Chick-fil-A is a deathwish food

When my daughter visits from Europe, she insists on hitting the Chik-fil-a that’s directly outside the airport. She starts drooling a couple days before she leaves.

When they were toddlers, we would go to the original location, called The Dwarf House, also down near the airport. It still had waitresses and counter service in those days (may still have for all I know!). It was in a small cottage-y home that had been converted, then added to and added to over the ensuing decades. There was a 3 foot high quaint arched “dwarf” door for kids and that was such a thrill.

if you grew up here, Chik-fil-a is just an integral part of life.

But ewwwwww. A spicy chicken sandwich? Most people just get the regular sandwich. When it’s hit and fresh, there’s nothing better. They also make a mean chicken salad sandwich.

Don’t get me started on Waffle House!!! That’s the other local phenom. Or Coke!

I've never been to one either. In Alaska they didn't have one while I was growing up. In fact, pretty sure Wasilla still doesn't have one... not sure about Anchorage.

The size and salt loads of fast foods is similar across brands, so would not single out any brand or particular item…

Which is not to say that most profferings are not wholly ABSURD when they are nearly a day, 2 or 3 in ginormous loads of cals, carbs, fats and salts... and there is a dearth of healthy & affordable alternatives at these fast food establishments.

— A few years back, we stopped for burgers and I noticed the regular white bread bun was sweet to the taste.

When I checked the nutrition later, the bun accounted for 400 of the 600 cals of the 'all natural' advertised burger… Bun was a sugar bomb. Advertised as 'all natural' was the reason we selected that brand/place and item to eat that day.

There is an absurd negative synergistic dynamic between government policies, the establishment's efforts to profit and the buyer's demands for huge, fast & salty foods... and sweets as well.

Likely to continue methinks… until there is a real shift in sentiment.

Not optimistic atm. Groups like here strike me as outliers, forward adopters of true healthy lifestyles which include healthy food choices.

we were “home”, not “time”.

I kid you not, I’m proofreading carefully since I can’t edit, and it’s changing words when I post.

I’m hoping for something really naughty that I can blame on auto-edit.

I'm with your teen and it's why they wouldn't see a penny of my money even if I still ate fast food.

I did try it twice. Once when they first opened semi in my area to try their grilled chicken salad. I drove there on a Sunday which was obviously not the right day to go but had my coworker pick me up one since he lived close.

It didn't thrill me.

The next time, a client brought it for us and I tried a waffle fry because....waffle fries. Better than the salad at least.

But, yeah, fast food can be such a sodium bomb! ☺

I love Chick-Fil-A sandwiches! Sure, I am fully aware of sodium content, which is one reason eating there is a rare, special treat rather than more often. (That plus the cost to feed a family of six.) I prefer the grilled nuggets over the fried versions.

If you don't like the fried versions of their sandwiches, get the grilled version instead, and replace the waffle fries with a fresh fruit cup. This will slash the calories, sodium and fat, while keeping the protein and increasing vitamins/fiber.

The fact the OP tried from an airport food court first may have contributed to the poor state of the vegetables (tomato and lettuce) he may have had added. Like any restaurant chain, individual locations may have very different levels of quality for the same item, and I have not had any issues with food served from the branch located in my local community, especially if I do not try to compete with hundreds of people at rush-hour meal times. (And in a busy airport, ALL times are rush-hour meal times.)

Sometimes we choose to stop for fast food. If while in line (or ahead of time) we can quickly google etc. Low Sodium or Healthy choices at ,,, name of where we are stopping.

Here's what I saw when I did Chic Fil A

Chick-fil-A's lowest sodium options include the Kale Crunch Salad (140 mg), 8-count Grilled Nuggets (160 mg), Egg White Grill (with the American cheese removed, it's 980mg, but with the cheese, it's a high-sodium item), and the Honey Roasted BBQ sauce (75 mg) for dipping, as most other sauces are high in sodium. You can also find other low-sodium choices like the Fruit Cup and the Side Salad without dressing. 

If I were to go to McDonalds and order a Big Mac I know without a doubt the sodium would be horrendous. I am a heart patient and also need to be careful. Most fast food places are not healthy. Sure, I'll stop from time to time, but it's not a habit.

I used to eat the kale salad a lot, too! I bet there is a copycat recipe out there somewhere:D If I were to start eating fast food again, it would definitely be on my list of only once or twice a year. I've lost 8 pounds this year since not eating through drive-thrus,so I'm not likely to pick up that habit again. (I'm short so that is a fairly significant amount without trying!) (*disclaimer-I did quit a sedentary job, as well, which probably contributed to at least a few of those pounds if not more!)

Personally I like Popeye's chicken sandwhich more.

ACE Certified Personal/Group Fitness Trainer

IDEA Fitness Member

Kickboxing Certified Instructor

Been in fitness for 45 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Popeye's is a perfect example of "location matters". They are tremendously popular, but the store nearest my home I have gone to on two separate occasions, separated by about 5 years. In both times there was 2-3 customers ahead of me, yet it took over 20 minutes just to place my order, and an additional 30-40 minutes to receive my food. As if waiting an hour isn't enough, the food I received wasn't even correct according to my order! I don't recall the quality if it was tasty or not, I am never going back there again.

I find all fast-food un-edible!