For First Time in 100 Years, America is Eating More Chicken Than Beef

It’s no secret that America holds a soft spot for beef (à la Burger King”s Rodeo Burger and Taco Bell’s new portable meaty nachos, among others). However,  for the first time in a century, Americans are eating more chicken than beef, according to Priceonomics.

This dietary shift could suggest that in general, the US is erring toward healthier options. Still, the following chart from NPR’s Angela Wong shows that chicken has been on the rise for decades, while beef’s popularity has been decreasing for about 30 years.

While there’s no one reason for this meat trend, a contributing factor could be the rise of beef prices over the past 10 years due to a decreased cattle inventory in the US and a rise of cow feed prices. The leaner, easier-to-cook chicken has remained relatively cheap per pound, making it a valuable purchase in terms of both nutrition and money.

So since it looks like the white meat is here to stay, better brush up on those chicken wing-eating skills stat.

Picthx NPR