Chicken nuggets are breaded or battered pre-cooked chicken pieces. They are typically baked or fried before cooking. Chicken nuggets served in fast-food restaurants are generally cooked in vegetable oil or olive oil. A more healthful way to cook chicken nuggets at home is in the oven.
Invented By
The creator of the nugget, Robert C. Baker, was a professor of food science and poultry science. He created many poultry products, including chicken nuggets, chicken bologna and chicken hot dogs. A member of the American Poultry Hall of Fame, Baker processed and binded chicken into various shapes and named them nuggets. They are found in fast-food restaurants and grocery stores everywhere. Baker died in 2006; he was 84.
Nutritional Value
A typical frozen chicken nugget has 48 calories. According to fatsecret.com, a nugget contains almost 57 percent fat, 22 percent carbohydrate and 21 percent protein. Only 2.51 net carbohydrates (nonfiber) are gained from eating one chicken nugget.
History of Chicken McNuggets
McDonalds made the nugget even more mainstream when it introduced the Chicken McNugget in the 1980s. McNuggets are made of minced chicken and other fillers and preservatives, and almost 4.8 billion are sold annually. McDonalds sells McNuggets in packs of four, six, 10, 20 and 50 (in participating locations).
As of 2003, Chicken McNuggets are made of all white meat. McDonald's McNuggets lovers can choose from four different sauces with their McNuggets including honey mustard, barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce and hot mustard.
McDonalds Chicken Nuggets Nutrition
According to fatsecret.com, a McDonald's four-piece Chicken McNuggets box has 190 total calories, 100 of which are from fat. The box contains almost 10 percent cholesterol and 17 percent sodium.
Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets Nutritional Facts
One serving of eight Chick-fil-A Chicken nuggets has almost 260 calories. The calorie breakdown results in 42 percent fat, 18 percent carbohydrates and 40 percent protein.
Healthy Fast Food Alternative to Chicken Nuggets
Instead of ordering fried chicken or chicken nuggets, order a grilled chicken sandwich as a healthy alternative. Additionally, do not order fries, but ask for salad or soup instead. If you do order fries on the side, order a small or kid-sized portion instead. An Ultimate Grilled Chicken sandwich from Wendy's is 320 calories with 20 percent fat, 45 percent carbohydrates and 35 , slightly higher than a four-piece McDonald's chicken nugget package, but higher in protein and less in fat.
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