Who has never bitten the crisp skin of a roasted chicken still smoking, with a little feeling of guilt? Behind this guilty pleasure hides a question that many ask themselves at the table: is eating the skin of the chicken bad for health? According to researchers from the Harvard University of Public Health, this so tasty part would actually contain unsaturated fatty acids, so -called “beneficial” fats, also present in foods such as olive oil or lawyer. But before rejoicing, it is better to keep your head cool. Asked about the subject, the dietician-nutritionist Alexandra Murcier tempers enthusiasm. “”Chicken skin is the part that has the most fat in poultry, so it is not the most interestingly interesting“, she warns.
Specific conditions to respect so as not to harm your health
If the chicken skin is not a poison in itself, it all depends on the context in which it is consumed. The calorie intake climbs quickly depending on the cooking. “”Depending on how the chicken is cooked, the caloric intake can further increase, especially if you add butter for example“Explains Alexandra Murcier. Result: an apparently balanced piece of poultry can be transformed into a caloric bomb.
The specialist is clear: it is quite possible to consume the skin of the chicken from time to time, but not every day. “On can consume the skin, but occasionally“, she says. In other words, no need to withdraw it systematically, but it is better to avoid making it a Sunday ritual.
Everything is therefore a question of balance. And the balance begins on the plate.
What accompaniments do to limit excess?
The trap, according to the dietician, does not only come from the skin, but also from what accompanies it. And this is where errors accumulate: fries, chips, sauces or even breaded food, all this considerably increases the meal. Alexandra Murcier rather recommends opting for simple and not very processed foods, which counterbalance the fat intake of the main dish.
Here is what she advises:
- A fresh green salad or raw vegetables;
- Roasted or steam vegetables;
- A natural starchness (rice, quinoa, non -fried potatoes).
It alerts in particular on false good choices. “”We do not choose chips, which are very processed and very salty products, as an alternative to fries, nor breaded foods, which again contain fat and which bring us nothing very interesting nutritionally“, she recalls.
In short, the pleasure can remain on the menu, provided you do not transform it into a habit.