Chicken Scoop: Fast Food Cries Fowl!

WARNING: Today's column features plenty of fowlJared. The thin-again spokesperson who says he lost
language.Let's talk chicken. Fast food chicken. We'llsome 245 pounds eating subs (please do not try this
chew on the nutritional info surrounding thewith meatball or cheesesteak subs) has lately been
sandwiches, subs, salads... even the new "chickenskewering fast food chicken choices.But before you
fries" recently trotted out by Burger King.Everygrab a few bawk, bawk, bawks and rush off to
savvy dieter knows white meat chicken is a yummySubway for a super healthy chicken sandwich, check
part of a healthy eating plan. So why are thethis out:The 6" Chicken & Bacon Ranch sandwich has
nutritional numbers so scary at your favorite fast530 calories and 25 grams of fat. The numbers aren't
food joint? Flock this way and check out the latestthat much better than the McDonald's sandwiches
offerings including McDonald's new line of premiumlisted above. In fact, the McChicken boasts just 370
chicken sandwiches.By now, you must have seen thecalories and 16 grams of fat. So what gives?Well,
ads featuring the so-called premium sandwiches.Jared was sort of comparing apples to oranges when
When McDonald's launches a new product, theyhe attacked the fast food sandwich with mucho
saturate the market with mouthwatering ads. Butgrams of fat and recommended the 6" Sweet Onion
please don't confuse the catchword premium as aChicken Teriyaki sandwich and its 5 grams of
synonym for healthy.Let's check the tale of the tapefat.Savvy dieters like you and me know we need to
for the nutritional numbers that are accessible a fewdo our homework before we head to the corner
pecks away at As you seem, you have a choice offast food joint for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Stick
3 new sandwiches, with each coming in two forms --with grilled and steer clear of breaded chicken and
grilled or "crispy" which is a nicer word than fried. Theyou are off to a good start. Other tips:Say nay-o to
envelope please...Premium Crispy Chicken Classicmayo. Mustard is a perfectly good chicken sandwich
Sandwich: This 8.2-ounce sandwich has 490 caloriestopping.Be sure to load up your sandwich with lettuce
(150 from fat), 16 grams of fat, 3 grams ofand tomato... and any other raw veggie you can sink
saturated fat (1.5g trans fat), 60 milligramsyour teeth into.Just say NO to fries. Round out your
cholesterol, 1,350mg sodium, 62 grams of carbs, andmeal (not your belly) with water, diet soda, and fruit
3 grams of fiber.The 8-ounce Premium Grilled Chickenor a side salad with light dressing served on the
Classic Sandwich is a better bet with 410 calories (80side.Most large franchises now offer nutritional values
from fat), 9g fat, 2g saturated fat (zero trans fat),online or on the premises. Ask for the info if it's not
80 mg cholesterol, 1,210mg sodium, 52g carb, and 3greadily accessible. If they don't want to dish it out,
fiber.The Premium Crispy Chicken Ranch BLTsay bye-bye. It's your money and your health at
Sandwich weighs in at 8.6 ounces and weighs yastake here. Get what you want, not what they want
down with 570 calories (180 from fat), 20g fat, 5gto serve you.Now, back to chewing the fat -- and
saturated fat (1.5g trans fat), 70mg cholesterol,calories -- on fast food chicken.Consumer Reports
1,730mg sodium, 64g carbs, and 3g fiber.A Premiumrecently investigated more than 35 chicken dishes in
Grilled Chicken Ranch BLT Sandwich (8.5 ounces) has16 restaurants. Some of the more unappetizing
480 calories (120 from fat), 13g fat, 3.5g saturatedresults:Boston Market's Marinated Grilled Chicken
fat (zero trans fat), 90mg cholesterol, 1,590mgCaesar Salad: 800 cals, 62g of fat
sodium, 53g carbs, and 3g fiber.The 9.6-ounceWendy's Mandarin Chicken Salad: 630 cals, 35g of fat
Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich packs 660
calories, 29g fat, 9g saturated fat (1.5g trans fat),Carl's Jr.'s Low-Carb Breakfast Bowl: 900 cals, 73g of
100mg cholesterol, 1,800mg sodium, 63g carbs and 3gfatMr. Bad Food would be remiss if he didn't check
fiber.And, finally, the 9.4-ounce Premium Grilledout the nutrition numbers for the latest entry into
Chicken Club Sandwich has 580 calories, 21g fat, 8gthe fast food chicken wars -- Burger King's Chicken
saturated fat (zero trans fat), 40mg cholesterol,Fries. A 6-piece order with Buffalo dipping sauce has
1,660mg sodium, 53g carbs, and 3g chief nutritionist340 calories (210 from fat), 24 grams of fat (4.5
Susan Burke offers this mini-review:"McDonald's newsaturated; 3 trans fat), 40mg cholesterol, 1,020mg
Premium Grilled Chicken Sandwich is an OK option forsodium, 20g carbs and 2g fiber.The verdict? The
fast food, as long as you do a little modifying so you6-pack is actually slightly worse in some respects
can have it 'your way.' Just say, 'Hold the mayo!'than a medium fries which has 360 calories (160 from
Mayo adds saturated fat and calories. Say YES tofat), 18g fat (5 saturated; 4.5 trans fat), 0
ketchup or mustard... or both."By the way, I'm talkingcholesterol, 640mg sodium, 46g carbs, and 4g fiber.
