Sometimes all you want is a sandwich, particularly the kind featuring two slices of squishy white or toothsome whole wheat bread, a layer of something like mustard or mayo, maybe a few vegetables, and a slice of cheese (or two if were feeling extra hungry). Wait, are we forgetting something? The lunch seems lacking, doesnt it? Oh, right, were forgetting the most important part: The deli meat, thinly sliced, slightly juicy, and nostalgic as anything. Theres just nothing like chomping down on a handheld meal and getting a big bite of our favorite meat. Its so convenient, too! That means youll want a convenient brand like Hillshire Farm, which you can find just about anywhere, to stuff your sandwich with. Advertisement
One of the best things about the Hillshire Farms brand is its diversity of meats, as well as the number of options it has for each type. In our particular store alone, for example, we were able to find four different kinds of ham: Smoked, Black Forest, Honey, and Brown Sugar, each with its own distinct tone. But maybe you generally prefer turkey to ham. Which kind of turkey is best? And is the lower-ranking turkey as good as the higher-ranking ham? Lets get right down to it and start ranking Hillshire Farm deli meat from worst to best, because these are some of lifes hardest-hitting questions. At least if you take lunch as seriously as we do.
Turkey is a lean protein that can be a nutritious addition to a balanced diet. Hillshire Farm is one of the most popular brands of packaged deli turkey, but is it actually healthy? In this article, we’ll take an evidence-based look at Hillshire Farm turkey, examining the ingredients, nutrition facts, and potential health effects.
An Overview of Hillshire Farm Turkey Products
Hillshire Farm offers a range of turkey deli meat products, including roasted, smoked, and honey turkey. Some of their most popular options include:
- Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
- Smoked Turkey Breast
- Honey Turkey Breast
- Turkey Pastrami
- Cajun Style Smoked Turkey
Their turkey is available packaged in slices or as a whole turkey breast. Hillshire Farm turkey contains turkey breast meat and water as the first two ingredients. Other common ingredients are sea salt, natural flavors, sodium phosphate, and sodium nitrite.
Nutrition Profile of Hillshire Farm Deli Turkey
The nutrition facts for 2 ounces (56g) of Hillshire Farm Oven Roasted Turkey Breast are
- Calories: 60
- Total Fat: 1.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 1g
- Protein: 12g
This serving provides 12g of protein with only 1.5g of fat and 60 calories. These numbers are typical for most deli turkey brands.
However, there are some less favorable aspects of the nutrition profile. Hillshire Farm turkey is high in sodium, with 590mg per 2 ounce serving The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium to 1500mg per day, so this accounts for a substantial portion of the daily recommendation
Deli meats like turkey are considered processed foods. The words “sea salt” in the ingredients list indicates that extra sodium is added during processing.
Potential Health Concerns with Hillshire Farm Turkey
There are a few potential health concerns related to eating deli turkey like Hillshire Farm products:
Sodium
As mentioned above, the high sodium content is a downside for an otherwise lean protein. Diets high in sodium are associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other health risks.
Nitrites
Hillshire Farm turkey contains sodium nitrite, a common preservative used in processed meats. When exposed to high heat, nitrites can form nitrosamines, compounds that are linked to cancer.
Phosphates
Sodium phosphate is another preservative found in Hillshire Farm turkey. Phosphates may negatively impact kidney health and increase mortality in those with kidney disease.
Lunch Meat Cancer Risk
There is an association between high intake of processed deli meats and increased colorectal cancer risk. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends avoiding processed meats when possible.
Healthier Lunch Meat Options
For those looking to reduce sodium, nitrites, phosphates, and other processing additives, here are some healthier deli meat alternatives:
- Freshly roasted or rotisserie turkey breast
- Low sodium turkey, chicken, or roast beef
- Organic nitrite-free sliced turkey or chicken
- Uncured turkey or pork products preserved with celery juice
- Lower fat options like turkey breast instead of bologna
Shopping the perimeter of the grocery store where fresh deli meats are sliced can provide less processed options.
