BLOG 281 ROTISSERIE CHICKEN
Buying an already cooked, flavorful chicken from the store
makes dinner easy. The ability to grab it and go and skip cooking time seems
like a healthy choice versus stopping for fast food or ordering take out.
Rotisserie chicken does provide the feeling of a homecooked meal when you add
some sides. It is budget friendly and usually a crowd pleasure. If a dish calls
for chicken as an ingredient in something like a salad or pasta, the pre-made
chicken makes this an easy add on. Is rotisserie chicken too good to be true?
The nutritional breakdown of rotisserie chicken varies based
on preparation and whether the meat is dark or white. If the thigh is eaten
with the skin, one 3oz serving contains around 300 calories, 30 grams of
protein, 0 carbohydrates, and 20 grams of fat. There are also about 450 mg of
sodium and 170 mg of cholesterol. If the skin is taken off, calorie count
becomes closer to 260 and total fat drops to about 15 grams. If the chicken
breast is eaten with the skin, one 3oz serving has about 235 calories,35 grams
of protein, 10 grams of fat, 445 mg of sodium, and 120 grams of cholesterol. If
the chicken breast skin is taken off, calorie count becomes about 195, 38 grams
of protein, 5 grams of fat, 440 mg of sodium, and 115 mg of cholesterol.
Chicken is a lean source of protein. We need protein for
muscle functioning and hormone regulation. It also keeps us feeling fuller for
longer periods of time. The white and dark meat have zinc, copper, selenium,
phosphorus, and B vitamins. Dark meat has double the amount of iron compared to
white meat.
In general, it is best to remove the skin. It is full of
saturated fat. This can raise bad (LDL) cholesterol and increase the risk for
heart disease. Sodium content can be a big difference among rotisserie chickens.
Some are soaked in a salt solution before cooking. Others might just rub salt
on the skin. On the plus side, chicken skin does contain a good amount of
collagen which is good for skin and connective tissue.
Rotisserie chicken is a healthier option among “pre-made” foods
to buy. They can be used for so many purposes and even just picked right off
the bone and eaten as a snack. Lean protein is part of a healthy diet, and
rotisserie can be *lower calorie. Whenever food isn’t prepared by ourselves, we
don’t know exactly how it is made and every detail of ingredients. Read labels
and ask questions if there is a deli or butcher available who likely prepared
them. Cook for yourself when you can, and if not, options like rotisserie
chicken can be a good substitute in between.
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