Turkey Bacon is a LIE

ElleW88
ElleW88 Posts: 6
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
I have come to the conclusion that turkey bacon is worse for you than pig bacon.

Here's the thing. I live in a small town, with two small-ish grocery stores. Because of their size, they don't have much variety when it comes to labels, so MAYBE it's just the brand of turkey bacon available in this area that I find unhealthy. But according to the label, turkey bacon is the same amount of calories as regular bacon when you compare weight and serving size. In fact, in some brands it's actually 5-10 calories more. But it's not just about the calories. There are so many additional additives on the ingredient label for turkey bacon that it makes me highly suspicious. Furthermore, since I can never seem to keep my sodium level under my goal, I've been trying extra hard to find low sodium products. Much to my surprise, most regular bacon actually has a lower sodium count than turkey bacon. So, I've decided, unless someone has something brilliant to say about this, I'm going back to regular bacon.
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Replies

  • pinkgigi
    pinkgigi Posts: 693 Member
    I use smoked chicken in things that need bacon, but I don't know about calorie or sodium comparisons.

    GG
  • ishallnotwant
    ishallnotwant Posts: 1,210 Member
    I love regular bacon. I don't eat it every day but I do make breakfast with some eggs and 2 strips of bacon once or twice per week (sometimes more) and have been able to lose weight eating it as long as I make sure to just eat my 2 strips and not munch on it mindlessly.
  • chapagonzo
    chapagonzo Posts: 53
    I heard today that consuming two strips of bacon daily will double your risk of diabetes.......
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Best Choice: Give both up. If turkey bacon is worse, then neither are good.
  • ewegner
    ewegner Posts: 48 Member
    I honestly just hate all of the GREASE from regular bacon. Oscar Mayer makes a lower sodium turkey bacon - and although there are many additives, what doesn't have that nowadays. I hear that buying center cut regular bacon is the best - still high in fat, but not as bad as the cheaper cuts. I say, if you don't eat it that often anyway, what's the big deal? Enjoy your Bacon! :)
  • lstnlondry
    lstnlondry Posts: 1,794 Member
    Stay on top of that Sodium!! I'm happy you are learning about what foods you eat!!
  • TinaS88
    TinaS88 Posts: 817 Member
    Turkey bacon IS better for you. But the key is MODERATION!
  • MarshallLuke
    MarshallLuke Posts: 177 Member
    Greta, first it was the cake, and now the turkey bacon is a lie!
    (Sorry, I'm a nerd...)
  • SpeedBump1
    SpeedBump1 Posts: 74 Member
    I buy organic uncured turkey bacon. 30 cal per slice.
  • trouserchili
    trouserchili Posts: 42
    Yup, turkey bacon is processed floor scrapings basically. They tumble the bones, connective tissues, etc in a giant centrifuge thing that strips the bits and pieces off. It then gets mashed and ground together with some of the organs then washed in lye to disinfect it, then washed and rinsed again. Then formed into "bacon".

    Actually it's much more involved but that's the Cliff notes of it. Nasty stuff. Stay away.
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    And also, it's gross. That's enough for me.
  • wickedcricket
    wickedcricket Posts: 1,246 Member
    I only EVER eat real bacon (real cheese, etc) I only have 2 or 3 slices at a time (instead of a half lb) but I REFUSE to give up bacon. A life w/o bacon isn't much of a life imo
    Just choose the LEANEST bacon you can find and don't over do -
    you're right - Fresh unprocessed bacon is better for you (and tastes better) than turkey bacon any day
    A little fat is part of a healthy diet

    oh damn, now I want a BLT (sigh)
  • otr12
    otr12 Posts: 632 Member
    Turkey bacon IS better for you. But the key is MODERATION!

    Why is it better?
  • FairyMiss
    FairyMiss Posts: 1,812 Member
    i will stick with the devine swine
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    Greta, first it was the cake, and now the turkey bacon is a lie!
    (Sorry, I'm a nerd...)

    :laugh:

    They totally should have used bacon instead of cake. That would have been AWESOME.
  • ElleW88
    ElleW88 Posts: 6
    I think it's sort of unreasonable to give them both up. If I were going to develop a healthy lifestyle based on that mindset, I would extremely unhappy. :) I don't eat bacon every day. In fact, I have it so rarely it's almost a non-issue. Maybe twice a month I crumble two pieces of bacon on a salad. I doubt that's enough to contribute negatively to my wieight-loss goals.
  • madeline31692
    madeline31692 Posts: 8
    It may be your limited brand choices. The Kroger brand turkey bacon I buy is much less calories and fat. Haven't checked the sodium. Most of the time I'd rather have 2-3 slices of bacon every once in a while than turkey bacon all the time. Same way I'd rather have 1/2 a slice of pie than that silly pie-flavored yogurt!
  • jlrae
    jlrae Posts: 35
    Yup, turkey bacon is processed floor scrapings basically. They tumble the bones, connective tissues, etc in a giant centrifuge thing that strips the bits and pieces off. It then gets mashed and ground together with some of the organs then washed in lye to disinfect it, then washed and rinsed again. Then formed into "bacon".

    Actually it's much more involved but that's the Cliff notes of it. Nasty stuff. Stay away.


