Chick-fil-A Menu Choices Approved by Personal Trainers
Never fear! If you find yourself in fast food eatery Chick-fil-A, there's more often than not a healthful option that won't wreak havoc on your waistline. Now that we've broken down healthy meals nutritionists would order while dining at this chicken-centric fast-food eatery, it's time to turn to another sort of expert. Here, personal trainers weigh on Chick-fil-A meals–because if it's good enough for fitness fanatics, it's good enough for us!
Grilled Market Salad
"If I were at a Chick-fil-A, I would order a Grilled Market Salad with one of their lighter vinaigrette dressings on the side to keep the calories down. This proves an ideal balance of protein, carbs and fats, and then I'd get either water or unsweetened iced tea to drink." – Michael George Hofrath, PhD
"I haven't been to a Chick-fil-A, but I would recommend going for a salad there. You're getting the perfect balance of protein and fresh vegetables without the unnecessary, calorie-dense bread. The best choice is the Market Salad, which provides a wealth of nutrients at just 200 calories, and is packed with protein from the grilled chicken, fiber from the vegetables and a whopping 230% of your daily recommended of vitamin A, 70% vitamin C and 10% calcium. Though 230% of your daily allowance of vitamin A is well over what you need in a meal, it's an important nutrient that helps in a host of processes in your body, like vision, reproduction and heart and lung function; so while you might not think about getting enough of these vital nutrients daily, they make a big difference in overall health and wellness." – Jimmy Minardi, Founder of Minardi Training
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
"A great option at Chick-fil-A is the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, which weighs in at only 320 calories but packs a whopping 30 grams of protein and is served on a wheat bun with a slice of tomato and piece of lettuce. It's tempting to put the Chick-fil-A sauce on it, but that adds 140 calories and 13 grams of fat, so I'd recommend just eating it plain or with a little ketchup and mustard." – Jim White, RD, Owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios
"Even though I generally wouldn't recommend any fast-food chain to a client, if they were at Chick-fil-A, there are some healthier options they could choose. I would advise ordering a protein-packed Grilled Chicken Sandwich without any special sauces to cut down the calories. To add to the meal, Chick-Fil-A offers two healthier choices for sides: a fruit cup and a side salad. I'd suggest going for both; they're both easy ways to up your daily intake of fruits and veggies, and will add fiber so you feel full and satisfied. To drink, I would recommend ordering a bottle of water to wash it all down or a hot/iced coffee with skim milk." – Lori-Ann Marchese, Celebrity Trainer: Body Construct
Grilled Garden Salad
"When eating at a Chick-fil-A, I go for the Grilled Garden Salad. It's only 200 calories and is made with grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, baby greens, red cabbage, carrots and a mix of red and green apples, strawberries and blueberries, so it gives you a mix of protein, fruits and vegetables. Having this variety in your diet gives you an explosion of nutrients, which provides cancer-fighting antioxidants and supports a healthy metabolism and overall health. I choose to use the lite Italian dressing, which is only 25 additional calories." – Jim White, RD, Owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios
Multigrain Oatmeal and a Grilled Market Salad
"To help keep you focused at your next Chick-fil-A road stop, there are two great options to consider. For breakfast, order the Multigrain Oatmeal with toppings and a black coffee. This meal will help kick start your day, while avoiding an unnecessary saturated fat. If you are going later in the day, select the Grilled Market Salad with an unsweetened ice-tea or bottled water. It's low calorie and has just enough vegetables to fill you up for the road trip ahead!" – Jay Cardiello
