A Buffalo wing is a chicken wing section, which is traditionally fried without breading, and then coated in the buffalo-style sauce. It is also called hot wing, chicken wing, or wing. A few popular variations of this dish are the Buffalo chicken fingers, Buffalo chicken nuggets, Buffalo popcorn chicken, and Buffalo shrimp. All these food items are seasoned with the peculiar sauce or its variations. Though chicken is considered to be healthy, whether this dish affects your diet positively or negatively, would depend upon the daily calorie intake recommended for you. Chicken, is a staple food, and is an invariable part of all types of diet. Its nutritious elements are beneficial for all, toddlers, elderly, sick, and healthy. It is packed with protein, which plays an important role in muscle building. Healthy chicken recipes have gained popularity fast, as chicken is a satiating nutritious food item which is also low in calories. Preparation The calories contributed by this dish may vary, according to the method of preparation, ingredients in the sauce, ingredients used for topping, etc. The sauce used for seasoning consists of cayenne pepper hot sauce and melted butter or margarine. The sauce may vary in spiciness, and it is generally named corresponding to the level of spiciness, such as mild, medium, or hot. The traditional and peculiar sauce is made from a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter. The wings are usually topped with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks. Sometimes, the wings are grilled or baked; however, the typical dish is deep-fried, drained, covered with the sauce, and shaken until the wings get evenly coated. At some places, plain wings are also available. Though it contains the same base sauce, the amount of butter/margarine and hot sauce may vary from place to place. On special request, they may also serve dry wings with the sauce served separately. Baked chicken wings, barbecued chicken wings, fried or deep-fried chicken wings, etc., are the various ways of enjoying the wings. Various ingredients like oil, vinegar, ketchup, seasonings, citric acid, etc., can be used in the preparations. Similarly, the optional toppings could be mushrooms, cheese, corn kernels, avocados, cilantro, etc. Various types of cheese, fruits, and vegetables combine well with this chicken dish. Thus, the calorie count may vary accordingly. Similarly, the count may also vary, as per the type of chicken (lean, without skin, boneless, or with bones and skin, etc.). Nutritional Value

• 1 medium-sized wing (About 21.75 g) - 52 calories
• Boneless - Honey Barbeque Boneless Wings - 8 wings - 500 calories
• Applebee's Boneless - Blue Cheese Dressing - Serving Size 1 - 1724 calories
• Chili's Boneless Buffalo Wings - Blue Cheese Dressing - Serving Size 1 - 1170 calories
• Pizza Hut - 4 pieces - 210 calories
• TGIF's Boneless - 3 pieces - 150 calories
• Morningstar Farm's - 5 pieces (85 g) - 200 calories
• Domino's Hot Buffalo Wings - 2 pieces (84 g) - 200 calories
• KFC's Boneless - 6 pieces - 520 calories
• Buffalo Wing Sauce - 1 tbsp. - 5 calories

If you are on a weight loss diet, then it is recommended to avoid this dish. However, if you cannot resist the temptation, then you would need to work out accordingly, or you could opt for baked or grilled chicken wings instead of this dish. Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by a nutritionist.