As the Chick-fil-A nutrition fact sheet attests, the Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit comes with 1540 mg of sodium, which puts you more than halfway to the CDC‘s recommended daily maximum of 2,300 mg. Richards points out that such a high level of sodium in this one item “puts the consumer at risk for high blood pressure (hypertension) and potential stroke.” She’s also not too thrilled about all the saturated fat it contains (19 grams, according to the fact sheet), saying that the sodium and the fat “make this an alarming menu item for heart health.” Carb counters, you already know this biscuit’s not for you with its 38 grams of carbohydrate offset only by 2 grams of fiber. Richards warns that this biscuit is “almost entirely refined carbohydrates” that can quickly elevate blood glucose levels and thus poses a risk to anyone who is hyperglycemic or diabetic.
So is Richard telling us to stay away from Chick-fil-A altogether? No, she wouldn’t do that to us. Moderation, after all, is an easier resolution to stick to than outright denial, and Chick-fil-A actually does offer healthier options than many other fast food chains. What she does suggest, though, is that we “continue to trust this restaurant for chicken-based meals and opt for a grilled chicken breast without the added fat and sodium of cheese and pork.” Okay, that sounds like the kind of dietary advice we can live with.
