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Three Chicken Parts to Skip and Three Parts to Eat Instead

Not all chicken cuts are equal when it comes to selection. While chicken is often viewed as a healthy protein, certain portions can be surprisingly high in fat, cholesterol, or other unwanted nutrients. Whether you’re trying to eat more mindfully, lose weight, or just understand whats really on your plate, it helps to know which parts of the chicken are quietly working for your bodyand which ones might be quietly working against it. With that in mind, here are three parts that can lead to health problems and three that make a perfectly healthy addition to your meals.

Lets break it down.

?Unhealthy Part #1: Chicken Skin

Let’s begin with the focal pointthe golden, crackly layer that enhances the indulgence of every bite. Chicken skin is delicious. Theres no denying that. Its crispy, rich, and adds that satisfying crunch we all crave, especially when roasted just right. But nutritionally speaking? Its… not doing you any favors.

Chicken skin is loaded with saturated fat and calories, and it dramatically bumps up the fat content of your meal. What started as a lean piece of protein suddenly turns into a calorie bomb. One chicken thigh with the skin on can almost double in fat compared to the same piece without it.

The real concern isnt the occasional indulgencebecause lets face it, sometimes life calls for crispy skin. But eating it regularly can raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase your risk of heart disease over time. It can also make it a lot harder to manage your weight, especially if you’re already watching your fat intake.

The fix? Simple. Take off the skin before cooking or remove it before eating. Youll still get the juicy meat underneath without all the added baggage.