The crunch of a crispy fried chicken leg is a familiar American treat. One of the most popular choices for take-out chicken is Popeye's, a company that has been around for more than 35 years. While fried chicken is usually thought of as a forbidden, cholesterol-laden indulgence---and Popeye's is no exception---learn the nutritional facts about the restaurant's menu so you can order wisely.
Fat and Cholesterol
For those watching their fat intake and keeping track of their cholesterol reading, fast food restaurants are usually an iffy choice. The American Heart Association recommends that most adults restrict their fat intake to 30 to 35 g per day. A typical Popeye's meal of two pieces of dark meat chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and a biscuit contains 46 grams of fat. The same meal has 207 mg of cholesterol, compared to the daily-recommended amount of 300 mg. However, it is possible to have a tasty Popeye's meal with a much lower fat and cholesterol count; a mild-flavored skinless chicken breast with the breading removed, a side dish of green beans and corn on the cob only add up to 5 g of fat and 10 mg of cholesterol.
Calories
Avoiding fat and cholesterol-laden choices will almost certainly reduce caloric intake when it comes to Popeye's menu choices. However, one serving (six pieces) of Cajun wings has 595 calories--the highest number of calories. Both grilled and crispy sandwiches come in at about the same number of calories. Lower calorie sandwiches include the loaded chicken wrap and the chicken biscuit. Individual pieces of chicken all come in under 400 calories; it's the biscuits, mashed potatoes, French fries, and other side dishes that make the soar.
Sodium
It's hard to avoid an overload of sodium at any fast food restaurant, and Popeye's is no exception. The USDA's recommended daily allowance of sodium is 2400 mg per day. A crispy chicken sandwich and an order of French fries exceed that allotment for the entire day. An order of chicken tenders in itself has over 2000 mg of sodium. Even the vegetables, such as green beans, are loaded with sodium, although plain corn on the cob has no sodium at all. A po' boy sandwich is a decent option, as it only has 560 g of sodium.
Protein
For those not particularly worried about calories, fat or sodium, Popeye's provides plenty of protein. According to the FDA, adults should generally make sure they get between 65 and 80 g of protein a day, dependent on whether their calorie count is closer to 2000 or 2500 calories. Popeye's chicken breasts or tenders provide nearly half of the protein required for one day.
Carbohydrates
The heaviest concentration of carbohydrate-laden menu items at Popeye's come with breaded and bread-type items. For example, biscuits, cinnamon apple turnovers, po' boys and crispy or grilled chicken sandwiches each contain over 200 g of carbohydrates. When choosing menu items, keep in mind that about half of an individual's calories usually comes from carbohydrates.
Tags: calorie count, fast food, , fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, menu items