KFC have been forced to close stores across the country over the weekend after their new delivery contract with DHL has experienced some major "teething problems".
The lack of chicken has been so severe that many restaurants have closed and are yet to re-open, and ones that are open are offering a reduced menu. Until last Tuesday, KFC's chicken was delivered by a distribution group Bidvest, and KFC recently switched their contract over to DHL, who seem to be the cause for the shortage due to operational issues. There has been no confirmation on when the situation will be resolved. KFC took to Twitter to issue the below light-hearted statement apologising to customers.
READ MORE: 20 Delicious High Protein Snacks
Grazia 20 Delicious High Protein Snacks
Müllerlight Skyr Salted Caramel Müllerlight Skyr
That's right, your favourite yoghurt brand have entered the protein market and we could not be happier. This delicious Salted Caramel flavour yogurt is packed with 14g of protein and it's fat free! The thickness of a Skyr yoghurt coupled with the luxury of salted caramel...what more could you want?! Other flavours include Strawberry & Acai. We're drooling already.
Halo Top Ice Cream
Just because you're eating to certain macros, doesn't mean you can't treat yourself. Luckily for us nutrient nuts, there are tons of health-conscious dessert companies. Our favourite? Halo Top ice cream. Not only do they have a dairy-free range for the lactose-free and vegan health conscious out there, they also have loads of flavours to choose from...
Chilli Garlic Edamame
Boil your edamame for 5 minutes and rain, then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil with ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes and 2 garlic cloves, sliced. Stir in the edamame after 1-2 minutes and you've got yourself some delicious peas to snack on.
Hard Boiled Eggs and Avocado
They might not be the easiest snacks to make, but they're FILLED with protein at 13g per egg. Combine with some avocado for some healthy fats, it's both delicious and nutritious.
Chocolate Protein Cake
The ultimate what can I do with this leftover egg problem solver, making a protein cake is as simple as mixing one egg with one scoop of protein power and microwaving it for 1 minute. It's not going to be the tastiest snack in the world, but it's something you can do in minutes when you really need your cake fill. If you've got some time to kill, or you want more than just a quick fix, try this recipe.
Mixed Nuts
Almonds and peanuts have the highest protein content, throw them together and you've got yourself a snack you can pick at all afternoon.
Chicken Bites
You could buy these in any supermarket, but make them yourself at home and you'll avoid that strong, strange smell in the office. Cut a chicken breast into chunks, fry with your seasoning of choice and pop into a Tupperware box for the next day. Easy, simple and protein packed.
Prawn Skewers
Delicious and protein-packed, these prawn skewers will brighten up any dull afternoon. Find the perfect recipe for smoked paprika prawns here.
Chia Seed Pudding
Mix 2 tablespoons of whole chia seeds with ½ cup of milk, whichever you like, and refrigerate for 3 hours minimum (overnight is best). Top with peanut butter, fruit, chocolate- whatever you want! With almond milk, this great dessert has 5g of protein per serving, but that will increase depending on what type of milk you use.
Black Bean Hummus
Hummus itself isn't that great when it comes to fat and protein content, black bean hummus however has all the nutritional benefits of beans while still being the perfect carrot dip. If you fancy trying to concoct your own black bean hummus, try this recipe.
Nut Butter Balls
Combine ½ cup of rolled oats, ½ nut butter of choice, 1 splash of milk and add 2 scoops of your favourite protein powder for an extra kick of protein! Roll the mixture into these teeny balls and you've got a tonne of delicious, healthy snacks for the day.
Nutter Butter, The Low Maintenance Way
There's a reason you always see bodybuilders piling peanut butter into their protein shakes, it has a high protein content. Try it as a snack by scooping it on some fruit and veggies like apple or celery sticks.
Protein Cookies
Beware of everything you can find on the market. Most things that say 'PROTEIN' in big letters have an average amount of protein and are supplemented by more carbs and fats. Go to protein specific websites if you don't trust your baking skills, but expect them not to be the same as the real thing… I've had my heart broken far too many times. Try out this recipe if you're a dab hand in the kitchen.
Pumpkin Seeds
Having a handful of these in your bag will give you an 8g protein boost whenever it's needed. If you have time to make them a little extra, coat them in curry powder and roast for 20 mins at 175 degrees.
Broccoli and Cauliflower
It might be a bit random to whip out some steamed veg at your desk, but with 10g of protein per serving they're worth the dodgy looks. If your worried about the blandness of it all, try making up some gravy. If there's ever a reason to add gravy to anything, you have to do it.
Roasted Chickpeas
You can put chickpeas with any herb mix you like and roast them in the oven for 45 minutes at 175 degrees for an easy, simple snack for the next day. We like to coat ours is a mixture of cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, oil and salt and pepper for an extra kick (just whisk the ingredients together and coat your chickpeas in it before baking!)
Sticky Beef and Cashews
It might sound more like lunch than a snack, but when you need to meet a certain protein intake, you've got to get it where you can. These little combinations of steak, cashew nuts and broccoli are nutritious and filling. Check out the recipe here.
Tuna and Crackers
Random, we know, but combine your tuna with pesto or salad cream and slab it on some whole wheat crackers- you've got yourself a rival to the old cheese and crackers fan favourite. Well, maybe not a great rival, but a protein rival for sure.
Mixed Bean Salad
Beans contain SO much protein, 15g per serving depending on what type you like. Combine three of your favourite types of bean in a bowl, we go for kidney, cannellini and garbanzo. Lash some of your chosen salad dressing on top and you have a mid-afternoon salad to boost your spirits during the 3pm slump. If you want to be a little extra, add some red onion, celery, spring onion and rosemary for more vegetable goodness.
Mini Turkey Burgers
These will take a tad more effort, but a mini-serving of burger goodness HAS to surpass your usual midday pringles. Turkey has is higher in protein than chicken or beef, and has a better fat to protein ratio. Simply mix your ground turkey mix with some egg yolk and seasoning of choice, roll into mini burgers and fry for 5 minutes on both sides. You can eat the burgers alone, with mini rolls or if your SUPER on them gains make some lettuce wraps out of gem lettuce. Throw some salsa alongside it and you've got yourself a filling, nutritional mid-afternoon snack.
Protein Shake
Easy if you need a snack on the go, throw a banana, spinach, milk and your favourite protein powder into a blender and your good to go. You can add protein high extras like peanut butter, Greek yogurt or oats if you want a thicker smoothie.
Tzatziki Dip
Whether you want it on its own or with some fruit of choice, Tzatziki is a delicious mid-afternoon dipping snack made with Greek yogurt which has 10g of protein per serving. The highest protein yogurt is Skyr Icelandic style, (which you can buy in Lidl and Tesco!) with 16.5g of protein per serving depending on what flavor you buy. Follow this recipe to turn your yogurt into Tzatziki and you have the perfect dip for your veggies.
Closures have been reported across the country including places such as London, the Midlands, East Anglia and Wales leaving fans feeling not so finger-licking good.
KFC confirmed over Twitter the best place to check whether stores were open or closed is by their website, where there is a constantly updating list of restaurants that are still open. Latest updates show only 270 stores, out of a total of 900, were open Sunday evening.
DHL said "Due to operational issues a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed." They are working "to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused."
Fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment:
KFC fans will have to hold tight until the issue is resolved, despite no confirmation of when this could be, but don't panic too much, the Colonel is working on it.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.