KFC Grilled Chicken - A Healthier Choice
by Bethany Sanders

KFC is getting grilled ... grilled chicken, that is. The fast food chain, famous (or notorious, depending on how you look at it) for their crispy fried chicken is now offering a healthier, grilled version to their customers. Doug Hasselo, KFC's chief food innovation officer tells the Associated Press, "We think we finally have cracked the code." So I decided to see if they really had.

"Feel like getting a bucket of chicken?" I asked my husband over the weekend. When I told him that the only condition was I wanted to try the new grilled version, he didn't seem impressed. At the drive-thru, we discovered a bucket of grilled chicken was the same price as fried, a pleasant surprise. Once we got them home, we dug in. And they were good. Finger lickin' good. Tasty, I mean, but they're also definitely a better choice than the fried version. Let's compare:
Original Recipe: 110 to 370 calories with seven to 21 grams of fat, 290 to 1,050 mg of sodium
Grilled Chicken: 70 to 180 calories with four to nine grams of fat, 160 to 440 mg of sodium


At 440 mg, the sodium is still pretty high, but in general, those numbers aren't too bad. Improved enough for me to enjoy a couple of pieces without the guilt, though I skipped the mashed potatoes and gravy. Not only was it good, I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything.


So yes, KFC's new grilled chicken is a step in the right direction, but that doesn't necessarily make KFC a diet-friendly place. Last week, we talked about how healthy menu options might make you let down your guard and overeat. KFC is offering a healthier version of their chicken, but their sides are still pretty heavy: Mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits and butter, and potato wedges, for example. It's something to watch out for whenever you eat out -- KFC included.


But still, I give kudos to KFC for finally giving their customers who want a healthier meal a reason to go through their drive-thru every once and a while.
What about you: Have you tried the new KFC Grilled Chicken? What did you think?