Summary of 7 Worst Fast-Food Chicken Sandwiches Right Now, Say Dietitians:
Fast food chicken sandwiches can be high in sodium and saturated fat, which can increase the risk of chronic health conditions. Dietitians recommend choosing grilled chicken alternatives and opting for whole wheat buns to boost nutrition. The Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich and the Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Pub Classic Sandwich are among the worst offenders, containing high levels of sodium and saturated fat. However, there are healthier options available, such as Wendy’s herb-marinated grilled chicken sandwich on a whole wheat bun, or the Salsa Roja Snack Wrap with grilled chicken from McDonald’s. Choosing salads and replacing condiments with vegetables can also help reduce sodium and fat content.
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Fried chicken sandwiches are not the best option for your health, as they are usually high in fat and sodium. However, many fast-food chains offer grilled chicken alternatives that are lower in fat and may contain healthier options, such as multigrain buns. To help you make healthy choices, we spoke to dietitians and nutrition experts to find out exactly which fast-food chicken sandwiches you should avoid.
Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich
According to Jocelyn Rodriguez, RDN, CLC, the Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich is a no-go, as it contains 1,765 milligrams of sodium and 14 grams of saturated fat. Ashley Harpst, RDN, a sports dietitian, recommends choosing a grilled chicken sandwich made with whole wheat bread at Wendy’s for a healthier option.
Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Pub Classic Sandwich
This sandwich contains 1,910 milligrams of sodium and 12 grams of saturated fat, accounting for 127% of the recommended daily value for sodium and the borderline daily limit for saturated fat content. Choosing this sandwich regularly could increase your risk for elevated cholesterol and blood pressure.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Sandwich
With 41 grams of total fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, and 1,470 milligrams of sodium, this sandwich easily meets 50 percent of your daily limit for saturated fat and sodium.
McDonald’s Spicy McCrispy
The McDonald’s Spicy McCrispy has 530 calories and 1,320 milligrams of sodium, which can put you at higher risk for developing high blood pressure. A good alternative is the Salsa Roja Snack Wrap with grilled chicken, which contains only 490 milligrams of sodium.
Chick-fil-A Spicy Deluxe Sandwich
This sandwich contains 1,810 milligrams of sodium and 25 grams of total fat. To make a healthier choice at Chick-fil-A, consider getting grilled chicken on your sandwich and ordering a multigrain bun instead of their regular bun.
Zaxby’s Spicy Signature Sandwich with Spicy Zax Sauce
This sandwich contains 2,260 milligrams of sodium, which is 169% of the daily recommended value. Choosing a grilled chicken option and opting for a side salad at Zaxby’s will improve your total nutrition by lowering the total fat and sodium and increasing the potassium from veggies.
Wendy’s Asiago Ranch Classic Chicken Club
This sandwich is high in saturated fat and over 1,700 milligrams of sodium, serving up over half of your daily limit before you add additional sides.
When considering ways to make your chicken sandwich healthier, be generous with lettuce, tomatoes, and other vegetables, but consider eliminating condiments, such as mayo, butter, and sauces. These alone can increase sodium and fat content. Additionally, ordering grilled chicken instead of fried can be a lighter and healthier option. Keeping your health in mind, it’s best to be aware of the nutritional value of what you’re consuming to make healthier choices for your body.
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