Chick-fil-A, a fast food restaurant that serves up chicken with a variety of side dishes, has locations across the nation. The company claims to provide menu selections that are nutritious and fresh and that fit well within a balanced diet. Eating in fast food restaurants can derail your health goals because much of it is too high in fat, calories and sodium, reports HelpGuide.org. The menu at Chick-fil-A does provide choices better than many others that can fit into a healthy diet.
Fat
According to MayoClinic.com, a 2,000-calorie diet should not exceed 78 g of fat per day. Eating at Chick-fil-A can overload you on fat at one meal, but making healthier choices will provide you with a reasonable amount of fat. Choose the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich with 3.5 g of fat over the Chicken Salad sandwich with 20 g. Or opt for a Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad with 6 g of fat instead of the Chick-n-Strips Salad with 23 g. The Waffle Potato Fries add 23 g of fat and the coleslaw increases your intake by 50 g.
Sodium
High sodium meals are par for the course when dining at fast food restaurants, Chick-fil-A included. Sodium intake should remain between 1,500 and 2,300 mg each day, according to MayoClinic.com. Certain health conditions may further reduce this number. Most of the items on the Chick-fil-A menu are very high in sodium and many contain close to the recommendation for an entire day. A Spicy Chicken Cool Wrap contains 1,380 mg of sodium, the Chicken Sandwich Deluxe contains 1,620 mg and the Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit has 1,370 mg. The Hearty Breast of Chicken Soup weighs in at 1,760 mg.
Calories
Much of the food you find at fast food restaurants, Chick-fil-A included, is very high in calories. Eating more calories than you burn on a regular basis leads to weight gain. Good choices at Chick-fil-A include Chick-n-Minis with 280 calories and the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich with 300 calories. Avoid the Spicy Chicken Sandwich Deluxe with 580 calories and the Sausage Biscuit with 590 calories. The Carrot and Raisin Salad contains 390 calories and a Fruit Cup weighs in at only 110 calories.
Protein
Protein is a macronutrient that is vital for the health of your skin, bones and muscles, reports MayoClinic.com. A 2,000-calorie diet requires 50 to 175 g of protein per day. However, it is important to balance a healthy amount of protein with something that is also low in fat, calories and sodium. At Chick-fil-A, choose the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich with 29 g of protein or the Chargrilled and Fruit Salad with 22 g.
Considerations
When you are eating at Chick-fil-A it is simple to choose healthier options, but it is also easy to create a meal that is too high in unhealthy amounts of fat, salt and calories. HelpGuide.org recommends choosing skinless chicken breast that has been grilled rather than fried, limiting sauces and gravy and dipping chicken into barbecue sauce instead of honey mustard. Skipping soda and drinking water or unsweetened iced tea will further cut your calorie intake.
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