What is a healthy alternative to Slim Jims?
If you can't pry yourself away from processed jerky, at least upgrade to something a little more organic with Vermont-made RealSticks. Featuring half the calories (80 compared to 160) and nearly three times less fat than a Slim Jim, RealSticks are made with humanely grown meats and contain no MSG or nitrates.
The short answer to this question is no, Slim Jim's are not healthy. The longer answer involves the macronutrient facts included on the nutrition labels of Slim Jim meat stick products and the additives ConAgra, the maker of Slim Jim's, include in their products.
Because they are not fully cooked, Slim Jim brand 'meat stick' products carry the same risk of foodborne illness as other dried meat and jerky products. It is best to avoid undercooked meats during pregnancy, which includes Slim Jims.
Slim Jims are a convenience store staple: four-inch (or more) sticks of processed meat manufactured and sold by major food conglomerate ConAgra. Since they were first invented by a man named Adolph Levis in 1928, they've undergone a lot of formula changes.
- Lorissa's Kitchen. (Image: Lorissa's Kitchen) Made with 100% grass-fed beef and other clean ingredients, Lorissa's flavors—like Korean Barbeque—are super delicious. ...
- Laura's Lean Beef. (Image: Laura's Lean Beef) ...
- The New Primal. (Image: The New Primal) ...
- Wilde. (Image: Wilde) ...
- EPIC. (Image: EPIC)
Yes, beef jerky is healthy and has many health benefits including weight loss. When consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, beef jerky is an excellent snack food that is low calorie, high in protein, and a good source of vitamins and minerals including zinc, iron, choline, and Vitamin B12.
Contains a high amount of risky components that may include saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugars (0.06%/oz). Good source of proteins (66% of DV/100g). Relatively high in saturated fat (54% of DV/100g).
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Potassium: 0 mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrates: 2 g | 1% |
Dietary Fiber: 0 g | 0% |
Sugars: 0 g |
Made with beef, pork and chicken. No artificial colors. No artificial flavors. Per 4 Sticks: 150 calories; 4 g sat fat (20% DV); 530 mg sodium (23% DV); 1 g total sugars.
inside it's plastic, just like a real sausage. and the bacteria out. There's also salt, lots of salt. One-sixth of your daily dose, in fact.
Should you peel Slim Jims?
“Are the plastic film on Slim Jim's supposed to be peeled off before you eat them?” I'm assuming that you are NOT referring to the plastic wrapping that has the label on it, but the brown outer layer of the Slim Jim itself. That brown layer isn't plastic…it is made from collagen, and is completely edible.
BEEF, PORK, MECHANICALLY SEPARATED CHICKEN, WATER, TEXTURED SOY FLOUR, CORN SYRUP, SALT, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: NATURAL FLAVORS, DEXTROSE, PAPRIKA AND EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, MALTODEXTRIN, LACTIC ACID STARTER CULTURE, BARLEY MALT EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, SOY LECITHIN, SODIUM NITRITE.

Tyrosine crystals — Tyrosine, an amino acid, may be the problem. Just as tyrosine crystals form in cheese as it is dried, they can form on the surface of meat also. Usually this occurs more on the sliced surfaces of country-style hams and a solid white film that looks like slime or mold, but is actually tyrosine.
One Slim Jim gives you more than one-sixth of the sodium your body needs in a day. Cosmetically, this is added to sausage because it combines with myoglobin in animal muscle to keep it from turning gray.
- Jerky's Gourmet Smokehouse BBQ. Jerky's Gourmet has only 85mg per ounce serving and two servings per bag, making it the lowest sodium beef jerky product we know of. ...
- Epic Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar. ...
- Chomps Original Beef. ...
- Baja Jerky Traditional Beef. ...
- Tanka Bar Slow Smoked Original.
Downsides of beef jerky
It's very high in sodium, with a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving providing roughly 22% of your daily sodium allowance, which is set at 2,300 mg per day ( 5 ). Excessive sodium intake may harm several aspects of your health, including heart health, blood pressure, and stroke risk ( 2 , 6 ).
Beef Sticks
If possible, consider purchasing beef sticks that are made with grass-fed beef . Compared to grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help keep blood sugar levels stable.
The best-by date on the package indicates the window of peak freshness. As long as it has been stored properly, unopened jerky is safe to consume after the best-by date. But it won't taste as good as fresh jerky. As a general rule of thumb, commercial beef jerky is best enjoyed within 1 year.
Poultry jerky is considered by many to be a healthier alternative to beef jerky. It generally has a lower fat content than red meat while still having a high protein content. Poultry is a catch-all term for all types of domestic fowls, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.
Beef jerky can be a delicious and effective part of a healthy diet for weight loss. It is a versatile and convenient snack that can help you not only lose weight but also keep it off.
Are there earthworms in Slim Jims?
I investigated my now unfurled Slim Jim plastic sleeve. There was, in fact, no earthworm or earth bait on the list of ingredients.
If you have risk factors for heart disease, you should not consume more than 200 milligrams of cholesterol a day. If you do not have risk factors for heart disease, you should limit your cholesterol intake to no more than 300 milligrams a day.
- Whole-grain toast with peanut or almond butter.
- Cherry tomatoes with hummus.
- Low-fat or fat-free cheese.
- Plain low-fat or fat-free yogurt (An awesome pairing with fruit!)
- Fruit and veggie smoothie.
- Whole-grain crackers with canned tuna or salmon.
Slim Jims, although a meat stick and not beef jerky, are a low carb snack compared to many other snacks out on the market. However, compared to actual beef jerky, and many other jerkies on the market, Slim Jims are a medium to high carb jerky.
There are 40 calories in 1 stick (8 g) of Slim Jim Mild Smoked Snack Sticks. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.