To honor this classic bodybuilding food, we give you the skinny on why chicken breast deserves to be front-and-center in a healthful diet and offer tasty secrets to bust you out of a chicken rut.
MUSCLE FOOD
With a higher protein-to-fat ratio (19:1) than any other part of the chicken, the breast is a great source of lean protein. And its protein quality ranks right up there with other heavyweights like eggs and beef, meaning it’s easily synthesized to repair muscle tissue and other cells damaged during hard training. But there’s more than just protein under those feathers: A 6-ounce chicken breast provides about 187 calories, 40 grams of protein, zero carbs and only 2 grams of fat along with a host of other bodybuilding-friendly nutrients.
>> Niacin is essential for the conversion of protein, fat and carbohydrate into usable energy, and one chicken breast contains more than the recommended daily allowance of niacin. In other words, it can help you push more weight around in the gym and stay on the treadmill longer.
>> Vitamin B6 allows you to use carbs (glycogen) stored in your muscles during exercise.
>> Iron is needed to deliver oxygen to those same muscles when you’re training in overdrive.
>> Selenium repairs damaged cells and inhibits the growth of cancerous ones, helping to lower your risk of cancer. It also aids in proper thyroid function, which in turn helps keep your metabolism revving — another good reason to use chicken breast as a primary protein source when dieting.
>> Zinc is an immune-boosting mineral that can ward off cold bugs and support the production of anabolic hormones.
Just make sure that you enjoy your breast sans skin. Keep the cover on, and you add double the total and saturated fat content. It’s okay to grill chicken with the skin on for flavor, but take it off before eating.
A BETTER BIRD
Follow our six rules for buying, cooking and storing chicken breasts and you’ll no longer have to needlessly suffer through tasteless, dried-out poultry.
Rule #1: Buy Organic
“I’m convinced that free-roaming, organic chicken is a better choice for bodybuilders [and other consumers] than those cooped up in factory farms. Plus, it’s superior in taste,” says chef Terrance Brennan, owner of Picholine restaurant in New York and author of Artisanal Cooking (Wiley & Sons, 2005).
Most other chefs agree, meaning the free-range birds are worth the extra expense. Brennan points out that industrialized chicken is often pumped full of water, and since you’re paying by weight, you’re actually paying for this H2O. And although there’s no nutritional difference between organic and regular chicken, you’ll avoid ingesting antibiotics and hormones when you buy certified organic poultry.
Be a Pro: Free-range chicken is already at a flavor advantage, so why overpower it with a lot of external flavors? “I tend to rub only kosher salt and pepper onto high-end breasts,” says chef Hinnerk von Bargen, associate professor at the Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, New York; St. Helena, California). “Sometimes less really is more.”
Store-Bought Pick: Sanderson Farms Chicken(sandersonfarms.com) — no water, just chicken.
Rule #2: Give it a Bath
Marinating is the best way to overcome chicken’s rather bland natural flavor. “Marinades keep chicken from drying out and make it more exciting,” says Brennan. He recommends marinating chicken breasts for at least eight hours in the refrigerator to infuse more flavor, and set aside a little extra for basting during cooking. Basic marinades include an acid such as vinegar, wine or citrus juice along with oil and spice and herb flavorings. But why stop there? Try our marinades and rub in “Fowl Play” for new ways to perk up your poultry.
Be a Pro: Freeze chicken breasts in a zip-top bag with your marinade. The breast will soak it in as it defrosts.
Store-Bought Pick: Emeril Lagasse’s Lemon, Rosemary & Gaaahlic Marinade & Grilling Sauce (emerilstore.com) — tastes great, and you can use it on all your meats.
Rule #3: Rub Your Bird
No time to wait for your breast to marinate? Try a rub! Like marinades, a rub — basically a blend of salt, spices and herbs — can be all a chicken needs to make it taste great. “A bit of coarse salt mixed with cumin and turmeric or oregano and garlic are among my favorite spices to rub into chicken,” says von Bargen. Other common rub ingredients include dry mustard, chili powder, rosemary, ground coriander, cayenne and paprika. “For added taste, I like squirting on some lemon juice toward the end of cooking a seasoned breast,” von Bargen adds. An acid ingredient like lemon or other citrus juice can stimulate your taste buds so less salt is needed.
