Why You Should Think Twice About Ordering Chick-Fil-A's Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ah, Chick-fil-A. It is the home of the signature chicken sandwich and an institution by itself, known for its menu items that are especially apt for a family meal. According to Taste of Home, Chick-fil-A loyalists love several items on the menu but particularly the brand's chicken nuggets, which were the most popular option on the menu last year. The iconic chicken sandwich was second. 

Other popular options on the menu include the restaurant's milkshakes, with Cookies & Cream dominating the list. Additionally, the waffle fries at Chick-fil-A are much loved too and were the most ordered side dish in 2019. Plus, with the arrival of the festive season and winter, the brand is offering its seasonal dish, the Chicken Tortilla soup, again to fans looking for something warm and comforting to keep them going. As per the brand's website, the soup has a mix of black and navy beans, shredded chicken breast, vegetables, and spices.

Chick-fil-A officially started serving its soup from November 16 across the brand's outlets throughout the country. A description on the brand's website reads, "This hearty soup is one of the tastiest ways to celebrate the season with your friends and family." However, this may be too good to be true if you're watching your weight and are health-conscious.

On the surface, soup sounds like a perfectly healthy option. And all things considered, this Chick-fil-A soup does have some things going for it. According to Eat This, Not That!, the Chicken Tortilla Soup has 320 calories, 22 grams of protein, and 26 grams of fiber and has wholesome ingredients such as veggies and chicken breast that can keep you satiated for hours. On the flip side, you need to worry about 10 grams of fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol and — wait for it — more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium.

This amount is almost half of your day's total sodium requirements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not consuming more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium in a single day to keep your health in check and lower you risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. You're better off choosing something lower in sodium at the restaurant such as the Grilled Chicken Nuggets.