Citrus Chicken at El Pollo Loco by Ruth Paget
El Pollo Loco, the chicken meal chain, is not a spicy, deep-fried version of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The chicken at El Pollo Loco is citrus-marinated and fire-grilled. The side dishes differ from Kentucky Fried Chicken for the most part, too.
My family recently tried El Pollo Loco at one of their Salinas locations in Westridge Mall and ordered a 12-piece family meal. We had a choice of sides and ordered stewed pinto beans, Mexican rice made with chicken broth and tomato juice, and macaroni and cheese. Broccoli was an option, which we will order as an additional side next time for its high amount of vitamin C.
I used the USDA.go, WebMD.com, and National Institutes of Health websites to find nutrition information for our El Pollo Loco meal that we ordered:
Chicken
-potassium
-iron
-vitamin B6
-magnesium
-protein
Pinto Beans
-fiber
-potassium
-iron
-vitamin B6
-magnesium
Mexican Rice
-protein
-vitamin C
-vitamin A
Macaroni and Cheese
-fiber
-calcium
-magnesium
-iron
The nutrition information for broccoli shows why we should add it to our order next time:
Broccoli
-potassium
-fiber
-vitamin C
-iron
-vitamin B6
-magnesium
-calcium
-protein
I used the USDA.gov, medlineplus.gov, and National institutes of Health websites to identify what the nutrients in our El Pollo Loco meal do for the body in the order that they appear above:
-potassium helps your nerves function and muscles contract -iron is used in the body for growth and development.
-Iron is used by the body to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to all parts of the body
-vitamin B6 is important for normal brain development and for keeping the nervous system and immune system healthy
-magnesium is important for protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation
-protein is used to repair and cells and make new cells in the body
-fiber moves waste through the digestive tract
-vitamin C protects cells against free radicals that cause cancer
-vitamin A boosts helps fight against night blindness
-calcium helps build strong bone
In addition to all this good nutrition, El Pollo Loco offers an online loyalty program to its customers as well as catering based on its regular menu.
El Pollo Loco is a nice option to have for weekend meals that taste like a parent grilled it in the backyard.
Bon Appétit!
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
