'Chick-fil-A Diet' Does it Work? Find Out Here

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Feb 03, 2016 04:42 AM EST

The "Chick-fil-A Diet" is experiencing a growing popularity. However, before you splurge into the trend, take the time to understand it better.

Washington's Top News reported that Chick-fil-A is developing a chicken nugget diet that they promoted on their paper bags. The paper bags are printed with "Kick off the New Year by adding one healthy habit to your routine. Here's a good one: Eat smaller meals (like an 8-count pack of grilled nuggets) every three to four hours."

According to CBS News, the new diet has gone viral after SBNation's Rodger Sherman tweeted about it.

For those who are interested about it, People suggested that the new fast-food based diet can be expensive compared to a juice cleanse. When one buys an 8-pack of grilled nuggets, six times a day, that adds up to a roughly $23.10 a day.

Chick-fil-A diet suggests eating chicken nuggets every three to four hours. The nuggets only contain 140 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving. It is actually a good source of protein. This meal is among the healthiest option available in a fast food restaurant.

The chain suggests that customers stick with its grilled option and not the deep-fried, crispy nuggets. While this might sound promising to aid you in your weight loss journey, some still find the setup unhealthy.

CBS News reported that with 530 mg of sodium per serving, eating chicken nuggets every few hours would bring one close to the recommended daily sodium intake limit, which is 2,300 mg.

Alissa Rumsey, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, agreed that snacking grilled nuggets from a fast food chain is okay on occasion. However, she does not recommend one to practice the popular diet.

"It is not something I'd recommend on a daily basis, and certainly not multiple times per day," Rumsey said. "While it is high protein and lower calorie, it is a highly processed product that falls short on many nutrients including fiber, vitamins and minerals. Plus each serving of the nuggets provides about 20 percent of the sodium most people need in a day."

Experts commented that eating several small meals a day versus the traditional three big meals a day is an individual choice. However, they advised that, when one has to eat small meals, he needs to choose his food wisely.

"Eating every few hours can be beneficial for one's body though it should be healthy food choices and not just anything you grab," said Kristi King, senior clinical dietitian at Texas Children's Hospital.

Health experts advised to have a combination of complex carbohydrates with protein and some fat over fast food. This combination provides one the energy he needs.

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