Kentucky Fried Chicken on Atkins

[Karista]

Hi all -

I've been "lurking" here for several months and last week I decided to start Atkins. I was doing well until yesterday when we had KFC for lunch. For the rest of the day I had horrible sugar cravings (which I didn't give in to but it was tough!) and this morning I've gained back a pound. Does KFC have carbs in it? I thought it would be a pretty safe food and I tried to peel off as much of the skin as possible. I don't know if it's just a coincidence or if I ate something that I shouldn't have. Thanks for your help.

 

[Debbie]

I think that the biggest problem with KFC-and it doesn't matter which programme that you are on-is the salt! It makes you retain water, so now what you need to do is to drink LOTS of water to flush it out. Give it a day or two, and things should be back to normal. Hurry! Get going! Drink, drink, drink!

 

[Lynn CC]

As long as you didn't eat any of the coating I don't see why the chicken inside would have any carbs. The cole slaw does have sugar in it. Most of the time barbecue sauce, ketchup and most sauces, salad dressings have sugar in them too. I try to just get a salad with no dresssing when I go to places like that.
Congratulations for not giving into your sugar cravings

 

[dizneegirl]

I'm not sure if KFC is one of the restaurants that injects the chicken with marinade... the chicken does seem awfully moist, though.

Their website lists an original recipe chicken breast, without skin and without breading as 0 carbs. Even with the breading, it's 11 carbs, but no sugar... so maybe they don't inject it.

What did you have with the chicken?

 

[Karista]

All I had was the chicken, that's what's so odd. I was wondering too if they injected it with something because even without skin it tastes sooooooooooo good. Anyhow, I guess I just know I'll have to avoid it in the future

 

[nativetxn]

If the chicken was marinated at all in a marinade containing sugar then the chicken may contain carbs because the sugar soaks into the chicken itself. Barbecue sauce will do that too.

What I think happens is that KFC injects their chicken meat with some solution to plump it up, like some of the turkeys at Thanksgiving are injected.

The solution they us is full of sodium so it could cause fluid retention.

If you gained a pound over night and that was your only deviation from your eating plan, then I'm guessing the bloat fairy has been at your house It's fluid retention and it will go away.

Thanks for posting this, it was a great reminder for me.

Katholyn