In Defense of Bacon.

porkchopz · May 2010

* Steps onto soapbox *

I think bacon has been unfairly cast as a dietary enemy. Sure, it's full of unhealthy fat, but a little tiny bit goes a LONG way.

I see bacon as the ambassador of the vegetable kingdom. I have converted my husband from meat 'n white bread eater to veggie lover, partially because of the magic of bacon. 1/2 a slice of the good Niman Ranch applewood smoked thick-cut stuff flavors a HUGE pot of collards, chard or kale. It gets all smokey and savory...and that's the only oil you need. Only adds 35 calories.

I can't remember the last time I sat down to breakfast with 4 or 5 strips of bacon on my plate...that's because I see it as a seasoning, rather than a main course.

I'm about as Northern California, granola, hippie, organic, locavore as it gets...but there's ALWAYS room for bacon in my kitchen, and my spice rack (um, well not literally).

*stepping off soapbox*

discuss.

laurenk182004 · May 2010

woohoo! I love bacon! Great idea to use it as a flavoring...and to think, I eyeballed the bacon section for a good 5 minutes contemplating BLT's at the grocery store tonight, comparing labels and blah blah blah. Never bought any bacon, now I wished I had lol

Chelsinicole63 · May 2010

I agree.. Though i eat turkey bacon, which is actually kinda good for you. I believe all "junk food" is okay in moderation

questionablemethods · May 2010

Preach it!

cutmd · May 2010

I don't eat pork but am a big fan of both beef and turkey bacon. Beef bacon has more fat, so it's more similar to pork bacon. It's great in veggies, and yes I do eat 4-5 pieces of bacon with eggs sometimes (4x40 per slice=160 cals, 300 with eggs). I use the uncured kind without nitrates, so i don't feel bad about it at all.
I agree, nothing wrong with bacon unless you have a cholesterol or sodium issue.

jkohan · May 2010

I don't eat pork but am a big fan of both beef and turkey bacon. Beef bacon has more fat, so it's more similar to pork bacon. It's great in veggies, and yes I do eat 4-5 pieces of bacon with eggs sometimes (4x40 per slice=160 cals, 300 with eggs). I use the uncured kind without nitrates, so i don't feel bad about it at all.
I agree, nothing wrong with bacon unless you have a cholesterol or sodium issue.

Same here...Trader Joe's uncured nitrate free is pretty good! I eat bacon 2-3x a month and count every fat and cholesterol gram along with calorie. As long as I can "afford" it and it's not every day, I see no issue..and it's yum.

porkchopz · May 2010

I don't eat pork but am a big fan of both beef and turkey bacon. Beef bacon has more fat, so it's more similar to pork bacon. It's great in veggies, and yes I do eat 4-5 pieces of bacon with eggs sometimes (4x40 per slice=160 cals, 300 with eggs). I use the uncured kind without nitrates, so i don't feel bad about it at all.
I agree, nothing wrong with bacon unless you have a cholesterol or sodium issue.

Same here...Trader Joe's uncured nitrate free is pretty good! I eat bacon 2-3x a month and count every fat and cholesterol gram along with calorie. As long as I can "afford" it and it's not every day, I see no issue..and it's yum.

This is what I eat, too. The nitrate free applewood, uncured. SO GOOD.

porkchopz · May 2010

I don't eat pork but am a big fan of both beef and turkey bacon. Beef bacon has more fat, so it's more similar to pork bacon. It's great in veggies, and yes I do eat 4-5 pieces of bacon with eggs sometimes (4x40 per slice=160 cals, 300 with eggs). I use the uncured kind without nitrates, so i don't feel bad about it at all.
I agree, nothing wrong with bacon unless you have a cholesterol or sodium issue.

If my bacon had 40 calories per slice, I'd definitely eat 5 slices at a time! For now, I'm hooked on the 70 cal a piece kind, so I keep it in check.

Jlennhikes · May 2010

The real bacon bits are very yummy. They're a great addition for flavoring, and the fat has been mostly rendered out. It's something like 25 calories per tablespoon. Love 'em on baked potatoes, in salads, pasta, and with veggies.

July24Lioness · May 2010

I don't eat pork but am a big fan of both beef and turkey bacon. Beef bacon has more fat, so it's more similar to pork bacon. It's great in veggies, and yes I do eat 4-5 pieces of bacon with eggs sometimes (4x40 per slice=160 cals, 300 with eggs). I use the uncured kind without nitrates, so i don't feel bad about it at all.
I agree, nothing wrong with bacon unless you have a cholesterol or sodium issue.