Be a Pro: Before rubbing in your seasonings, add a few drops of oil to the chicken. According to von Bargen, this will help the rub stick.
Store-Bought Pick: Mrs. Dash Chicken Grilling Blend (mrsdash.com) is a perfect blend of rich spices without the salt.
Rule #4: Don’t Overcook
Overcooking chicken can ruin the taste, but undercooking can leave you kneeling over the porcelain throne. To get around this problem, use a cooking thermometer to determine when your breasts are cooked just right. “Chicken breast should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F,” von Bargen explains. This will annihilate bugs while keeping your chicken moist.
Be a Pro: Let your chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking. “This allows the juices to redistribute moisture throughout the meat, which adds flavor,” advises Brennan.
Store-Bought Pick: Polder Digital Thermometer ($20, polderonline.com) — easy to read and dead-on accurate.
Rule #5: Try a Brine
A surefire way to avoid dry breasts is to soak them in brine. “I love brining because the salt and water penetrate the chicken, which makes it moist,” says von Bargen. Basic brine consists of 1 tablespoon of salt added to each cup of water used. Enough water should be added to submerge the chicken. “Like marinating, a good brining takes overnight,” von Bargen adds. For the time-strapped cook, frozen breasts can be left to defrost in brine. But keep in mind that brined chicken will cook faster because water is a heat conductor.
Be a Pro: There’s no reason to stop at salt. “Add herbs, spices and juices to brining water to really make things interesting,” von Bargen points out.
Store-Bought Pick: Eden Sea Salt (edenfoods.com) — whether brining or seasoning your chicken, opt for a good-quality coarse salt.
Rule #6: Pack It and Store It
While nothing matches the taste of fresh-cooked chicken, grilling several breasts at once is more convenient for time-starved trainees. But then there’s the problem of what to do with them. Keeping cooked chicken in the fridge longer than three days is risky, so use your freezer for leftovers. A vacuum sealer (foodsaver.jardendirect.com) can stamp out freezer burn and extend a chicken’s frozen life. Just make sure you don’t extend it too long — chicken frozen longer than four months should be thrown out.
When cooking and storing chicken in batches, cool and refrigerate (or freeze) it within two hours. Don’t store it while it’s still hot. Use airtight containers to prevent chicken from drying out, losing some of its nutritional value and taking on surrounding refrigerator flavors, von Bargen advises. When it comes to reheating leftovers in the microwave, “use a low heat setting and cover the dish; both retain moisture and flavor,” he explains. Adding a little broth or water also helps.
Be a Pro: Brining leftover cooked chicken will make it juicy again.
Store-Bought Pick: Tupperware Stuffables Storage Containers ($37, tupperware.com) — flexible airtight containers that go from freezer to microwave to dishwasher. M&F
Matthew Kadey is a registered dietitian and freelance writer who owns Fuel For Life (fuelforlife.ca)
FOWL PLAY
Pick a marinade that suits your taste and refrigerate eight hours or overnight
1) Tandoori Marinade
>> 3⁄4 cup plain fat-free yogurt
>> 3⁄4 Tbsp. ground coriander
>> 3⁄4 Tbsp. paprika
>> 1⁄2 Tbsp. ground cumin
>> 1⁄2 Tbsp. ground ginger
>> 1 tsp. garlic powder
>> 1 tsp. ground black pepper
>> 1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
>> 1⁄2 tsp. ground cardamom
>> 1⁄4 tsp. ground cloves
>> Juice of 1⁄2 lemon
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Pour over chicken and turn to coat. Set aside extra marinade to top cooked chicken. Nutrition Facts (1⁄4-cup serving): 41 calories, 2 g protein, 8 g carbs, 1 g fat
2) Red Wine Marinade
>> 1⁄2 cup dry red wine
>> 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar
>> 2 garlic cloves, minced
>> 1 Tbsp. Dijon-style mustard
Whisk together ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over chicken and turn to coat.
