If You're Eating Chicken Breasts On A Diet, You Need To Read This

When you search for healthy meal ideas, more often than not, every recipe on whatever list you uncover will feature some way to prepare chicken breast. Whether it's served with a side of rice, vegetables, or simply incorporated into a dish to make it more filling, chicken breast is a staple for many pursuing a healthier diet. 

According to Healthline, chicken breast is packed with important nutrients including protein (no surprise here); B vitamins like niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12; and selenium, a trace mineral that helps boost your immunity system. The article also notes that since chicken breast is low in calories and high in protein, which enhances your feeling of fullness, it can ultimately help with weight loss. 

While chicken breast is typically a go-to, it might not always be the most calorie-friendly. It all depends on those pesky serving sizes, and it might surprise you to learn what that actually looks like. A recommended amount for any meat or fish is three ounces, and according to Kitchn, that's roughly about the size of your palm.

So how many calories are in three ounces of chicken? Jolene Caufield, a senior health care adviser, told HuffPost that there are about 110 calories in each serving, but warned that people should pay extra attention to the packaging while they're shopping for meals.

"Chicken breasts found in grocery stores nowadays are much bigger than that," Caufield said. "Consumers might not be aware of the different sizes chicken breasts come in, which leads them to consume more calories than they intend to."

While chicken breast is still an excellent choice if you're monitoring calories, keep in mind what that serving size actually means. If you're not a calorie counter, which, who can blame you, this might not be a revelation. At the end of the day, as long as you're getting the essential nutrients in your diet while being mindful of portions you should be doing fine. But if you're curious, there are always the nutritional facts to consider during your weekly shopping trips.