It may look like a chicken breast, but anyone with a food allergy has realized the ill effects when eating this so-called protein at McDonald's. I have had many clients go to McDonald's (unwillingly) for group outings. They order the GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD with no dressing (because they weren't sure if there was wheat in the dressing) and they still get sick from wheat consumption. Why? Well, the 'chicken breast' is anything but just chicken!
Grilled Chicken Breast Filet ingredients: Chicken breast filets with rib meat, water, seasoning (salt, sugar, food starch-modified, maltodextrin, spices, dextrose, autolyzed yeast extract, hydrolyzed [corn gluten, soy, wheat gluten] proteins, garlic powder, paprika, chicken fat, chicken broth, natural flavors (plant and animal source), caramel color, polysorbate 80, xanthan gum, onion powder, extractives of paprika), modified potato starch, and sodium phosphates. CONTAINS: SOY AND WHEAT. Prepared with Liquid Margarine: Liquid soybean oil, water, partially hydrogenated cottonseed and soybean oils, salt, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, soy lecithin, mono- and diglycerides, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservative), artificial flavor, citric acid, vitamin A palmitate, beta carotene (color). CONTAINS: SOY LECITHIN.
Instead of giving your kids a dose of mechanically made chicken nuggets, try this instead...
1 pound Smart Chicken breasts
1 cup almond flour
1 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/2 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
2 eggs, beaten
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, mix the eggs. In another medium bowl, mix the almond flour and salt (and additional spices if desired).
Cut the chicken into bite sized nuggets. Dip the nugget into the egg mixture, then into the almond flour mixture. Coat each nugget well. Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. Timing will depend on how big you make the nuggets. Serve with Nature's Hollow BBQ sauce.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
McDonald's Nuggets = 280 calories, 17g fat, 14g protein, 16 carbs, 0g fiber
"Healthified" Nuggets = 171 calories, 10g fat, 16g protein, 3.2 carbs, 1.6g fiber
1 packet (28g)
McDonald's BBQ Sauce = 50 calories, 0 fat, 0 protein, 12 carbs, 0 fiber
Nature's Hollow BBQ Sauce = 18 calories, 0 fat, 0 protein, 2 carbs, 0 fiber
The photo above is from Business Insider.
Is the pink stuff that looks like soft serve ice cream the stuff they make the nuggets from? Are the nuggets & grilled breast the same recipe (McDonald's) as in the ingredients list you posted? This is appalling! I like your recipe and will make that for my grandkids who are absolutely hooked on McNuggets! I may be ill!
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks Maria! That explains why I had a wheat allergic reaction when I ate the grilled chicken salad at McDonald's! I suspected the chicken was marinated in something with wheat! Plus it has way more carbs than it appears as well. My husband loves to eat there but after that I just bring my own food to eat. Won't eat anything on their menu.
ReplyDeleteYep! Sadly that is how they make the nuggets! Unreal!
ReplyDeleteKnowledge is Power!
Although I am sure that today's McNuggets are still gross and should not be eaten, I did notice that you forgot to mention the footnote which appeared in the Business Insider's McNugget photo:
ReplyDeleteUPDATE: According to Snopes, McDonald's stopped using mechanical separation for McNuggets in 2003.
Thanks for all the wonderful recipes and nutritional information. Your website has been extremely helpful.
Homemade nuggets are always tasty :)
ReplyDeleteYour nutritional info says a serving, but what's a serving? One nugget??
ReplyDeleteThe McDonald's nutrition listing was updated, and as of today and says:
ReplyDeleteNew Grilled Chicken Fillet:
Chicken breast fillet with rib meat, water, seasoning (rice starch, salt, sugar, yeast extract, canola oil, onion powder, maltodextrin, chicken skin, paprika, flavor,
sunflower oil, chicken, garlic powder, chicken fat, spices), sodium phosphates.
Prepared with Liquid Margarine: Liquid soybean oil and hydrogenated cottonseed and soybean oils, water, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, salt, soy lecithin,
mono-and diglycerides, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), artificial flavor, citric acid, vitamin A palmitate, beta carotene (color).
CONTAINS: SOY LECITHIN.
Not much better, but it doesn't list wheat.
Probably a dumb question, but can you make these and freeze to reheat later? Not sure how the almond flour would react to that? They look much better than the nugget goo picture!
ReplyDeleteI make these and let cool. Then place in ziplock bag and freeze for handy dinners and snacks. I put on a stone and heat at 350 for about 10 minutes. Tastes great! As long as you don't initially overcook chicken, the reheat will not dry your chicken out unless you bake too long. Once you do this once or twice, you'll have it down pat. Sometimes I mix shredded parmesan cheese into flour. Also, I use melted butter in place of eggs when I am low on farm raised eggs. From my kitchen to yours, Stephanie
DeleteThanks!
DeleteSounds delish...we have an ehg
DeleteAllergy person in our home...so i was thinking about dipping in
In wet flax seed instead of egg.
The Flax egg replacer should work. :)
DeleteShelley: that might work. I'm not sure but the chicken may get dry.
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion is to batter them and freeze them unbaked
I'm wondering about the serving size, as well.
ReplyDeleteOpps! A serving is 4 good sized nuggets.
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome! With the stamp of approval from the whole family.
ReplyDeleteYahoo Shelley!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me soooo happy!!!
I absolutely adore your blog. First time on this and I am HOOKED. Not only do you break down why some products are unhealthy but you offer great alternatives that actually look and taste like the real thing! Kudos.
ReplyDeleteThanks SOooooo much for your kind words!!!
Deletecan i use coconut flour?
ReplyDeleteYes, coconut flour will work;)
ReplyDeleteI made these for my boys tonight and got told they were equal to the store chicken nuggets for taste...I will take that as a win!! Thanks, Maria!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteI NEVER eat at mcdonalds, but that picture makes me absolutely ill!!! Thanks for this chicken recipe. I'll try it this week when my grandkids are here.
ReplyDeleteI made these for lunch for a very picky five year old whom I babysit. He approves!!! But mine didn't look that golden and crispy and some were a little dry. But the taste was awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's great! Thank you! :)
Delete