Chicken Sandwiches are my go to. They're cheap (usually a buck) and pretty tasty. Add different condiments and you get a whole new meal: teriyaki chicken, buffalo chicken, sweet and sour chicken...you get the idea.
But am I sacrificing cost for nutrition? I looked up my top 3 burger places to compare the nutrition facts of their cheapest chicken sandwiches and their "Premium" counterparts. How did they compare? Check it out after the jump:
Click here
Keep in mind that every gram of fat equals 9 calories and every gram of Protein and Carbohydrates equals 4 calories. Looking at the percentages, here is my list for best to worst chicken sandwiches:
1. McDonald's Premium Grilled Chicken Sandwich (lowest percentage of fat, highest percentage of protein)
2. Jack in the Box Chicken Fajita Pita
3. McChicken
4. Jack in the Box Chicken Sandwich
5. Carl's Jr. Charbroiled Chicken Club
6. Carl's Jr. Chicken Sandwich (Highest % of fat/serving, lowest % of protein/serving and highest sodium
content)
Final verdict: Carl's Jr sandwiches, although delicious, are terribly unhealthy. When sticking to the chicken sandwich family, your best healthy bet is the Premium Grilled Chicken Sandwich.
Don't be fooled simply by the calories found on the nutrition label. It's important to understand what is contributing to the calorie count, whether fats, carbohydrates or proteins. By calculating these percentages, it gives you the power to judge whether your meal fits in your AMDR (Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range)
The chicken sandwhich nutrition facts and charts where pretty interesting. The thing about focussing on the calories on the nutrition label the comparison to fat,protein, and carb calories. Good thing to keep in mind.
ReplyDeleteI think that your breakdown on the note of the quality of the calories you consume is more important than just the calories alone. I really think that fast food places should have this information much more readily available so consumers can make much more educated decisions about their food choices. Which is was your favorite chicken sandwich prior to taking this? Did it change?
ReplyDeleteI personally never liked the chicken sandwiches simply because you could taste they quality and pretty much got what you pay for but I understand the quick availability of cheap food. The nutrition facts were an eye opener and makes me happy that I don't eat chicken sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteI am not a big fan of fast food but if I had to go "that way" and I have, I would be getting the jack in bow fajita pita. I had them before but I usually would avoid going to fast food all together. In the long run it is cheaper and healthier to buy your own food and make enough to last 2-3 days and make your lunch and take it with you.
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty interesting study you did.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like if you had one of each of those a day, your arteries would probably clog by the end of the week :P
So much sodium. I like how you threw in the fajita pita, good comparison.