A little game...."Can you guess what this is?"

Michael Pollan, author of the book "Food Rules" likes to say: Don't eat anything that your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.

That being said, what do you think she would say about THIS list of ingredients?

Chicken (100% natural whole breast filet, seasoning [salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika], seasoned coater [enriched bleached flour {bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid}, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening {baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate}, spice, soybean oil, color {paprika}], milk wash [water, whole powdered egg and nonfat milk solids], peanut oil [fully refined peanut oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness and dimethylpolysiloxane an anti-foaming agent added]), bun (enriched flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, folic acid], water, high fructose corn syrup, yeast, contains 2% or less of each of the following: liquid yeast, soybean oil, nonfat milk, salt, wheat gluten, soy flour, dough conditioners [may contain one or more of the following: mono- and diglycerides, calcium and sodium stearoyl lactylates, calcium peroxide], soy flour, amylase, yeast nutrients [monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate], calcium propionate added to retard spoilage, soy lecithin, cornstarch, butter oil [soybean oil, palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavor, TBHQ and citric acid added as preservatives, and artificial color]), pickle (cucumbers, water, vinegar, salt, lactic acid, calcium chloride, alum, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate [preservatives], natural flavors, polysorbate 80, yellow 5, blue 1).

Can you guess what that is?

Da-da-da.... none other than the ingredients for the ever  popular..... Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich.

Now, I must say, with all of the Facebook posts lately, regarding this whole Chick-Fil-A issue, all it does is make me want to eat it! I  do love the taste of the chicken, after all. 

However, did you catch some of the ingredients in this thing? Monosodium glutamate is the technical word for MSG and is mentioned twice in this list.  MSG has been know to cause such reactions as hyperactivity in children, headaches, lightheadedness, chest pains, shortness of breath, and a ton of other symptoms. 

TBHQ is a chemical preservative, which is a form of Butane.  It's also been shown to have adverse effects, including hyperactivity in children, nausea, and asthma. 


Not to mention the soy flour in the bun, the wheat that so many people are allergic or sensitive to (or gluten, like me)  and the artificial colors (yellow 5 and blue 1) in the pickles (why the heck do pickles need blue 1?) 


Now, I'm not just throwing tomatoes at Chick-fil-a. (though a couple more on their sandwiches wouldn't hurt).  The only reason I bring this up is because it's been on my mind lately (not that I can really help it).  These ingredients shouldn't surprise you because they are in other fast "food" meals as well. 


I also want to make a disclaimer:  it's okay to have these t hings once in a blue moon. It doen't make you a bad person to eat fast food and it's not going to kill you if you have it two or three times a year. 


My question to you is:  why do you choose fast food in the first place?  do you choose it because you think it is cheaper? because you are overwhelmed and need help making a grocery list?  because you feel you don't have time to cook?  or because you are filling a void in your heart and comfort food is what you turn to? 


Let's face it: Fast food will go away the day kale becomes a household staple.  So in the meantime; ask yourself how often you need fast food, how you feel after you eat it, and how much you value your health. 

And if you are looking for a healthy chicken recipe, click HERE


ingredients from http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Menu-Detail/ChickfilA-Chicken-Sandwich#?details=ingredients