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Life moves at a pretty fast pace these days. It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed trying to excel at work, stay fit, cook food, save money, maintain a social life, pursue a favorite hobby, keep the house clean, do laundry, and drink enough water to stay hydrated.

Sometimes, some things need to give every once in a while. For me, that’s usually cooking. If I haven’t meal prepped for the week ahead, it’s not uncommon to find me stopping by the grocery store on a Monday evening after work, looking for easy, convenient alternatives to cooking.

Photo: flickr/inazakira

If you’re like me, you’ve probably picked up a rotisserie chicken or two over the years. Rotisserie chickens from the grocery store are great. They save you the hassle of having to prepare chicken, are big enough to make several meals for the week, and are also pretty affordable, making them a great value. They’re also not unhealthy, especially when eaten with a side of vegetables or salads…right?

Wrong!

While they’re convenient and cheaply priced, depending on where you purchase them, they might not be as healthy as one would initially think.

Photo: flickr/_hlian

According to research conducted by Consumer Reports, there is more to the store-bought rotisserie chickens than we might think. We all know that they can come in a variety of seasoning flavors, such as BBQ or lemon. But what about the ones marked “plain” or “original?” Surely those are healthier options, right?

Well, as it turns out, plain doesn’t always mean what people think. According to the study, many grocery stores will inject their rotisserie chickens with a solution to keep them juicy. However, this solution is one that is extremely high in its sodium content. While it might not seem like a big deal to have a little extra salt on chicken, these rotisserie chickens can actually contain a sodium level that is 9 times higher than a roasted chicken made at home!

Photo: flickr/stu_spivack

According to the report, the worst rotisserie chickens to contain high sodium levels are the Member’s Mark Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken from Sam’s Club which have 550 mg of sodium in each 3 oz serving, and the Kirkland chickens at Costco which contains 460 mg of sodium in each serving. That’s a lot of salt.

If you’re wondering if there is a rotisserie chicken that isn’t overly salted, then the best option is the Simple Truth rotisserie chicken from Kroger. It contains the least amount of sodium, with only 40 mg of sodium per serving. In fact, this chicken has a very simple ingredient list: chicken, water, and sea salt.

Photo: flickr/Elsie Hui

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should never buy another rotisserie chicken ever again, it just means that you should pay more attention to the label. You can check the nutritional information in order to make an informed decision regarding the ingredients and sodium content.

Did you know this small detail about the grocery store chickens? Let us know!

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