Nutrition Facts (1⁄4-cup serving): 23 calories, 0 g protein, 1 g carbs, 0 g fat
3) Hot ‘n’ Tangy Marinade
>> 1⁄4 cup cider vinegar
>> 1⁄4 cup ketchup
>> 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice
>> 2 Tbsp. non-hydrogenated margarine, melted
>> 2 Tbsp. prepared horseradish
>> 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
>> Few drops of hot sauce
Combine ingredients in a small pan and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour over chicken and turn to coat.
Nutrition Facts (1⁄4-cup serving): 29 calories, 0 g protein, 8 g carbs, 1 g fat
4) Spicy Dry Rub
>> 1⁄2 Tbsp. paprika
>> 1⁄2 tsp. brown sugar
>> 1⁄2 tsp. coarse salt
>> 1⁄2 tsp. ground pepper
>> 1⁄4 tsp. dried thyme
>> 1⁄4 tsp. cayenne pepper
Stir together ingredients in a small bowl. Rub into chicken before cooking.
VALUE MEALS
Now that you know how to marinate, cook and store your chicken breasts, here are four sample meals for complete bodybuilding nutrition.
With Hot ‘n’ Tangy Marinade
>> 6 oz. chicken breast
>> 2 medium baked sweet potatoes
>> 1 cup mixed vegetables
Nutrition Facts: 557 calories, 49 g protein, 87 g carbs, 3 g fat
With Tandoori Marinade
>> 6 oz. chicken breast
>> 11⁄2 cups cooked lentils
>> 2 cups green salad
>> 2 Tbsp. fat-free Italian dressing
Nutrition Facts: 610 calories, 70 g protein, 74 g carbs, 4 g fat
With Red Wine Marinade
>> 6 oz. chicken breast
>> 11⁄2 cups cooked wild rice
>> 1 can French cut green beans
Nutrition Facts: 508 calories, 53 g protein, 64 g carbs, 3 g fat
With Spicy Dry Rub
>> 6 oz. chicken breast
>> 1⁄2 cup kidney beans
>> 1 cup cooked long-grain white rice
>> 1 cup cooked okra
Nutrition Facts: 551 calories, 56 g protein, 73 g carbs, 3 g fat
NOTE: Totals include marinade values
FAST FOOD FIX
Between the 9-to-5 grind, pumping iron and watching the big game, you might resort to the drive-thru pit stop. most fast-food chicken is higher in fat, calories and sodium than what you’d make at home, but with a little nutritional savvy you can get away with catching your bird on the fly.
YOU WIN
>> KFC Tender Roast Sandwich, no sauce (177 g): 260 calories, 31 g protein, 23 g carbs, 5 g fat (1.5 g sat, 0.5 g trans), 690 mg sodium
>> McDonald’s Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich (229 g): 420 calories, 32 g protein, 52 g carbs, 9 g fat (2 g sat, 0 g trans), 1,240 mg sodium
>> Subway 12-inch Oven Roast Chicken Breast (474 g): 660 calories, 48 g protein, 94 g carbs, 10 g fat (3 g sat, 0 g trans), 2,040 mg sodium
Note: To cut down on the carbs and total calories, ditch half of the bread and stack the extra chicken on the other side.
YOU LOSE
>> KFC Large Popcorn Chicken (170 g): 560 calories, 36 g protein, 34 g carbs, 31 g fat (7 g sat, 7 g trans), 1,790 mg sodium
>> McDonald’s Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich (272 g): 680 calories, 40 g protein, 64 g carbs, 29 g fat (9 g sat, 1.5 g trans), 1,830 mg sodium
>> Subway 12-inch Chicken Parmesan (628 g): 1,020 calories, 52 g protein, 128 g carbs, 36 g fat (12 g sat, 0 g trans), 2,820 mg sodium
COOKING TIPS
GRILL-TOP CHICKEN BREASTS
>> Coat a grill pan with cooking spray and preheat over medium heat. Cook marinated breasts 5–6 minutes per side or until cooked thoroughly. You can also use an outdoor grill.
OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN BREASTS
>> Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place marinated chicken in a glass baking dish (or equivalent) in a single layer and pour leftover marinade over it. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside.
FACTS
85 – PERCENT OF CALORIES IN A 6-OUNCE CHICKEN BREAST THAT COME FROM PROTEIN
40 – GRAMS OF QUALITY PROTEIN IN A 6-OUNCE CHICKEN BREAST
