KFC Tosses the Bread with the Fast Food Double Down Chicken Sandwich; Still Not Healthy

I used to marvel that I turned 14 before York got its first fast food restaurant. To my young brain the White Rose City was so behind the times because if you wanted a cheeseburger you had to go to Rock Hill to the Burger Chef on Cherry Road. Of course there were no special trips to Rock Hill just for fast food; you had to be in Rock Hill for some event already, like paying a bill at Sears or back-to-school shopping.

Now, fast forward several decades. I find myself going through the drive-through window of KFC and ordering the Double Down chicken sandwich-you know, the one without bread that consists of bacon, Monterey and Pepper Jack cheese sandwiched between two pieces of boneless chicken filets, with the Colonel's Sauce thrown in for good measure.

A Chicken Sandwich is Not a Sandwich Without the Bread

I gave the grilled Double Down a try and my taste buds were unanimous: something was missing, specifically the bread. And there is such a thing as too much chicken, even when it's boneless, white chicken fillets. The bacon and cheese were overwhelmed by the chicken.

It's not that I ever wanted the sandwich; I just wanted to write about it. Really and truly. In actuality, I was disgusted by the "messy" factor of holding a sandwich without bread, but KFC has special packaging so you don't even have to touch the thing. But, I have to admit I was also intrigued by the Double Down.

Grilled Chicken or Original Recipe?

I was taken off guard at the drive-through when they asked if I wanted original recipe or grilled-I didn't even know grilled was an option. Out of habit, I took the grilled, although I wondered later if I had truly experienced the Double Down since I had eschewed the original recipe in all its glory.

Health Can't Win if Fast Food is Involved

I consumed fewer calories and fat grams by choosing grilled. It has 460 calories, 23 fat grams and 1430 mg of sodium. The original recipe sandwich has 540 calories, 32 fat grams and 1380 mg of sodium. So I got less calories and fat and more sodium-although I hardly feel like a winner.

I know what healthy eating is. Just the other night I made baked chicken, green beans and corn-on-the cob, and my daughters like healthy food. One even eats prunes, and the other eats raw celery. I don't eat at fast food places often-really I don't. And if I do, I get a salad or a grilled chicken wrap, but this Double Down sandwich was an itch that just had to be scratched.

Homemade Tomato Sandwich, Hold the Mayonnaise

The next day I had a homemade tomato sandwich, wheat bread and mustard, hold the mayo, to redeem myself. But old habits die hard, and I'm still wondering what the Double Down Chicken sandwich in original recipe tastes like.