A Little Pole: Do You Consider Turkey Bacon Healthy?

Nope. It has a higher sodium content than real bacon. I always go for the real thing - just in moderation. That goes for sugar, salt, avocados, butter, bacon, beef, milk & eggs...

It's more processed then regular bacon and as others have said NASTY! barf! I'll take my piggy bacon over it anytime :)

I don't know if it's better for you than real bacon, but I do know that it's nasty. I won't touch it. Give me a side of pig or forget it.

a pole is something you hand a flag from

a poll is a question you want a group to answer.

Sorry bad English drives me crazy.

Turkey bacon -- don't like it Love the real stuff. If I am going to splurge on the salt and calories I go for the real thing.

Turkey bacon definitely tastes like a pole. ick. And not the good kind ;)

In answer to your POLL: I don't think turkey bacon is all that much better for you than real pork bacon. I don't hate turkey bacon, but it's not something I buy or use. We like the real deal! No, we don't eat it every day (although I would like to), but if I'm going to enjoy bacon, then I'm going to eat real bacon.

No, highly processed and loaded with sodium.

just curious....what do you think and where do you worki?

I see it as a healthy alternative to traditional bacon and another way to get some protein in at breakfast. Two slices of Butterball turkey bacon has 30 calories, 2g of fat and 3g of protein. It's high in sodium but that's not an issue for us so I don't really care about that. Is is healthy as a big bowl of organic spinach? No, but it is a "healthier" choice and is no worse than lean deli meat (unless sodium is an issue). If your husband would otherwise be seeking out something like bacon or sausage in the morning, leave him alone and let him have his turkey bacon and encourage him in at least thinking about healthier choices vs. just going for the junk food that has no redeeming value.

FWIW my family has seen nutritionists in the past for a variety of things (alternative nutritionists/herbalists who know their stuff) and they all have included turkey bacon and things like chicken sausage on their lists of morning breakfast options. Turkey bacon is also a staple in many weight loss plans (The Abs Diet, Body for Life, South Beach, Best Life).

No. Far more sodium and same fat. Many reports out that it's healthier to eat regular bacon.

I agree with Momma L.

No it isn't healthy at all... but it is a 'healthier' alternative than regular bacon with less fat and less sodium, (at least the brand I buy). So, if I am wanting bacon, I go for the turkey, even though it isn't as delicious.

I have been told and read from multiple sources that it is actually better if you eat actual Bacon reduced sodium ... it is actually FEWER calories etc than Turkey Bacon.

"poll"

I don't buy turkey bacon, so can't say for sure. Look on the packaging and read the nutrition label. Is it full of fat? Is it TONS of sodium and little protein?

IMO it's not "healthy" but it's "healthier" than real bacon probably (less fat).

I would rather eat LESS bacon than eat a serving-full of turkey bacon. It just doesn't taste as good as real bacon.

I occasionally eat turkey bacon because there's a brand with no sulfites, which give me asthma. Can't find any sulfite-free pork bacon locally.

(And you mean poll, not pole.)

it is not any healthier than regular bacon. If you read the labels, they are pretty much equal on everything...

But saying that, my family does like it, but we like regular bacon too.

Well, I haven't eaten mammals since 1988 so if I do go for a BLT or something, it has to be turkey. I don't think it's necessarily "healthy" with the junk common to processed foods but it sure looks much less fatty than the pork variety. But I guess that is the appeal to some people.

No way!! Here is a question, from a "food myths" article I saved.

Q: Is turkey bacon honestly that much better for you than the real thing?

Nope. As far as calories go, the difference between the two is surprisingly negligible. While turkey is a leaner meat, turkey bacon isn't made from 100 percent bird--it comes with a long list of additives and extra ingredients that don't pack any nutritional value. Both kinds of bacon can give you a mouthful of sodium, but at least with regular bacon, you're eating a real food that also makes your kitchen smell delicious.

