Popeyes' Blackened Chicken Tenders Are Low-Key Pretty Healthy

You probably already know that opting for fast food over a home-cooked meal isn't typically the healthiest idea. But, then again, neither is drinking a bottle of wine on a weeknight or texting your ex. Alas, the heart wants what it wants. So, sometimes, you find yourself at the Popeyes drive-through instead of steaming broccoli—and that is A-OKAY.

Plus, given that Popeyes' pride and joy is chicken (hey, protein!), it at least feels like a satiating option, right? Well, that doesn't necessarily mean that Popeyes nutrition is all that different from any other fast food joint.

“Like other fast-food restaurants, portions at Popeyes are typically larger than we would serve ourselves at home,” explains nutritionist Jennifer McDaniel, RDN. “The average meal has about 800 calories.”

Most items on the Popeyes menu are also packed with processed saturated fats, which can do a number on your health in excess. “A diet high in certain saturated fats may be linked to inflammatory diseases, such as heart diseases, Alzheimer’s, and obesity,” McDaniel notes. Another Popeyes pitfall? The sodium content. "A single fried chicken breast exceeds more than half the daily sodium allowance per day (2,300 milligrams) at 1,230 milligrams,” she says.

So should Popeyes be entirely off-the-table for last-minute meals? Hardly, says nutritionist Jamie Lee McIntyre, RDN. It's all about how you order! If you want to get as much good-for-you-ness out of your order as you can, go for one of these nutritionist-backed picks.