Here we go with another Fast Food Fix, where I review a popular fast food chain and suggest 3 healthy choices, and what dishes to steer clear of based on their nutritional value, or lack thereof.

Todays post is an eatery I’ve never been to – Chick-Fil-A, the popular fried chicken pit stop. That may be because there’s only one location in NY, but there are 253 in Texas! I guess everything is bigger in Texas!

But while I can’t comment on taste I can rate the chain’s nutritional values.

So here are my 3 best picks from the menu.

1. Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich– It seems appropriate that my first pick is a chicken sandwich! This one has just 290 calories with 4 grams of fat. Plus it has 30 grams of protein! The sodium also isn’t terrible by fast food standard at 1030mg.

To be fair, the Classic Fried Chicken Sandwich isn’t horrible, but it does add another 13 grams of fat and 140 calories. It has 430 total calories and comes in a little over 30% fat. In both cases use my bun trimming and scooping trick to save some carbohydrate calories.

2. Chargrilled Chicken Cool Wrap- With 12 grams of fat and 410 calories, this wrap is 25% fat – which ain’t too shabby! It also has 33 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber, thanks to the whole grain wrap. Another fine choice when on the go.

3. Southwest Chargrilled Salad- I usually don’t include salads in my picks because by now you should all know the in’s and out’s of salad selection, dressings, toppings, etc. But truthfully, I don’t care for anything else on the menu, so salad it is! This version has 240 calories, 9 grams of fat, 26 grams of protein, and 6 grams of fiber. But remembers – use just enough dressing for taste.

Okay here’s what you’ve all been waiting for… here’s what to avoid at all costs:

1. Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit– This little meal has 500 calories and 27 grams of fat. Truthfully, it’s not the calorie monsters we’ve seen in other stops, but just because it’s not as bad, doesn’t mean it’s good. It’s still nearly half-fat, which means you’d be eating 250 calories of goop.

2. Chicken Strips –I’m guessing most of you know that breaded and deep fried chicken isn’t the best choice. But these 3 little pieces of chicken have 360 calories and are also about 50% fat. While weight management is about total calories, I’d suggest making a smarter choice and “spending” your calories elsewhere.

3. Cookies and Cream Milkshake- I know they’re absolutely delicious and on a hot day hit the spot. But 77 grams of sugar, 27 grams of fat – of which 14 are saturated – and 570 total calories is a recipe for a blood sugar disaster. Drinking one of these elicits a cascade of energy highs and lows, fluctuations in blood sugar levels, and ultimately leads to a crash and burn. Plus, it has minimal nutrition.

All in all, Chick-Fil-A is not the worst offender by any stretch. While their worst choices are high in fat content, the total calorie counts are not in the 1000 + calorie range of some other famous stops. I have to say I’m surprised since I expected worse. Next time I’m on a trip I’ll be sure to stop in – but not for a milkshake!

Check out the Chick-Fil-A nutrition facts yourself and make an informed decision.

What do you think of my suggestions? Do you have a different recommendation? Any more questions… fire away!