Calories in a grilled chick fil a sandwich

Last Wednesday, I joined hundreds of others who raced over to Chick-fil-A, sat in a long drive-thru line and fulfilled their lifelong dream of eating delicious chicken sandwiches and waffle fries in Columbia. I don't know about you, but I had to go on a run to satisfy the part of my brain that guilted me into asking, Why did I waste my lunch on such greasy, fatty foods?

Although fast food restaurants are cheap, quick and tasty, they don't help in the trying-to-be-healthy department. Did you know that those waffle fries have almost as many calories as the chicken sandwich itself? The next time you choose the drive-thru over your own kitchen, here are some options that'll make you feel the least guilty at the end of the night.

The popular choice: The classic Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich clocks in at 440 calories and 18 grams of fat. Add a medium order of waffle fries to make that a meal and you've consumed 840 calories and 39 grams of fat.

Work it off: It takes running one mile to burn 100 calories, so you're going to have to log 4.5 miles to work off that chicken sandwich. Double the distance if you had the meal.

Try this instead: The Grilled Chicken Sandwich — it's only has 320 calories and 5 grams of fat. Substitute the waffle fries for a side salad at 80 calories and 4.5 grams of fat.

2.  McDonald's

The popular choice: A Big Mac has 540 calories and 28 grams of fat. Surprisingly, the medium fries only has 340 calories and 16 grams of fat (but watch out for the 190 milligrams of sodium).

Work it off: Add an extra mile of running for choosing a Big Mac over a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. Get a meal, and you'll be going a solid nine miles.

Try this instead: The Grilled Artisan chicken is more expensive than a Big Mac but better for you in the long run at 360 calories and 6 grams of fat. If chicken isn't doing it for you, try the Fish Filet; it has 390 calories and 19 grams of fat. You can also substitute the fries for a 15 calorie side salad.

3. Burger King

The popular choice: Eat the famous Whopper at Burger King, and you'll inhale a whopping 650 calories and 37 grams of fat. Add in a medium serving of fries for a total of 1,060 calories (that's half your suggested daily serving!) and 55 grams of fat.

Work it off: Here's hoping you're a distance runner because you'll be going the full 10 miles if you eat the Whopper meal. Just the sandwich alone makes you go 6.5 miles.

Try this instead: BK Veggie Burger. It may not be as delicious, but it's half as many calories at 390 calories and 9 grams of fat. Still rather have a burger? Pick their Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe with 290 calories and 14 grams of fat.

4. Wendy's

The popular choice: Wendy's has the advantage when it comes to ice cream (I'm talking about its Frostys of course!) but not when it comes to healthy burgers. The famous Baconator burger has 960 calories and 62 grams of fat.

Work it off: Eating the Baconator alone will make you run as far as eating the Burger King Whopper meal will.

Try this instead: The Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger. You still get the tasty bacon with less than half the calories at 380 calories and 23 grams of fat. If you'd prefer chicken, try the Ultimate Chicken Grill with only 380 calories and 8 grams of fat.

5. Sonic

The popular choice: I always think the Sonic Cheeseburger is healthy because it has tomato and lettuce, but I'm wrong; it's 720 calories with 48 grams of fat. Add medium fries for a meal and you've got 1,100 calories and 61 grams of fat.

Work it off: You should probably run to Sonic if you're getting the meal because it'll take 11 miles to work off that cheeseburger and fries. But don't worry, it's only seven miles if you just eat the burger.

Try this instead: Still in the mood for a burger? Try the Jr. Burger with 340 calories and 17 grams of fat. If you feel like mixing things up, order an All-American Dog with only 380 calories and 18 grams of fat.

6. Steak 'n Shake

The popular choice: Craving that Original Double 'n Cheese burger from Steak 'n Shake?  It'll cost you 440 calories and 25 grams of fat. Their medium fries are almost as unhealthy as the burger itself at 440 calories and 21 grams of fat.

Work it off: You're paying the same price as eating the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich by running 4.5 miles to work off this burger.

Try this instead: The Single Steakburger has 280 calories and 11 grams of fat. Try to get the baked beans as a side instead of fries next time because they're only 290 calories and 1 gram of fat.

The Grilled Chicken Sandwich or Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger might not be as tasty or fulfilling as the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich or Wendy's Baconator, but it'll sure save you calories in the long run.  Let us know your favorite healthy options at these fast food chains in the comments below.

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