Are you gearing up for a 4th of July celebration this weekend? The holiday is a perfect opportunity to gather family and friends together for a barbecue. Hopefully, after your holiday feast, you'll be able to catch an awesome fireworks display, too.

But you don't want your 4th of July food to blow up your healthy eating goals, do you? One of the more popular items on the menu for the weekend is probably BBQ chicken. But how many calories does that sweet, tangy, falling-off-the-bone barbecue favorite pack?


With only 163 calories, a 3-ounce serving of BBQ chicken isn't going to throw you off course. (142 calories for 3 ounces of skinless chicken and 21 for 1 ounce of barbecue sauce.)

When it comes to holiday celebrations, there's no reason you can't enjoy your favorite treats. Just be sure to make smart choices like removing the skin from chicken, filling up on colorful choices from the veggie tray, only taking small portions of potato salad and limiting yourself to only one brownie. Keep your portions in check and choose healthier foods when possible. For more ideas, check out our tips on how to slim down your barbecue, and if you're craving a new and exciting dish, give these foods fit for the Fourth a try.