Whatever thing that is breaded and fried is bound not to be excellent for you, but in the case of chicken nuggets—a staple in many households with young children—there can also be the supplementary harmful amount of fat and sodium. Consumer Reports, the nonstop reviewer of all the things we use every day, has taken on 15 diverse brands of this rapid menu point.

The Consumer Reports lab tested 12 brands frequently found in grocery and trade stores, along with two soy versions, as well as the nugget that started the entire craze: McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets. The consequences were published in the June 2010 issue of the magazine which has just hit newsstands.

The lab utilized ratings of Poor, Fair, Good, and Very Good when testing the optional 3 to 4 ounce serving, and in employment young taste-testers (aged 6 to 17) to evaluate taste and compare flavor among the different brands. In the end, only one product earned a “Very Good” rating (Health Is Wealth), as at the same time deemed not very tasty by the youngsters. The top three in taste, all of which were rated “Good,” were Target’s Market Pantry, Bell & Evans Breaded, and Costco’s Kirkland Signature Disney nuggets.  Consumer Reports distinguished that if a larger portion were served than optional, these products would actually get a lower rating, such as “Fair” or “Poor” due to the fat and sodium content of the larger serving.

The taste-testers were not fooled by the soy products, according to the report, finding them with little chicken flavor. Nutritionally the Boca and Morningstar Farms nuggets have 3 to 4 grams of fiber per serving, which beat out their competitors by at least 50 percent. Not astonishingly, the unique McNuggets were scored “Good” in taste by the panel, but only rated “Fair” in the nutrition arena.

The message here is that there are enhanced alternatives, but if you do serve chicken nuggets to your children, try to do so within the serving guidelines to limit fat and sodium ingestion. No more 10 or 20 piece McNugget meal, or filling half the plate with those nuggets out of the oven.