredients that should be avoided or limited on the Mediterranean diet, such as milk, wheat flour, cheese, and some additive ingredients like preservatives.
Unfortunately Culver’s does not currently offer a lettuce-wrapped option, but since the sandwiches are made to order you can ask your cashier to remove the bun. In some cases, they may be able to add some extra lettuce underneath to make a grilled chicken sandwich order more like a bowl or salad.
While the grilled chicken is one of the healthier protein options on the menu, it does contain a few additive ingredients. The grilled chicken breast at culver’s is made with the following ingredients: boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets with rib meat, water, modified corn starch, sea salt, and sodium phosphates.
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