Faced with a well-stocked butcher’s window, it’s difficult to know at first glance which item to choose when trying to limit fat. A video published on Instagram by the account @leparisdalexis and relayed by Marmiton on September 24, 2025 was rightly interested in the question. Butcher Benoît, from Boucherie Poliana, goes through several cuts to identify the leanest ones.
And one white meat particularly stands out: chicken fillet.
Chicken fillet, champion of lean meats
According to the butcher, the chicken fillet is the least fatty piece in his window. Its firm, muscular flesh has very little visible fat. According to Marmitonit was offered at 28 euros per kilo in this butcher’s shop.
This choice corresponds to the benchmarks generally used to distinguish lean meats.
Meat containing less than 10% fat is considered lean, while below 5% is considered very lean.
Chicken fillet thus constitutes an interesting source of protein with a low quantity of lipids, provided of course that the fat intake is not significantly increased during cooking.
In the pan, in the oven or on the grill, it can be prepared simply with herbs, spices or a squeeze of lemon. To prevent it from becoming too dry, a marinade made from lemon, herbs or yogurt can also make a difference.
Veal escalope, another very lean option
To vary the pleasures, veal escalope is also one of the cuts to favor when you are looking for low-fat meat. Fine and tender, it cooks quickly in a pan and can easily accompany vegetables, a salad or a portion of starchy foods.
In the butcher shop presented in the video, it was offered at 40 euros per kilo according to Marmiton.
But beyond the chosen piece, preparation also counts. Very lean meat can quickly become much more caloric if cooked with lots of butter, oil, cream or accompanied by a rich sauce.
The right reflex at the butcher to choose lean meat
To further reduce the amount of fat, you can ask the butcher to remove the visible fat. Trimming thus makes it possible to significantly reduce the lipid content of certain pieces.
Finally, eating less fat does not necessarily mean eliminating all red meats or more marbled pieces. The main thing remains to vary the sources of protein and to favor an overall balanced diet.
Chicken fillet can therefore be a particularly practical option when you want lean meat, but it is not necessary to make it the only choice on the plate.