Logging chicken breast

lporter229

There seems to be so many conflicting entries in the data base for boneless chicken breast. I'm sure some of them were entered based on weights before cooking and after cooking, but they still seem to vary a lot. I tried googling nutrition info for boneless chicken breast and found even more conflicting info. Yield from one breast...how can THAT be accurate? Just wondering, how do YOU log your boneless, skinless, chicken breast?

wellbert

I use the USDA entry, in ounces. Now and then I make sure the nutrition info is still correct. Nitwits will go in there and screw with it. Don't know if they are malicious or just stupid.

lporter229

I noticed several USDA entries and they vary from 32-47 calories per ounce. To further complicate things, I was looking around specifically for grilled chicken tender info and I saw several entries (in this data base and other sites) that said three chicken tenders is about 110 calories (3 oz). Well, I bought a pack of tenders that weighed 1.5 lbs and had eight tenders in it. By my calculations, that is 3 oz each, which would equate to 288 calories for three, using the most conservative estimate from the database. They weren't enormous or anything, just regular old tenders. Boy, I'm glad I don't eat a whole lot of chicken...

finchase

I agree there is a lot of conflicting information. I think at times, I've both underestimated or overestimated my calorie consumption based on some of these entries. And I do eat a lot of baked chicken breast. I'm using about 45 calories per ounce now. I weigh my portion after cooking to determine the size. I log a tablespoon of barbecue sauce separately. I don't add anything else calorie-wise to my chicken.

DixiedoesMFP

I use the entry for raw, chicken breast. I weigh it before I cook it. Then I add anything I cook it with (olive oil, etc) separately. You could also enter the nutritional info from the package of chicken that you bought and make your own listing.

twinmom430

I'm anxious to hear replies b/c I wonder this all the time!!! There are so many entries, I never know what to use.

wellbert

When in doubt, reference the actual USDA data and pick based on that.

Also keep in mind, cheap chicken breast can have different nutrition per oz because of plumping.

frosty73

I think it varies because with frozen chicken breasts, salt-water solution is injected into it. The water changes the density of the chicken breast, so that 3 oz. of chicken breast with salt-water has less chicken than 3 oz. of un-injected chicken breast. And some companies inject more water than others. That will really change the calorie density.

It makes me crazy at times, too. I think the best bet is to use the calorie/nutrition info from the bag or container the chicken came in.

catpow2

I've been wondering about this too actually--the MFP database has conflicting info and I haven't been able to find a consistent answer online. I assume, based on looking at a few packages of boneless/skinless breasts from the store, that 3oz is about 120 calories--about 3 g fat and about 23 g of protein.

lporter229

Thanks for all of the helpful replies. The whole "plumping" thing never really occurred to me, although I have been commenting to my husband on the gigantic size of chicken breasts lately.

wellbert

Some brands don't plump, but they are also more expensive.

lporter229

I don't eat that much chicken, so I am okay with paying a little more for better chicken. Problem is, there is only one convenient butcher/meat shop near us and the hours are not doable for me. There's a local organic farm that sells their chicken at the farmer's market, but it is almost $10/lb, and that's just a bit too crazy IMO. Any thoughts on brands or suggestions on where to get the best (read untampered with) chicken?