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Here in New Orleans, we all know that fried chicken at Mardi Gras is a big deal.  And if Mardi Gras is the one time a year that you have fried chicken, then you may not want to think too much about the nutritional stats.  But if you’re treating yourself to fried chicken more often, here’s your nutritional guide to ordering this Carnival Season favorite, in today’s Get the Skinny with Molly!

NUTRITION TIP:  Removing the skin and batter from fried chicken leaves you with chicken that’s as lean as roasted or grilled skinless chicken. According to KFC’s nutrition facts: removing the skin + batter from a single fried chicken breast shaves 200 calories, 17 grams of fat, and 500 mg sodium.

LOVE IT!

Popeyes Blackened Tenders

  • Per 3 strips:  170 calories – 0 sat fat – 0 trans fat – 550 mg sodium – 2 grams carb
  • Deep-fried but not breaded, Blackened Tenders have a fraction of the fat and calories of regular tenders.

Chick-Fil-A Grilled Nuggets

  • Per 8-piece order:  130 calories – 1 gram sat fat – 440 mg sodium – 4 grams carb

LIKE IT!

Chick-Fil-A Chick-n-Strips

  • Per 3 strips: 360 calories – 2.5 grams sat fat – 870 mg sodium – 16 grams carb

HATE IT!

Church’s Spicy Tender Strips

  • Per 3 strips: 360 calories –3 grams sat fat – 990 mg sodium – 24 grams carb
  • They’re one of the highest-calorie of all national chains, with ~50% more carbohydrate compared to even our “like it” option.

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Want more from Molly?  Click here to sign up for Nutrition Bites, the Eat Fit weekly e-newsletter with links to her Get the Skinny TV segments here on WGNO, and her articles in Thrive Global!   Follow Molly on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram:  @MollyKimballRD – and check out her weekly podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition with Molly; just search ‘Molly Kimball’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.