Chick-fil-A Just Swapped This 49-Year-Old Menu Item for a Kale Salad

New year, new Chick-fil-A menu.

As of Jan. 18, the franchise will swap out cole slaw -- a side that's been on the menu for 49 years -- for a new "superfood" salad featuring hand-chopped kale and broccolini. As a result, customers can soon choose between a side of fries or a salad.

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The new menu item, which can also be ordered on its own, is a blend of chopped kale and broccolini tossed in maple vinaigrette and topped with dried sour cherries and roasted nuts. Five and 8-ounce portions will cost $2.59 and $3.79, respectively.

Public responses to the change have varied on social media, with some users excited about the swap and others confused or upset.

Chick-fil-a dropped cole slaw for a kale salad. Brilliant move guys!

— Bryson Leach (@brysonjleach) January 6, 2016

Chick-fil-A getting rid of slaw and going more healthy - that is the funniest thing I've heard all week.

— mhiler (@mhiler) December 30, 2015

Apparently @ChickfilA may be discontinuing their Cole Slaw at the beginning of the year, and I just don't know what to do about life anymore

— Chelsey Sanderson (@chelseylance) December 4, 2015

To help soothe its broken-hearted "slaw lovers, Chick-fil-A posted the recipe online. A seemingly simple concoction, it actually takes a little over two hours to make because of refrigeration.

The change is a continuation of the company's effort to provide healthier options for customers (a 5-ounce portion of the salad has 140 calories, versus the 360 calories in a side portion of cole slaw.) In a survey, 38 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to visit an establishment with healthier options. Previous health-conscious additions to Chick-fil-A's menu include Asian, Cobb and grilled chicken salads.

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