As awareness of celiac disease and gluten-free diets grow, so does our list of options when eating out. It never ceases to excite, and hopefully never will!
While most fast food joints and mall food courts still leave us with slim pickings that usually revolve around cold iceberg lettuce, Chick-fil-A has come forward to fill the void when it comes to gluten-free dining on the go.
Chick-fil-A has offered a handful of gluten-free menu items for a while now, and they just recently launched gluten-free chicken nuggets. Just for you, we’ve checked out the scoop and have all of the info on these heavenly little morsels…
Chick-fil-A’s new nuggets are bite-sized, marinated pieces of boneless chicken breast that have been coated with a spice blend and grilled for smoky, cookout flavor. They come with your choice of dipping sauce, and offer a variety of gluten-free dipping sauces (listed below). The nuggets come in either 8 or 12 pieces, and also as 4 or 6 on the kids menu. The 8 piece has 140 calories, 3 grams of fat and 23 grams of protein. Not bad for a meal on-the-go!
Chick-fil-A provides health and allergen information on their website, and a quick reference guide for allergens including milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, wheat and soybeans is available for download. For those with other allergies, the guide also includes the ingredient list for every menu item. They also provide a complete list of gluten-free menu items, which we’ve included for you below.
The following menu items at Chick-Fil-A are gluten-free:
Entrees
*New* Grilled Chicken Nuggets (8 or 12 count)
Grilled Market Salad
Grilled Chicken Filet (no bun)
Sides
Fruit Cup
Side Salad
Cole Slaw
Waffle Potato Fries
Yogurt Parfait
Breakfast
Bacon Slice
Egg
Sausage Patty
American Cheese Slice
Hash Browns
Desserts
Icedream
Chocolate Syrup
Kids’ Meals
Grilled Chicken Nuggets (4 or 6 count)
Buddy Fruits Pure Blended To Go Applesauce
Dipping Sauces and Dressings
Barbeque Sauce
Honey Mustard Sauce
Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce
Polynesian Sauce
Buttermilk Ranch Sauce
Buffalo Sauce
Spicy Dressing
Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
Zesty Apple Cider Dressing
Light Italian Dressing
Fat Free Dijon Honey Mustard Dressing
Reduced Fat Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Chick-Fil-A Sauce
How gluten-free friendly is Chick-fil-A?
Chick-fil-A explains on their website that some meal components such as spices may not have the full ingredients listed on their site, making this problematic for people with celiac disease and high sensitivity to gluten. Be sure to check ingredients even if the item is on the gluten-free list.
They also do not have a gluten-free prep area in their kitchens. While we all make our own personal decisions regarding what level of gluten we are willing and able to tolerate (for most of it’s none!), this might not be the best choice for those of us who suffer from cross-contamination issues. Unfortunately, these extra precautions are not taken at their facilities.
Hopefully Chick-fil-A will take note and gain a better understanding of what celiac and gluten intolerance really are – it isn’t just about making the food gluten-free, but also the area in which the food is prepared! Want to help out? Let Chick-Fil-A know the importance of gluten-free prep areas here!
We at CeliAct promote gluten-free diets rich in fresh, whole foods. We also understand that sometimes various constraints (or, ahem, cravings), lead you to the Chick-fil-A counter! Make sure your fast food splurge is complemented with a day rich in fresh fruits and veggies, as well as healthy fats and proteins.
Have any of you had the new chicken nuggets, or any other gluten-free dishes at Chick-fil-A? What are your favorites?
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