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    Cold cuts that are not highly processed

    Posts: 101 Member
    edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
    I make a lot of sandwiches with cold cuts like turkey and ham but most brands have so many nitrates and are so highly processed.

    What are some brands that have no nitrates and are the least processed? Also what are some alternatives to using cold cuts in sandwiches? Thanks guys!

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    • Posts: 969 Member
      I recommend either buying an in store (u can do this at home of course) roasted ham or a roasted chicken. All deli meats are processed so just disguise the word nitrates with nicer sounding words
    • Posts: 969 Member
      *Some not so
    • Posts: 7 Member
      Check out applegate farms they sell it at all the grocery stores around where I live.
      http://www.applegate.com/
    • Posts: 1,390 Member
      I buy turkey or chicken breast, just cook it myself and then slice it all up in one go. It's cheaper that way too.
    • Posts: 130 Member
      If you can dedicate the time, it's much healthier and cheaper to buy a whole turkey, ham, or chicken and roast it yourself. Every couple months I roast a turkey and slice it, portion it in 8 oz bags and freeze it. If you get the meat when it's on sale (the last turkey I got was 59 cents/lb) you save a ton of money and there's no additives.
    • Posts: 1,275 Member
      edited April 2015
      I use Sara Lee with no nitrates, as the nitrates/nitrites are a migraine trigger for me.

      Edited to spell the company name correctly.
    • Posts: 29,136 Member
      the correct answer is that it does not really matter...

      hit your calorie/micro/macro targets and the rest will take care of itself.
    • Posts: 9,562 Member
      Boars Head is slightly better than some other brands. No nitrates as far as I know.
    • Posts: 101 Member
      ndj1979 wrote: »
      the correct answer is that it does not really matter...

      hit your calorie/micro/macro targets and the rest will take care of itself.

      That is for weight loss. I'm trying to make healthier eating options a lifestyle.
    • Posts: 13,575 Member
      AmZam05 wrote: »
      If you can dedicate the time, it's much healthier and cheaper to buy a whole turkey, ham, or chicken and roast it yourself. Every couple months I roast a turkey and slice it, portion it in 8 oz bags and freeze it. If you get the meat when it's on sale (the last turkey I got was 59 cents/lb) you save a ton of money and there's no additives.

      This is also what I do. I'm not much of a sandwich person, other than the occasional pbj, but my husband is so I roast meat and slice it up for him.
    • Posts: 3,586 Member
      i'd say roasting meats at home and slicing would be a good option. you'll also avoid the hefty prices of some of the nitrite/nitrate free meats available
    • Posts: 9,487 Member
      Boars Head All Natural products - http://boarshead.com/products/all-natural
    • Posts: 387 Member
      edited April 2015
      Boars head and applegate are my go to as well. Boars head is priced better.
    • Posts: 54 Member
      Have the deli slice it for you. I haven't checked the label but I know it sure tastes better than the prepackaged stuff.
    • Posts: 14,464 Member
      Maple Leaf Natural Selections, available here in Canada. I get the roast chicken and turkey.
    • Posts: 51 Member
      I buy a Costco ham bake, slice and freeze, same with real Turkey. It take more thought and prep (my husband does it for me) but worth the taste without all the bad stuff. I eat sandwiches almost everyday for lunch so this is important to me. My sodium intake was REALLY high with processed meats too. I find that roast beef doesn't seem to freeze well or it tastes funny to me after thawing.
    • Posts: 29,136 Member
      glfernandes828 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      That is for weight loss. I'm trying to make healthier eating options a lifestyle.

      umm not that is for overall health as well.

      If you are hitting your micros then you are going to be healthy because you are getting the proper nutrients, vitamins, etc.
    • Posts: 13,575 Member
      ndj1979 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      umm not that is for overall health as well.

      If you are hitting your micros then you are going to be healthy because you are getting the proper nutrients, vitamins, etc.

      Not necessarily. Getting in the RDA of micros is not a guarantee of health.
    • Posts: 17,525 Member
      Just go to the deli can have them cut the cold cuts for you- it's what my BF does- he's a sammich person- works pretty well.
    • Posts: 29,136 Member
      Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Not necessarily. Getting in the RDA of micros is not a guarantee of health.

      what is then?

      because I am pretty sure that none of us have a 100% guarantee of health...
    • Posts: 9,532 Member
      Great, another thread derail.

      Who cares why the OP wants to do what they want to do? There are zero negative outcomes if OP goes down that path, so how about we just help 'em out by answering the actual question...
    • Posts: 13,049 Member
      You know that sodium nitrite in meats prevents botulism and without it your slices of meat would be gray and nasty looking when you bought them at the store. Most of the meats that say “natural” or “organic" use celery juice concentrate and while it's natural it still contains a lot of nitrates.

      Applegate Farms does seem to have the lowest nitrate meats. Aside from that you'll need to cook and slice your own turkey/chicken/ham to get it totally free of nitrates.
    • Posts: 159 Member
      Nothing beats a Costco rotisserie chicken for plain value. Sammiches, tacos, soup and stock from the same 5$ bird.
    • Posts: 10 Member
      Ready2Rock206 wrote: »
      Boars Head All Natural products - http://boarshead.com/products/all-natural

      Boars head in my opinion is the best deli meat . On the priced side but the quality and taste makes it worth it !

    • Posts: 22,001 Member
      Mr_Knight wrote: »
      Great, another thread derail.

      Who cares why the OP wants to do what they want to do? There are zero negative outcomes if OP goes down that path, so how about we just help 'em out by answering the actual question...

      ^^Agree,,
      Columbus Salame Company - Italian Dry Salami - Reduced Sodium
      Applegate Farms is worth a look also

    • Posts: 319 Member
      I eats turkey wraps from the sodexo cafeteria where I work or a local deli. I don't know what brand of meat they are using and I feel confident that what I don't know won't hurt me. So I'm good.
    • Posts: 30,886 Member
      edited April 2015
      I either roast or slow cook chicken or turkey parts and use that for lunches. Sometimes other meats too, but those both are easy. I got a bunch of turkey parts from a farm I get meat from so tried the slow cooking thing and was delighted to realize it makes for delicious and tender turkey, even from the breast, but also from the legs and wings.

      (Since I'm not that into sandwiches I pack it in tupperware with veggies and sometimes rice or potatoes/sweet potatoes/root veg or the like, but it would work great for sandwiches if that's your thing.)
    • Posts: 101 Member
      Thanks everyone!!! So much good advice
    • Posts: 198 Member
      jgnatca wrote: »
      Maple Leaf Natural Selections, available here in Canada. I get the roast chicken and turkey.

      This for me as well! We have a local meat shop that sells it very cheaply as it's usually only 7-10 days until is best before date but we only buy 1-week's worth at a time. We don't eat it every day, but maybe 2-3 times a week.
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