With their Simplicity of a Menu we are going to Spell out How you can Eat Smart at Chick-fil-A. And this is a go to for many on the healthy choices. As opposed to most Fast Food Restaurants, Chick-fil-A is extremely doable. As in, if you are wanting to eat healthy, and are out and about, these options may be your best.
They give you grilled options as opposed to the tasty fried options. There is fruit and lighter sides available. Always. And as we know, but often try to forget (hahahaha) there is the key thing to avoid. That is having a “Healthy Sandwich” and then adding in the hidden calories in sugary drinks, sauces, fries and desserts. And while Chick-fil-A has the healthy options, they have yummy options that can destroy the health plan you went in with.
The Best Protein Choices (and its a good selection):
Best Overall Protein Choices:
- Grilled Nuggets
- They are High protein
- They have Lower calories than Fried
- They are Lower in carbs than Fried
- These are Great if you are watching your weight. Key item for anyone with GLP-1 intake.
Solid Meal Option:
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Grilled chicken
- Lettuce and tomato
- This is a Better option to most (well I think all) fried fast-food sandwiches
If you want the classic then do this:
- Get the Original sandwich (occasionally is fine right?). Just be sure to balance it:
- Skip fries or dessert (probably both)
- Add fruit
- Hunger Related you can always get another 6 Count of Grilled Nuggets instead of the Fries or Dessert. Protien over Carbs and Sugars afterall.
Best Sides to get at Chick-Fil-A:
These are the Better choices:
- Fruit Cup
- Kale Crunch Side
- Side salad
Moderation with your Chick-Fil-A choices:
- There are incredible Waffle Fries Right? These potatos are not your Health Concious Friends. They are delicious, but portion size and awareness matters. So if you must, be sure you are taking in Protein First, then be sure to go with a Small Portion, or steal some from your Child or Spouse! (If you steal it from your Spouse there are no Calories, or so I was told several times by my Spouse who steals mine!)
Lets get Saucey, and discuss the Chick-Fil-A Sauce Strategy. This is what catches many of us off-guard:
The sauces are delicious and they can quietly add up. I have to admit I have issues with this. Polynesian Sauce is my “Jam”. I use it for the Chicken Strips, Chicken Sandwich, the Waffle Fries (instead of Ketchup, but probably use more of Polynesian Sauce than I would ever use Ketchup – picture trying to just use the Waffle Fry as a Shovel for the Polynesian Sauce, and that would be me). So it is a key thing for me to focus on. And that usually means, if I am watching the health aspect, zero fries for me, because I know I’ll be consuming the Sauce. (Yeah I have been that guy that keeps asking for “More Polynesian Please”. And I do have a bag at home for when Chick-Fil-A is Closed on Sundays and there is something around to dip it in).
Here is the Game Plan. So Instead of several packets (or if you get several, just ask for a sack and put the extras in for another day):
Use just 1 sauce and be sure to enjoy it, savor it. Using a little here and there. Easier said than done, but we all get it. Those Sauces stack the calories, the sugars and in some cases Seed Oils that are horrible for any lifestyle.
The lighter choices generally include:
- Buffalo Sauce (This is my Spouse’s Fave, and its far better than my Polynesian for Calories and such, but its not my fave).
- BBQ (Goes with Chicken Naturally Anyway)
- Mustard styles (Though if you get Mustard, not the Mustard Styles Sauces you can literally have a lot, because its super low in Calories and super high in Anti-Depression!)
NOTE: The Creamy sauces are usually more unhealthy climbing up in Calories and unwanted ingredients.
Want Education on Seed Oils and what we all should know? See this Article on Seed Oils Here
How you can Eat Smart at Chick-fil-A, with Breakfast:
These are the Better picks:
- Egg white options (if available locally)
- Grilled breakfast items
- Protein-focused items
What to Watch Out For:
- Their biscuits (Yummy Yes, But Calories are High and not the best for anyone with GLP1 Intake or Weight Concious)
- Their hash browns (Potatos, and Fried. Says it all)
- Their sweet drink combos (Add the Sugar, add the unhealthy Calories)
These cause Calories to stack quickly!
Thirsty? Yes, so lets go into the Drink Strategy for Chick-Fil-A:
The Best Options:
- Water (Clearly the Best Option)
- Unsweet tea (Awesome Option. Get some Flavor, some Herbs, some smiles)
- Diet beverages (Remember they have Diet Lemonade!)
- Light lemonade and Unsweet Tea. The Arnold Palmer if you will. Great Taste, low calorie, high in taste and feels!
The Big sugar source Options that is only for Sugar Extremists that are either Young and Invincible Still (hahahaha) or for those wanting health issues to follow:
- Regular sweet tea (And if you are in the South, this means 2/3rd Sugar, 1/3rd Water)
- Lemonade (Lemons and Sugar then Water. Yeah its a lot of Sugar)
- Milkshakes. (Great for anyone looking to Bulk Up right. So keep that in mind. Looking to Bulk Up, Great. Not looking to Bulk Up, not Great. Taste is Amazing, but it comes with the Calories to Match)
How you can Eat Smart at Chick-fil-A when Using GLP-1 Medications:
Then you need to Focus on the Following. And remember smaller sizes. You are on something that requires LOWER CONSUMPTION to work. So smaller sizes.
- Go strong that you are focused on Protein first. Grilled chicken. No, there is not another Option. You are on Grilled Chicken Options Only.
- Smaller portions. In case this was not mentioned. You are going to be better off focussing on Smaller Portions. If you need help with this, be sure to take one of these Brain Supplements 20-30 minutes before you eat. And you’ll have help with Smaller Portions.
- Hydration is Key. This means No Sugars Though. Water, Iced Tea (unsweetened). Diet Soda if you want to live dangerously.
- Fruit and the lighter sides offered. No, there is no such thing as a lighter Fry. So no to fries. Its for your Goals of Weightloss-sake!
Then be sure to Avoid giant fried meals. We know that some people on GLP-1s get nausea, headaches, or worse even with heavy fat intake. Also, we know we do GLP-a to lose the fat we already have more than enough of. So adding to it goes against the losing it. So just don’t go fried. “We Love You, You Got This!”
Here are some Examples of “Chick Fil-A Smart Meals”:
Basically some “Be Armed” with choices ahead of time.
Focused on Fat loss, and so they are lighter:
- 8–12 grilled nuggets
- Kale crunch
- Water
Balanced:
- Grilled sandwich
- Fruit cup
- Unsweet tea
Treat meal:
- Original Sandwich
- Fries
- Water
- And skip dessert. Sugar is not our friend. And if you had a Sauce with your Fries, or Ketchup, that was plenty of Sugar.
High protein:
- Grilled Nuggets
- Salad
How you can Eat Smart at Chick-fil-A is Actually Not a Hard Option when You Know The Options!
Hopefully this gave you the knowledge-ammo so you can go into Chick-fil-A and eat within your Health Minded Goals. Though let me share a Secret with you. If you take this Brain Supplement 20-30 minutes before you eat (anywhere) your body will help you portion size. You will know you are full, and stop eating in excess. In fact you will be happy and satisfied even. This is a key “secret” to where I was able to lose my 75+ pounds.