Chick Fil A Nutrition
Chick-fil-A is a popular fast-food restaurant that offers a variety of healthy options. While breaded and fried menu items can be high in fat, you can choose leaner protein sources and fresh fruit or veggie sides for a balanced meal at Chick-fil-A.
For example, the grilled chicken sandwich is one of the more nutritious choices on the menu, and paired with a kale crunch side can be a diabetes-friendly meal.
Calories
If you’re looking to eat healthily at Chick Fil A, plenty of menu items fit your calorie goals. And you can even find some gluten-free options!
A grilled chicken cool wrap, for instance, is just 350 calories. That includes grilled chicken, shredded Monterey jack cheese, and light Italian dressing wrapped in flaxseed flour flatbread.
In addition to salads, Chick Fil A also offers a variety of sides and desserts. However, like most fast food restaurants, these can be high in calories and fat.
If you’re looking to save some calories at Chick Fil A, consider skipping the frosted coffee or the chocolate chunk cookie (both of which have 250 calories and 43g carbs). Water is a better option.
Fat
The chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and dessert items at Chick-fil-A are low in calories but contain saturated fat. Choose the chicken sandwich on a side salad or fruit cup for a heart-healthy option.
Another option to avoid is the chicken biscuit, which comes stuffed with a hefty dose of saturated fat, sodium, and sugar. It also has nearly half of your daily saturated fat intake for the day, which is linked to high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.
Nuggets are a popular choice among Chick-fil-A customers and are a good source of protein and fiber. They’re made with a “milk wash” of nonfat milk and egg, peanut oil for frying, and seasoned breading. They’re also gluten-free, which makes them a good option for those with a peanut allergy.
Carbohydrates
Chick-fil-A offers several menu options that are low in carbohydrates. These include grilled chicken sandwiches and fruit cups.
Some dietitians and nutritionists suggest ordering these items if you’re on a low-carbohydrate diet because they offer lots of protein.
For example, an order of eight grilled nuggets has only 1 gram of carbohydrates and is super low in fat.
The grilled chicken sandwich is also lower in carbohydrates than most breaded and fried sandwiches at the fast food chain, so it’s a good choice for someone looking to cut back on their carb intake.
Try the Egg White Grill or the Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit for breakfast. These meals only have about 150 calories and have a very low carb count.
Sodium
Sodium is an essential mineral that can be found in various foods. It’s important to stay within the recommended daily intake of 400 to 500mg.
A meal with more than this amount can be considered high in sodium. Chick-fil-A offers several menu items that are low in sodium, including their 5-piece and 8-piece grilled nuggets.
The 5ct nuggets have only 270mg, and the 8ct nuggets have only 440mg of sodium, making them a great option for someone who wants to reduce their sodium intake without eliminating other meals of the day.
This chain also has a few desserts lower in sodium than most other fast food chains. The chocolate chunk cookie has 210mg of sodium, while the vanilla milkshake has only 630mg.
Protein
If you’re looking for a high-protein chicken meal, Chick-fil-A can serve you some tasty options. They’re known for their fried chicken sandwiches but also offer a wide range of other options to help you stay on track with your weight loss goals.
The chain’s nutrition information is easily accessible on its website. This makes it easy to understand how many calories, fat, and sodium are in each menu item.
For example, a grilled chicken sandwich with a fruit cup is 11g total fat and 4g fiber. A cookies & cream milkshake has 630 calories, 25g fat, 15g saturated fat, 90g carbohydrate, 13g protein, 410mg sodium, and 84g sugar.