Food Fact vs Food Fiction

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Is chicken a better choice than beef?

Not always. A lot depends on how the chicken or cow was raised. Skinless chicken breast from an organically fed, pasture-raised animal is very healthy, but most of us don't eat chickens that roamed free and were given healthy feed.

Today's birds are raised in a way that promotes fat growth. The result? The average piece of chicken has 266 per cent more fat than it did in 1971, while its protein content has dropped by a third, according to researchers at the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition at London Metropolitan University.

Similarly, most cows today are fed enormous amounts of corn to fatten them up as quickly as possible. Grass-fed beef has a different taste and nutritional profile, with 16 per cent fewer calories than conventional beef, 27 per cent less fat, 10 per cent more protein and a healthier balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. So the better choice really depends on the quality and cut of the meat you get, not the animal it came from.

Picture credit: Tom Grill/ Getty Images

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