Wing...Don't Stop!

Low cost dining spots like wing joints have become some of the country's fastest-growing chains. Buffalo Wings restarants are now the nation's fastest-growing franchised restaurant. Several recent surveys have confirmed that tighter food budgets are causing more consumers to seek out less expensive dining options. But, folding wings into your dining lineup too frequently could lead to a seriously expanding waistline. Here’s the low down on the calorie counts of several popular wing spots:

Lone Star, chicken wings appetizer: 1,759 calories
Applebees, 1 order boneless Buffalo wings, 1,724 calories
Zaxby’s, large order wings & things, 1,673 calories
Wingstop, 10 Cajun wings, 1,590 calories
Old Chicago, best Buffalo chicken wings, 1,562 calories
Chi-Chi’s, 1 order Tex-Mex BBQ wings, 1,421 calories
Chili’s, boneless Buffalo wings, 1,250 calories
Hooters, 5 chicken wings, 866 calories
Pizza Hut, 10 hot wings, 600 calories
KFC, 1 order of 5 boneless fiery Buffalo wings, 420 calories

Most adult women need about 1,600 calories a day and men 1,800 – 2,000. That means a single wing order can provide a quarter to well over 100% of the calories needed in an entire day. Not to mention the fact that each wing contains 1 gram of artery clogging saturated fat not including the blue cheese or ranch.If you’re a health and budget conscious wing fan, here are a few alternatives:

Try a Veggie Alternative: Morningstar Farms (frozen), 5 veggie buffalo wings, 200 calories
Make Your Own! Ingredients:One 4-oz grilled chicken breast, sliced into strips (120 calories), red hot sauce (0 calories), 1 cup celery stalks (15 calories), dip made from one quarter cup reduced fat sour cream (90 calories) and 2 Tbsp crumbled blue cheese (50 calories). Total = 275 calories, a much healthier meal with enough room to add a serving of whole grains like popcorn or fresh fruit!