Beef jerky is a great alternative to other snacks—and a delicious addition to a healthy lifestyle!
Sometimes it seems like all of the best things in life come at a price, especially when it comes to food. “Healthy” and “delicious” don’t tend to go hand in hand, sadly. But, we have good news. Very good news. Beef jerky can be a healthy snack! Yes, we said it. It’s not only delicious, beef jerky is also a pretty good snack choice.
Why is jerky healthy? First, beef jerky comes with a healthy wallop of high-quality protein. Animal protein, like red meat, contains all nine essential amino acids, making it the best kind of protein you can put in your body. But, unlike other types of red meats, our beef jerky is also low in fat. Our jerky has about 1g of fat per every 1 oz serving – and none of it is artery-clogging saturated or trans fat. This is just 2% of the US RDA – much less than you’ll find in most snack foods.
What about the sodium, you ask? Full disclosure, regular jerky does have some sodium. About 330 mg – 520 mg per serving in Big John’s jerky. But we’ve got good news if you are watching your sodium levels – both our Original and Fiery Hot flavors come in lower salt versions as well, made with 40% less salt.
What else does beef jerky have going for it? Well, our jerky has less than 100 calories per serving (as low as 45, depending on the flavor!) and is high in minerals and vitamins. Yes, really. Now, the cynics among us are now thinking…“Come on, Big John, clearly you’re biased.” And, we do love our jerky. But, the numbers speak for themselves – beef jerky is a healthy, flavorful snack for adults and kids alike. Want to read more? Check out Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong site – there are so many articles about beef jerky, you’d think they were working for the meat industry. Or, look at recent articles in Men’s Health or AskMen.com. We’re not the only ones thinking about this.
So, next time you’re enjoying some jerky in the car, lose the guilt. This snack is all pleasure. And, you can feel good about sharing with the kids – getting them hooked on this healthy snack is a good thing! Healthy beef jerky. Who knew!?
What about sodium nitrite? What is your views on that and is it an absolutely necessary ingredient? Is it possible to offer a “sodium nitrite free” version of your tasty jerky?
That’s a great question! In fact, I’m glad you asked… Here’s the skinny (no pun intended):
I’ve read similar things elsewhere. There’s really nothing to be concerned about. There have been some studies linking sodium nitrite to cancer, but those have been more specific to charring cured meats (think grilling).
That doesn’t apply to making jerky. In fact, most of the buzz is simply hype and misinformation.
Way too much of just about anything can cause harm or kill you one way or another. Ultimately, we literally can’t make jerky that is nitrite free. Besides nitrites’ role in our slow smoking process, sodium nitrite is absolutely essential to the curing process that’s fundamental to making jerky — and more importantly, to making jerky that is safe to eat!
This is a really important topic — thanks for bringing it up!
— Big John