Chicken meat is a favorite food for many due to its high protein content, low fat, and ease of preparation. Chicken meat comes in various parts, each with different calorie and nutritional values. So, how many calories in chicken? Mytour Blog will provide you with the answer in the following article.
How Many Calories in Chicken?
Below is the answer to the question of how many calories are in chicken. Each part of the chicken provides a different calorie source.
1. Chicken Thigh
Chicken thigh is a favored part of chicken meat for its high protein and low fat content. Protein is an essential nutrient that promotes health, muscle recovery, and growth. While fat provides energy to the body, excess consumption can lead to heart diseases, diabetes, or obesity. According to the US Department of Agriculture, in 100g of skinless chicken thigh, there are approximately 165 calories, 31g of protein, and 3.6g of fat. This means that protein accounts for 80% of the calorie content in chicken thigh, while fat accounts for 20%. However, when cooking, the calorie and nutritional content of chicken thigh may vary depending on the preparation method and accompanying ingredients.
Chicken thigh is a favored part of chicken meat for its high protein and low fat content (Source: Internet)2. Chicken Drumstick
According to the US Department of Agriculture, in 100g of skinless, boneless cooked chicken drumstick, there are approximately 209 calories, 26g of protein, and 10.9g of fat. This means that protein accounts for 53% of the calorie content in chicken drumstick, while fat accounts for 47%. Chicken drumstick also contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B6, niacin, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. Chicken drumstick is also more affordable than chicken thigh, making it a reasonable choice for many families.
In 100g of skinless, boneless cooked chicken drumstick, there are approximately 209 calories (Source: Internet)3. Chicken Wing
Chicken wing may not be the healthiest part of chicken meat, but if eaten as part of a balanced diet, it can still be an excellent source of protein. In 100g of chicken wing, there are 203 calories, of which protein accounts for 64% and fat accounts for 36%. Additionally, chicken wing contains 30.5g of protein and 8.1g of fat. Therefore, if avoiding pairing chicken wing with carb-rich or fatty foods, you can still enjoy this dish without compromising your health.
100g of chicken wing contains 203 calories, with protein accounting for 64% and fat accounting for 36% (Source: Internet)4. Chicken Drumstick
Chicken drumstick is the meaty part located below the chicken thigh, rich in protein and low in fat. If you consume skinless, boneless chicken drumstick, you will receive 172 calories per 100g of meat, with a protein ratio of 70% and fat ratio of 30%. Additionally, you provide your body with 28.3g of protein and 5.7g of fat from every 100g of chicken drumstick. Chicken drumstick is a healthy meat option when consumed in moderation.
Chicken drumstick is the meaty part located below the chicken thigh, rich in protein and low in fat (Source: Internet)5. Other Chicken Cuts
Chicken meat comes in various cuts, each with different calorie and nutritional values. In addition to common cuts like breast, thigh, wings, and drumsticks, you can also try the following cuts:
Each part provides a different calorie source (Source: Internet)6. Chicken Skin
Chicken skin is a significant factor affecting the calorie and fat content in chicken meat. If you eat skinless chicken breast, you will receive 284 calories per 100g of meat, with protein accounting for 80% and fat accounting for 20%. However, if you eat chicken breast with skin, you will get more calories and fat. A boneless, skin-on chicken breast (196g) cooked contains 386 calories, with both protein and fat accounting for 50%. So, you add an extra 100 calories just because of the chicken skin. Similarly, chicken wing with skin (34g) has 99 calories, with fat accounting for 60%, while skinless chicken wing (34g) has only 42 calories, with fat accounting for 36%. Therefore, if you want to lose weight or reduce fat, you should remove chicken skin when eating chicken meat. Chicken skin not only increases calorie and fat intake but also increases the risk of heart diseases.
Chicken skin affects the calorie and fat content in chicken meat (Source: Internet)Benefits of Chicken Meat
Chicken meat is a protein-rich and low-fat food, beneficial for health. It contains plenty of Omega 3, a type of fat good for the heart, and no bad cholesterol like LDL and VLDL. Chicken meat also provides many vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, E, C, B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron. These nutrients help prevent heart diseases by controlling the level of homocysteine in the blood. Moreover, chicken meat contains beta-carotene, lycopene, retinol, substances that protect and improve vision. Chicken meat is an excellent food source for the body, especially for those who want to lose weight and reduce fat.
Chicken meat is a protein-rich and low-fat food, beneficial for health (Source: Internet)How to Cook Chicken Meat Optimally?
Chicken meat is low in calories, but if you process it using ingredients high in fat, you will increase the calorie and fat content. For example, if you fry chicken thighs with flour, you will get 144 calories and 8.6g of fat, higher than usual, which is about 109 calories and 5.7g of fat. Therefore, you should choose cooking methods that use less fat, such as boiling, stir-frying, steaming, to keep chicken meat low in calories and fat.
Depending on the cooking method, chicken meat provides different calorie sources (Source: Internet)Here is Mytour's response to the question 'How many calories does chicken have?'. We hope the insights above have helped you gain more knowledge about nutrition, understand how to build a healthier daily diet. Don't forget to visit Mytour every day to read more articles on similar topics.
