A quick overview of factors affecting calories in chicken

Chicken is one of the most loved meals around the world – a rich source of proteins that form the building blocks of the body cells, tissues, organs and the body at large. It is not just proteins that chicken meat boasts – it comes with a generous dose of the B-complex family, carries with it an enviable dose of phosphorous needed by the body bones and a whole list of minerals and other vital vitamins. Well, several other sources meats do – but the versatility of chicken meat and its unique taste and flavor is one thing that makes it a favorite for many.  Well, nutrition science bases its arguments ion nutritional value – so why not have a look at the calories in chicken?

Calories in whole chicken :

calories in chicken

There are several factors that affect the number of calories available in chicken – at its only vital to know these factors so that you can know how best to maneuver around it. One of the key factors that affect calorie amounts in chicken meat is the part of the meat – the number of calories in the breast will definitely differ from those in the wings, same to the legs or any other part. Thighs and breasts generally carry a larger number than the wings and legs.  The style of preparation does affect the number of calories available in any given part – where roasted, grilled and boiled pieces will have a significantly different number of calories depending on the loss incurred during preparation, style of preparation also include the meals served with the chicken.  Finally, the amount eaten will also affect the number of calories – if you eat two thighs then you expect to ingest double the number of calories available in one thing.

So how best do you clamp down on calories and enforce control? The first thing comes right with preparation.  The skin of chicken carries the bulk of calories – where 100g of chicken skin will give you a whooping 450 calories, oops! To avoid going overboard with calories, ensure you remove the skin and concentrate on the meat – remember that apart from the high number of calories in chicken skin brings you a high dose of fats as well.  Secondly, it is vital to ensure that the preparation process is keenly undertaken – avoiding conduct with any other unintended food items, especially uncooked ones that could even complicate matters further.

Here is a quick looks at the amounts of calories available in different pieces of kitchen – with varying amounts and preparation methods.

Part Composition Preparation method Portion size/amount Calorie number
Breast Meat Roasted/grilled 86g 141
Breast Meat Boiled 4 Oz. 175
Thigh Meat Raw 52g 109
Wings Boneless Raw 34g 201
Leg Boneless Raw 114g 264

 As evidenced by the above table, different parts will carry varying amounts of calories. For those keen to keep the calorie count low, it is advisable to remove skin and focus on the meat for obvious reasons. Further, you need to trim all visible fat and as well ensure you choose the leanest parts.

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