I eat both pork and beef bacon, uncured.

Saturated fats are not as bad for us as the government and pharmaceutical companies have led us to believe.........

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60768-eat-more-fat?hl=eat+more+fat

courtney_love2001 · May 2010

I freakin' love bacon. Had 3 strips with dinner tonight!

DizzieLittleLifter · May 2010

HAHAHA :laugh: while I don't *like* bacon and don't eat pork I loved this post and thought this was hilarious. I was reading it aloud to my husband and he was rooting along :laugh: (he's a huge bacon lover).

kgasser · May 2010

All I could think about reading this post is that commercial for "beggin' strips" for dogs, where the dog is just hurrying along thinking "bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon, I WANT BACON!" LMAO!

I LOVE bacn bits, 1 bagel thin, 2 wedges Laughing Cow light, 7 grams bacon bits...205 calories! Great breakfast (sometimes lunch, dinner, or snack! Depends on extent of laziness that day!)...How can that be bad????

weaklink109 · May 2010

I had to laugh when I saw this post listed on the recent topics page and it was started by "porkchopz.":laugh: I am also a fan of the nitrate-free, uncured Applewood bacon that Trader Joe's sells.

Thanks to Kim for posting the recipe. That sounds delightful..will be trying it soon, but with actual bacon strip rather than the bacon bits.

Unfortunately, this post has got me wishing for a BLT. The fact that I have no tomatoes, or bacon is a slight problem!!:noway: :bigsmile: I am also pretty much out of calories for the night also....Maybe I will dream of bacon tonight!!:yawn: Or else, I will dream of my 3 doggies doing their best imitation of the beggin strips commercial!:laugh: :laugh:

Barneystinson · May 2010

I love bacon and pork belly. I think the only thing that concerns me about the stuff is the high sodium content and the questionable nature of nitrates.

I also (gasp) save the grease and cook with it or use it to cure cast iron pans. A little bit goes a looooong way in a skillet.

kgasser · May 2010

I also (gasp) save the grease and cook with it

HOW can you live with yourself????!!!! And you call yourself an MFP'er!!!! Now you are sure to get tons of people telling you how bad you are...and you brought it all on yourself!!! ROFLMAO! :laugh: :laugh: :bigsmile: :laugh: :laugh:

kgasser · May 2010

Oops! double post...you must be twice as bad as I thought!!!

weaklink109 · May 2010

Memo to BarneyS..."Grease is the word!!!" LOL

Seriously, you said the magic word-- a "LITTLE." I don't use cast iron cookware, but I remember when my grandmother did, and my mom had a couple of cast iron frying pans that she gave away when they moved, as they were too heavy for her to deal with now that she is in her 90's. You just can't spray "Pam" in one of those...the real thing works best.

Michellerw1 · May 2010

Moderation is key. I really love bacon and it can give SO much flavor to healthy dishes. I often by the 365 organic uncured bacon. I often put one piece of bacon on a VEGGIE burger (so so so delicious) with lots of mushrooms. We would all go nuts if we did not allow ourselves to indulge a little bit. And nobody wants a bunch of crazy bacon-starved chicks (and dudes) running around!

keiko · May 2010

I just cooked bacon for in a broccoli/cauliflower salad! Like you said a little goes along way in the flavor department!

needamulligan · May 2010

Never thought of bacon that way! Thanks for the revelation. In reference to turkey bacon, check the sodium and/or additives. I've read many times that turkey bacon isn't better for you than real bacon......just more food for thought!

Iceprincessk25 · May 2010

Loooooove me some turkey bacon. SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!

July24Lioness · May 2010

I love bacon and pork belly. I think the only thing that concerns me about the stuff is the high sodium content and the questionable nature of nitrates.

I also (gasp) save the grease and cook with it or use it to cure cast iron pans. A little bit goes a looooong way in a skillet.

I do too. I filter it out so it is smooth.............

Uncured bacon has no nitrates so it is way better for you.

nakrya · May 2010

I just got back from a camping trip and nothing tastes and smells as good as bacon cooking on a cast iron skillet! Especially after a long day of hiking.

I probably won't have bacon for awhile now lol!