    Ooooh now I'm hungry! LoL.
  • piperjon
    piperjon Posts: 157 Member
    No, turkey "bacon" is not really better for you. Check out the sodium, it's substantially higher. As are the overall calories. The protein is either usually the same or lower. And while neither bacon would ever qualify as health food for anyone, in moderation (as has been said), regular bacon is probably a better choice for the occasional BLT (hold the mayo).

    Or Canadian bacon, eh? I've not looked at the numbers, but it always seems less fatty than either.

    Mostly, though, turkey bacon is the work of the devil. !!!THE DEVIL!!! Who else could take a lovely and beautimous article such as (insert angel music here) Real Honest Maple Bacon (yes I added the maple..) and turn it into TURKEY. EVIL I sez, evil! EEEEeeviiilllll!!!!

    We now return you to your regularly scheduled healthy eating schedules. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Your mileage may vary. P.S. Don't blame me, I live in the South. Thank you.

    Pj
  • FrancesGallagher
    FrancesGallagher Posts: 88 Member
    There is a lower sodium bacon (I'm not sure of the brand name). I have used it and didn't notice any difference from regular bacon. I use two stripes of bacon when I have scrambled eggs and that works well. I like scrambled eggs now and then for lunch rather than breakfast. My breakfast during the week is oatmeal (cooked in the micro) and packaged dry cereal (honeynut cheerios) on the weekends with 1/2 banana, sliced. Skim milk with the cereal and in coffee works well for me. Good luck with your program, FG
  • lclarkjr
    lclarkjr Posts: 359 Member
    I look at it this way, turkey's don't have bacon! I refuse to eat faux bacon. If I wanted something made from turkey, I would have it in a more natural form such as turkey breast. Not turkey that is engineered to look and taste like bacon. Obviously it's not the leanest cut of meat, but if I intend to have some bacon, I just go whole hog (pun intended).
  • 123456654321
    123456654321 Posts: 1,311 Member
    It must be a bad selection you have there.
  • srostad2006
    srostad2006 Posts: 13 Member
    Personally, anything you eat to an extreme can be bad for you. Personally, I like turkey bacon, but that's me. And I'll continue to eat it , even if it is made of floor scraps. I'm not giving up my occasional hot dog either:) But you are exactly right. You are trying to build a lifestyle. If that lifestyle MUST include a little bacon now and then for you to stick with it, so be it. :)
  • Kelly_Wilson1990
    Kelly_Wilson1990 Posts: 3,245 Member
    Butterball brand is low calorie and fat. There is a low sodium one too. That is the only brand I buy. I do not eat pork anyone.

    Butterball Everyday Turkey Bacon
    Nutrition (not the low sodium):
    Serving Size 1 slice (14 g)
    Servings Per Container 18

    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 25
    Calories from Fat 15
    Total Fat 1.5g
    Saturated Fat 0.5g
    Trans Fat 0g
    Cholesterol 10mg
    Sodium 135mg
    Total Carbohydrates 0g
    Dietary Fiber 0g
    Sugars 0g
    Protein 2g
    http://www.butterball.com/product/regular-turkey-bacon

    Farmer John Bacon:
    FARMER JOHN® Classic Bacon 16oz

    Serving Size 1 Pan Fried Slice (10g)
    Nutrition Facts

    Calories 50
    Calories from Fat 30
    Total Fat 3.5g
    Saturated Fat 1.5g
    Trans Fat 0g
    Cholesterol 5mg
    Sodium 160mg
    Dietary Fiber 0g
    Sugars 0g
    Protein 4g
    http://www.farmerjohn.com/products/bacon/farmer-john-classic-bacon-16oz/
  • Dtho5159
    Dtho5159 Posts: 1,054 Member
    Turkey bacon gives me an upset tummy.. I stick with the real deal.
  • Jennwith2ns
    Jennwith2ns Posts: 296 Member
    I think turkey bacon is nasty, and for me, not worth giving up regular bacon. I don't eat pork bacon every day, but like 1-2 times a week.
  • cantfitinmykayak
    cantfitinmykayak Posts: 1 Member
    This from Cooking Light magazine:
    We're not trying to pick on the poor old turkey here, but bacon is a prime exampe of why label-reading is important. Pork bacon comes in smokey, super-thick, fatty slabs but also in naturally lean center cut slices; the latter contain as little as 60 calories, 1.5g sat fat, and 260mg sodium per slice. Turkey bacon also wanders all over the nutrition map. A slice of Jennie-Os ultra-lean version is a nutrition bargain, at 20 calories, 0g sat fat, and 120mg sodium. But others contain the same fat as center-cut pork bacon and even more sodium. What to do: If you like pork bacon, choose a lean high flavor cut, if you need less fat, find a lean lower sodium turkey product.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    Pork bacon is not evil. Highly processed vegetable oils and the tons of carbs (not veggies or fruits) are. Regarding that diabetes study, I wonder how much bread products and processed sugary foods those bacon eaters ate..
  • catsinpajamas
    catsinpajamas Posts: 55
    I second your conclusions Elle. Just eat regular bacon in moderation.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    Some people don't eat regular bacon for religious reasons... hence the usefulness of turkey bacon.
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