Chicken at one time was considered a Sunday dinner dish, something special and rather expensive. Improvements in production practices and the development of a tremendous demand reflecting lifestyle changes in the consuming public have changed all that. Chicken today is the most popular main-course food, based on the amount purchased by consumers. The attractiveness of chicken as a lower fat alterative to red meat helped drive the trend, along with its reputation for convenience, relatively easy preparation, and affordability. These attributes are especially important to consumers with busy, time-pressed lifestyles.