Weight-Loss Is Ground Turkey "Better" Than Ground Beef

Weight-Loss
Emerald1

Emerald1

New member
I was reading this today:

Is Ground Turkey Better than Ground Beef?
by Laura Torres

You might be tempted to use ground turkey for a low-fat substitute for ground beef, but check the label before you assume too much. Not all ground turkey has the fat and calorie savings you might believe.

If a package is labeled "ground turkey," what it means is that it can be any combination of breast and leg meat, and even skin. A 3-ounce cooked portion of this kind of ground turkey has about 200 calories and 11 grams of fat. A 3-ounce cooked portion of extra-lean ground beef contains 218 calories and 13 grams of fat, so you aren't really getting reduced calories and fat from using this type of ground turkey.

What you want to look for is a label on ground turkey that says "ground turkey breast." This type has 100 calories and 1.5 grams of fat for the same cooked 3-ounce portion.

Of course if you use the lean ground turkey, you will lose some moistness and flavor. If you are making turkey burgers, for example, they won't be as tasty as the combination ground turkey. But if you're making chili or something else with a lot of flavor and spices, you probably won't notice a difference.
 
Yeah, I myself see no health difference between 93/7 ground beef and 93/7 ground turkey. And 80/20 turkey is obviously more fat and calories than the 93/7 beef! The lean ground turkey does make a good chili though :D
 
I eat beef on the off occasion but I always buy ground turkey as a substitute. I admit that I, up until today, thought buying "ground turkey" was a much better option. And by better option I mean far more beneficial to my health than buying ground beef. But what I thought I was buying wasn't "ground turkey breast" like I assumed apparently.

I checked Jennie-O website since they sell several types.

At 112 grams/4ounce portions:
Ground Turkey is 220 Cal w/ 4 saturated fat
Lean Ground Turkey 93/7 is 220 Cal w/ 2.5 saturated fat
Ground Turkey Breast is 112 Cal w/ .5 saturated fat

Lesson learned. I need to pay more attention to my labels than I thought I was already.
 
Last edited:
forget the calories, and fat content. What about the type of fat and how does this effect your cholesterol is the real question.
 
Monster said:
forget the calories, and fat content. What about the type of fat and how does this effect your cholesterol is the real question.
Click to expand...

I didn't go over the whole nutrition info. I just wrote those two. But you have a point.
I think people should look it up see for themselves. At least be in the know ^_~ *wink
 
yeah, it really bugs me how the media only seems focused on calories. There's so much more to eating and living well than that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top