I visited a Bennigan's restaurant on a Friday afternoon during happy hour. I ordered a "Buffalo 'n Beyond" Wings appetizer and a Guinness Stout dark beer. How healthy was this selection?
The Meal
The "Buffalo 'n Beyond" Wings appetizer included 10 Chicken wing portions, not 10 whole wings. Bennigan's offers three sauces, Hot 'n Spicy Buffalo, Tangy Barbecue, or Citrus Asian. Although one order was supposed to include only one sauce, I charmed the bartender into splitting the order into half Buffalo and half Citrus Asian. The appetizer also included a few carrot sticks and lots of napkins. My beverage of choice was a Guinness Stout and a lot of water.
Nutritional Content
The wings were fried, so I would estimate the calorie count to be around 700 calories, much of that coming from unhealthy fat. The carrots didn't add more than a few calories and of course, they would add a bit of beta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. The beer added about 150 calories and a few B vitamins. Plus, beer may help to lower the risk of heart disease. The water adds no nutrition, but proper hydration is necessary for a healthy body, especially when drinking alcohol.
The Bottom Line
Although the wings were tasty, this wasn't the best selection because of the way the chicken wings were cooked. Deep frying any food really adds a lot of calories and unhealthy fats. Unfortunately all those calories and fat also wiped out any health benefits from the dark beer. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that appetizers are meant to be shared, whereas I ordered this one as a meal. Sharing would cut down on the number of calories consumed.
A Better Choice
For a meal, either the Bennigan's Chicken Stir Fry or Chicken Platter entrees would have been much better selections. Both of these dishes employ healthier cooking methods and are served with larger portions of vegetables and rice. For an appetizer, the Bamboo Chicken and Shrimp appetizer would have been healthier for the same reason, a better method for cooking the meat. The dark beer was fine, since I only had one, Remember that beer, like any alcohol, should be enjoyed in moderation. I could have chosen a light beer if I wanted to decrease the calories.
