Fried chicken. Just the thought of it makes the hungry drool… and dietitians gag. Why is that? Are they over reacting, or is it as bad for you as they think it is? It doesn’t seem bad. I mean, chicken is a lean meat, with a generally low fat content. It can’t be too horrible, right? I decided to check it out for myself and see what all the bad-for-you rap was about.

Kentucky Fried Chicken is notorious for its delicious fried chicken. People order and eat it in mass quantities. But were you aware that a chicken leg, breaded and fried, has 150 calories by itself? That’s not including coleslaw, mashed potatoes, soda… not including anything but one chicken leg. Of those 150 calories, 80 of them come from fat. Just think about that; over half of the calories you’re getting from one fried chicken leg are from the 9 grams of fat. Not all chicken legs are created equal, though. Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits mild chicken leg has 110 calories, and 61 of those come from fat. But unlike KFC, Popeye’s does not offer a significantly healthier grilled option.

KFC’s grilled chicken is by far your best bet if you have a craving for chicken. Besides the fact that it is not breaded (the breading is what retains grease and makes the chicken as fattening as it is when it is fried), it is not fried whatsoever. A chicken leg, grilled, has only 70 calories, and half of those are from fat. So a grilled chicken leg from Kentucky Fried chicken is not only delicious, it isn’t bad for you at all.

The next time your family decides to order mass quantities of fried chicken, take into consideration where you’re ordering from. Many restaurant websites, especially fast food, offer nutrition facts online so you can know before you go what you’re ordering, and you can make the healthiest decision for yourself.