Chickens weren’t always domesticated. The modern chicken’s wild relative is known as the red junglefowl.  This beauty of a bird can still be found roaming jungles today! Genetic research indicates that the chicken, as we know it today, originated somewhere in the Indian subcontinent.

Chickens are omnivores, meaning that they eat both meat and plants. Larger varieties will eat both insects and larger life including snakes and rodents.  Depending upon the breed, the average chicken has a lifespan between five to ten years. 

Humans have long valued chickens for both their meat and eggs. Their feathers, especially of heritage breeds, have been used to decorate many fashion accessories, including hats.  As a meat source, chickens are easy to raise and indeed were likely one of the first food sources domesticated on a large scale. They are raised on nearly every continent and have found themselves the centerpieces on the menu in cultures ranging from Australia to India to South America. 

 One cup of chopped, cooked chicken contains 231 calories. Of these calories, 45 come from fats. The total fat content of this serving is 5 grams; 1 gram comes from saturated fats. This serving size also contains 119 mg of cholesterol which equates to 40% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA). One cup of chopped chicken also offers 43 grams of protein and 104 mg of sodium. Chicken exists as a carbohydrate and sugar-free food.  Dietary fiber is not present in chicken. 

Vitamins Found in Chicken Meat 

Chicken exists as an excellent resource for niacin. A single serving contains just less than 100% of the RDA—chicken offers 96% of the body’s needs for this vitamin. Niacin or B3 is a water-soluble vitamin. This means that the body can’t store it; it has to continually get it from outside sources daily. This vitamin plays an important role in regulating the digestive and nervous systems. It also helps maintain the skin.

Additionally, as part of the B-complex of vitamins, it plays a key part in helping the body convert food to energy. It also contains 42% vitamin B6 and 14% for pantothenic acid. B6 is also a water-soluble vitamin; this vitamin is crucial to helping the body create antibodies to fight off everything from the common cold to serious diseases. 

Like B3, it also helps maintain proper nerve function as well as normalize blood sugar levels.  Perhaps most importantly, it plays a vital role in making hemoglobin. This compound carries oxygen throughout the body, enabling cells to work and communicate with each other.

Minerals Found in Chicken Meat

This white meat contains a range of minerals.  A single serving offers 55% of the body’s RDA for selenium. This mineral’s key role in the body is as an antioxidant; it fights free radicals which if left unchecked contribute to a host of health issues ranging from chronic diseases to certain forms of cancer.  It also supports both the thyroid gland as well as the immune system.  However, it’s important to note that too much selenium may lead to non-melanoma skin cancer.

Therefore, it’s important to be aware of one’s daily selenium intake. Chicken also offers good amounts of phosphorus as well as magnesium and potassium. Phosphorus exists at 32% of the RDA while magnesium and potassium both exist at 10%. Other minerals present at 9% or less include zinc, iron, calcium, sodium, and manganese.

Other compounds Found in Chicken Meat

Fatty acids are present in chicken. A one-cup serving provides 98 mg of Omega-3 and 826 mg of Omega-6. These compounds play a key role in maintaining brain and heart health; diets rich in fatty acids can actually reduce the risk of heart disease.

How To Select & Buy Chicken Meat

Chicken meat should be a uniformly light color. It should also appear moist—dry-appearing meat is likely old and close to expiring. When opened, the chicken should have a light smell; a pungent smell indicates spoilage and the meat should be avoided. Always check the sell-by or expiration date when purchasing meat. These dates exist as a best guess—if you purchase meat close to the stamped date, plan on consuming it immediately to avoid any possibility of early expiration.

As with many types of meat, bacteria-borne illnesses are likely to occur if the meat is consumed raw. Always cook the meat thoroughly, following any directions stated on the package. When chicken is cooked thoroughly and to temperature, it should become beige—there should be no pink spots, especially in the center.

Chicken Meat Serving Suggestions 

Chicken is a lean, white meat; as such it can take on a variety of flavors.  It can be cooked in any number of ways; it can be baked, fried, boiled, broiled, grilled, or roasted. A whole roaster may be deep-fried to crispy perfection.  This lean meat is delicious in pot pies. It can be diced and added to stir-fries or cooked and then shredded to create tacos. Many cultures throughout the world cook with chicken.  So whether you enjoy Asian, Mexican, European, or African cuisine, you are likely to find a recipe that will use chicken deliciously.   

Five Fun Chicken Facts 

1.  Chickens share DNA with the Tyrannosaurus Rex! 

1. Historical evidence suggests that chickens were first domesticated to use in cockfights—not as a source of food. 

1. Research has recorded nearly 30 different vocalizations chickens use to communicate with one another. 

1. There are over 25 billion chickens in the world at any given time.   

1. Dozens of breeds of heritage chickens are still available worldwide.