Summary of 9 Unhealthiest Fast-Food Chicken Wings:
Fast-food chicken wings can be high in sodium, saturated fat, and calories, making them a less healthy option for those looking to meet health goals. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams per day, and 1,500 milligrams per day for those with high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart disease. Different sauces can add hundreds of calories, thousands of milligrams of sodium, and several grams of added sugars or saturated fats to chicken wings. Dietitians have identified the nine unhealthiest fast-food chicken wing options, including those from Little Caesars, Wingstop, and Applebees. It is recommended to opt for lower sodium and saturated fat options when available or share wings as an appetizer rather than consuming them as a main meal.
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The Unhealthiest Fast-Food Chicken Wings You Should Avoid
When it comes to appetizers or game-day food, chicken wings are a go-to. They offer a perfect combination of saucy, messy, crunchy, and often spicy flavors that are hard to resist. However, not all chicken wings are created equal, especially when it comes to health. Whether you’re grabbing some wings at a nearby fast-food restaurant or home delivery, it’s crucial to choose wisely, as some wing orders could pack more than a day’s worth of sodium, saturated fat, and even calories. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the nine unhealthiest fast-food chicken wings to help you make more informed choices before indulging in your favorite treat.
Little Caesars
Little Caesars’ chicken wings may be affordable and convenient, but they are not a healthy wing option due to their nutrition profile. Despite being oven roasted, the Garlic Parmesan 8-piece wings contain a staggering 670 calories, 51 grams of fat, and a substantial 2,510 milligrams of sodium.
Smashburger
The BBQ wings at Smashburger are one of the better options if you’re concerned about sodium. However, these wings are not an ideal choice because the BBQ sauce has 15 grams of added sugar, taking the sugar content to 21% of the recommended daily value.
Domino’s
Sweet Mango Habanero Wings at Domino’s are a delicious treat, but only in moderation. With four wings having 790 milligrams of sodium, or 34% of the recommended limit, high levels of sodium can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Sonic
Buffalo Boneless Wings at Sonic are a popular choice, but they contain 10 grams of saturated fat, which is 76% of the recommended limit or 13 grams per day by the American Heart Association. High saturated fat intake is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and elevated levels of LDL cholesterol.
Wingstop
While Wingstop is known for its flavorful wings, the wings are typically deep-fried and coated in a variety of sauces and seasonings, which can significantly increase their calorie, fat, and sodium content. Ten wings at Wingstop have 3,100 milligrams of sodium or 135% of the recommended limit in one day, along with 15 grams of saturated fat, which is 115% of the daily recommended limit.
Zaxby’s
The Buffalo Garlic Blaze Boneless Wings at Zaxby’s are one of the better options for fast-food wings when looking at saturated fat and calories. However, because of the high sodium content of 2,000 milligrams for just five wings, you may want to choose a different, lower sodium sauce.
Pizza Hut
The Spicy Garlic Bone-In Wings at Pizza Hut are high in saturated fat and sodium, but not quite over the daily limit in each serving. Six wings have 11 grams, or 85% of the daily limit, of saturated fat, and 1,950 milligrams of sodium, 85% of the daily limit.
Chili’s
Boneless Buffalo Wings from Chili’s have 3,810 milligrams of sodium per serving. If you eat these as your entree, you will have consumed close to double the recommended sodium intake for an entire day. They also have 1,060 calories per serving, making them an unhealthy option.
Applebees
An order of Applebees Boneless Hot Buffalo Wings has 10 wings, which are high in sodium and carbohydrates, with 4,250 milligrams of sodium and 53 grams of carbs per serving. Eating all 10 wings as an entree will give you almost double the amount of sodium you should have in a day.
Conclusion
Chicken wings are a tempting appetizer option for most of us. However, when it comes to fast food chains, not all wings are healthy. With high amounts of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars, some wings may do more harm than good. So always read and review the nutritional values before indulging in your favorite fast-food chicken wings.
