KFC is a fast food favorite around the world for “finger-lickin' good” fried chicken, but if you're following a special diet or have food allergies, the chain's menu can present some challenges. High-calorie, high-fat, and high-sodium meals served in large sizes can make keeping track of nutrition and portions tricky.
The dishes of KFC are mostly deep-fried and are made using tons of oil. So, the regular consumption of KFC can make you gain weight. Therefore, continuous consumption of fast food, chicken, and meat that too with excess oil can lead to heart and fat-related issues.
McDonald's has, not only the highest calorific average but also the highest fat content, with 13 grams of fat per serving. Coming in second, is none-other than KFC's Colonel Sanders himself at 11.43 grams of fat per serving, only 1.57 grams lower than its rival, McDonald's.
While chicken is an obvious Men's Health staple, KFC's reliance on greasy oils and subsequent sky-high calorific content makes Maccy's an unlikely victor. The more varied menu and healthy options, as well as classic, gut-busting fare, make it the ideal spot to play fast and loose with your nutrition plan.
Based on these standards, which chain takes the crown as the unhealthiest fast-food chain in America? According to Goodson, it's Burger King. After looking at the burger slinger's current menu, Goodson pointed out that Burger King has higher overall calorie counts than even their closest competitor McDonald's.
Most Nutritious Option
For the healthiest dish at KFC, opt for the grilled chicken wings, which deliver 70 calories per wing thanks to the cooking method.
KFC or Macca's: our audience decides
While 61% of those surveyed said that they would always go for KFC chips, 13% still said they remain loyal to McDonald's deliciously floppy fries. 10% opted for Red Rooster's seasoned fries and 8% can't get enough of Hungry Jack's super crispy versions.
Nuggets are fried in hydrogenated oil and contain high amounts of sugar, fat, and preservatives. This makes them an unhealthy choice, especially if you eat them often.
KFC was the most calorific the fast-food chain on the list, with an average of 987 calories per meal offered. Burger King, McDonald's and Subway were around 700kcal.
The potatoes we use to make our famous chips generally come from Tassie and Victoria and the high-oleic canola oil we use for cooking them is also Australian-grown.
For those on the go, junk food is synonymous with fast food, and includes almost all burgers, fries, pizza, fried chicken and foods that are battered or coated or have sauces.
Fast food contains a lot of unhealthy ingredients like sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, and a lot of calories. While eating fast food once a week will not pose any harm in the short run, once you start regularly indulging in cheat meals, all these ingredients can come back to haunt your body.
It warns that even small portions of fried food can cause damage to the heart and arteries. Published in the journal Heart, the analysis shows that there is 28% higher risk of cardiovascular conditions amongst those who eat fried food every week, as compared to those who don't.
Fortunately, KFC has lower-calorie options, including burgers and pieces of chicken: Hot Wings, per wing (90 kcal) Original Recipe Chicken, per drumstick (175 kcal) Original Recipe Chicken, per wing (195 kcal)
The research found that the calories, saturated fat and salt included within the items differed slightly in different countries — with Australia being deemed one of the most 'calorific' McDonald's in the world.
If burgers are your Macca's jam then my picks are the humble old Filet-o-Fish and plain Hamburger. Both are lower in total fat, saturated fat, sodium and kilojoules compared to other Macca's burgers. If you can afford it, why not add a garden salad and call it a balanced meal?
Looking at the overall meal, the Subway meal in terms of protein and sugar was slightly healthier than McDonald's and provided more vegetables, however it was higher in sodium. Remember both meals contributed the same total number of calories but on top of that, it was a large amount of calories.
According to the FoodSwitch: State of the Fast Food Supply report, which assessed the healthiness of Australian fast food products in 2019, Red Rooster's Bacon and Cheese Rippa roll "combo" packs the most energy of quick-service chain meals with 7730 kilojoules per serving, or 89 per cent of the recommended average ...
KFC: Chicken Pot Pie or the KFC Famous Bowl
At 720 calories apiece, the Chicken Pot Pie and the Famous Bowl are tied for highest calorie options at KFC. It's not hard to understand why. The Famous Bowl is mashed potatoes, corn, crispy chicken, gravy, and three different cheeses.
They take fresh chicken pieces, coat them in a breadcrumb and spice mix then pressure fry them. So that would be as processed as a lot of stuff in your own kitchen or in a restaurant. However apart from being killed, gutted and jointed at the abattoir, the chicken is not “processed” before delivery to the restaurant.
Legumes (e.g. chickpeas, kidney beans, baked beans, lentils etc), nuts, tofu, lean meat, chicken, eggs, fish, cheese, yoghurt and milk help you to feel full for longer and less likely to want to snack on junk between meals.
Quick Summary
Yes. You can eat junk food and get in shape provided you monitor your calorie intake and meet your essential protein and fatty acids needs. Junk food should never make up the bulk of your diet, even if the food choices fit your calorie needs. Junk food isn't filling and may leave you feeling hungry.