the grilled chicken, not the 'crispy' sandwich -- crispySo don't fall for "chicken has to be better than
is code for added fat -- or the chicken BLT, whichfrench-fried potatoes" trap.Another heavily hyped
has 20 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, andchicken sandwich these days is the KFC Snacker. The
1.5 grams of trans fat per sandwich."If you're99 cents price tag makes it a lot more affordable
watching your sodium, all bets are off... at McDonald'sthan the Colonel's high-priced bucket selections. But
and all fast food restaurants. A quick look at all theyou are basically getting little more than one crispy
chicken sandwiches gives me heart palpitations. Therestrip nestled inside a "snacker bun" with pepper mayo
are 1,800 milligrams of sodium in just one Premiumand a lettuce blend.The nutrition numbers are 320
Crispy Club Chicken Sandwich. That's 75% of whatcalories, 16 grams of fat (3g saturated), 25mg
you need for the entire day."Even the plain Premiumcholesterol, 700mg sodium, 31 grams of carbs and 1
Grilled Chicken Sandwich has 1,200mg sodium, whichgram of fiber. I don't know about you, but I'd need
is still too high for just one sandwich. So, balance theat least two of these 4-ounce teasers to feel
day with fresh fruit and vegetables -- and don't makeanywhere near full.A few decent chicken choices
fast food a daily habit."Couldn't have said it betterinclude:--Burger King Fire-Grilled Chicken Garden Salad
myself Susan!While chatting with Susan about fastwith fat free honey mustard dressing has 280
food in general, I learned that one managerial roostercalories and 7 grams of fat.
at a huge chain said size is what really matters when--Wendy's Ultimate Grill Chicken Sandwich has 360
it comes to pleasing the hungry public. Yep, this bizcalories and 7 grams of fat.
wiz claims we want BIGGER... as in bigger buns,--Quizno's Small Honey Bourbon Chicken sandwich
bigger meat, bigger toppings, bigger scale numbers,has 359 calories and 6 grams of fat.
bigger pants sizes, and bigger medical bills. Oops, he--Hardee's Charbroiled Bar-B-Q Chicken Sandwich has
didn't say all that. But he may as well have.In honor415 calories and 5 grams of fat... and includes the
of this "bigger is better" belief, I think the fast foodmayo.The bottom line: when you feel peckish for
chains ought to offer special "Really Big Kid" mealsfast food chicken, choose wisely and enjoy your
featuring heart defibrillators and other nifty toys. Imeal. Oh, and don't squawk to Mr. Bad Food if
can hear the drive-thru window worker now, as shetemptation and bad decision-making cause you to lay
asks sweetly after taking your order, "Would you likean egg, motivationally speaking.John McGran,
oxygen with that?"But I digress. I came here todayEditor-in-ChiefAt eDiets, there's something for every
to cackle about chicken. I have to admit I wasbody. Click here to choose from more than 20
inspired by the recent spate of Subway commercialspersonalized diet plans!
featuring none other than that amazing shrinking man