It tastes terrible. Good for me or not, I pick regular bacon over turkey anyday. We eat it maybe once every 3-4 months. I figure a little real bacon is better than whatever they do to turkey to make it taste like that.

I have a mental block with turkey too, though I *have* developed a good recipe for turkey stir-fry.

Though I was trying to get away from pork, I just can't get used to turkey bacon.

we eat turkey bacon sometimes, and its sure healthier than regular bacon.

I just had a turkey bacon BLT with fresh tomatoes from the Farmer's Market for dinner tonight. Yum! It's not something I eat often at all, but I'm one that believes in everything in moderation.

i love bacon...but it has to be pork BACON not turkey...

I don't consider it "healthy" and I don't think it tastes good either.

Well let's put it this way it is healthier than regular bacon. Not a great thing
by any means, but when you just feel like you have to have a BLT turkey
bacon is the better choice.

If you eat traditional bacon on a regular basis and substitute turkey bacon for it, then you have made a healthy improvement to your lifestyle. If you never eat bacon and start eating turkey bacon regularly, that's really not a healthy addition to your diet. I think hubby doesn't understand that it's not that turkey bacon is so good for you, it's that this is better for you than eating the traditional bacon. Show him the nutrition label so that he can see the amount of salt, fat, etc that are in this product and show him the recommended daily allotments of these nutrients (you can find this info online). He can make better choices about healthy eating if he has a better education on nutrition.
We don't ever eat turkey bacon. I can count on one hand the amount of times I cook bacon in a year. On the other hand, I have a friend whose husband likes to make a big, hot breakfast every other weekend or so. He uses turkey bacon, because of the frequency that they would eat it.

We eat turkey bacon maybe once a week or less. I'm sure it is sky high in sodium, but I do not like pork. It has a flavor I just can't stand so turkey bacon is a good alternative for me.

I have no idea...I just cannot get past the "turkey"thing. I bought turkey meatballs once & ended up pitching them out. Just a mental block, I guess...

i dont think anything with "bacon" in its name is healthy... be it turkey bacon, pig bacon, or the baconater from wendy's....

Turkey bacon is the ONLY bacon allowed in our house but, we only eat it occasionally. We do eat alot of ground turkey though and NEVER eat ground beef. Not sure if its really healthy but I do think its healthier than the alternative.

well, i remember an oprah show where she had those medical guys talk about this same thing. the conclusion was that it's less healthy then real bacon but i can't remember why. either way we don't eat it.

I don't think it is healthy, but it is a good alternative to regular bacon. I don't usually eat bacon, but sometimes I enjoy a nice BLT sandwich, and turkey bacon is a better choice.

In general, for most people, when they're well... no.

But when you're sick you need high fat foods with a little protein, as broken down as possible (because you need to make antibodies and your digestve system shuts off when you're sick).

I use only turkey bacon but it still has a lot of nitrates and sodium. But if I'm going to use bacon, turkey is the best alternative and the best tasting in my opinion.

Not healthy at all. Possibly better than real bacon, but here are the ingredients. Any processed meats like that - bacon, turkey bacon, lunch meats (that come in a perfect oval shape), hot dogs, bologna and on and on are terrible for you. If you want bacon, just eat real bacon but in moderation - a few times a year or something.

Turkey, Water, Salt, Sugar, Contains Less than 2% of Sodium Lactate, Canola Oil, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Phosphates, Smoke Flavor, Sodium Ascorbate, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Sodium Nitrite, Dextrose, Soy Lecithin.

Nope.........to be honest i think all meat is bad for you, even fish.

We eat normal bacon, usually cooked in the microwave.

I say....whats the point. If you're going to eat bacon (unless you don't eat pork)...go for the real stuff! It's oh so yummy. I don't have it that often though.
Starbucks used to have a breakfast sandwhich with turkey bacon on it that tasted pretty good....not sure if it's "healthy" though.