The Verdict on Hillshire Farm Deli Turkey
Overall, Hillshire Farm Oven Roasted Turkey Breast and other deli turkey products are quick and convenient but not the healthiest choice. While they provide lean protein, the high sodium, nitrites, and other processing additives are downsides.
In moderation, having Hillshire Farm turkey sandwiches occasionally likely poses little risk for most people. However, for better heart health and cancer prevention, fresh deli turkey or uncured products are healthier alternatives for regular consumption.
As with any processed food, it’s best to choose Hillshire Farm turkey in limited amounts as part of an otherwise nutrient-dense diet centered around whole foods. Focusing on incorporating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and minimally processed lean proteins like fresh turkey is ideal for optimal health.
Ultra Thin Sliced Pastrami Lunch Meat
Everyone has heard of the quintessential pastrami on rye sandwich, and if you havent tried it out for yourself, now is the time. Go out and grab some Ultra Thin Sliced Pastrami, heat it up gently, and dont forget the bread. Better yet, bake it up yourself for the freshest, fiercest, fanciest sandwich of your life. Pastrami has a brashly peppery, zesty border that can be off-putting to some and a real selling point for others. That verve should infiltrate the rest of the slice and not just the edge, but unfortunately, this Hillshire Farm pastrami didnt quite go the extra mile. Advertisement
Also, pastrami is especially salty when tasted back-to-back with other mild meats like turkey breast or rotisserie chicken. Personally, we love the salt-and-pepper profile. Its what makes the meat, and we think its slightly lacking here. Theres also just less of a deep, rich, fatty flavor than the competition. But pastrami is pastrami, and when you want it, nothing else will do.
Ultra Thin Sliced Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
This Hillshire Farm product is the basic, run-of-the-mill sliced deli meat turkey. It doesnt have any extra flavoring, no fancy bells and whistles. It is simply turkey. Oh, and its Ultra Thin, because the brand seems to definitely have a thing for that kind of slicing. As with many of the plainest versions of a product, our taste test team did not have strong opinions one way or the other. Working against a high ranking, though, is that turkey itself is one of the more muted meats in terms of inherent flavor. Advertisement
Altogether, it means that this Oven Roasted Turkey Breast doubled down on its simplicity, which is great for picky eaters or those who confidently proclaim they prefer food the old-fashioned way (before mashups like everything bagel potato chips or cookies and cream yogurt hit the market). For the rest of us, it makes a regular old sandwich that doesnt brighten or dull our day. There are much tastier deli meats out there — just keep reading. Know thyself, and know that if you like things in their purest form, this might be your jam, and theres nothing wrong with that.
The Best Lunch Meat To Buy At The Grocery Store…And What To Avoid!
FAQ
Is Hillshire Farm turkey sausage healthy?
While it can be a tasty addition to meals, it is generally not considered a health food. Consuming high amounts of processed meat products like Hillshire Farm sausage has been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
What is the healthiest turkey to eat?
USDA Organic: This government-regulated label is typically the gold standard when it comes to sussing out what’s clean and what’s not, and organic turkeys are …Nov 16, 2015
Is Hillshire Farm sandwich meat healthy?
Hillshire Farm Smoked Ham
This curing makes the meat safe to eat, but the trade-off for this is that it’s also filled with sodium, sometimes excessively so. Hillshire Farms Smoked Ham is a good example of this. Each serving has 610 milligrams of sodium, or a quarter of your daily value.
Does Hillshire Farms turkey have nitrates?
Premium carved cuts of all-natural oven roasted turkey breast make it perfect for any salad, sandwich or snack occasion. Carefully crafted meals deserve the highest-quality ingredients: made with no artificial ingredients, artificial preservatives, or nitrates.
How many calories are in Hillshire Farm turkey breast?
Learn the good & bad for 250,000+ products. Personalized health review for Hillshire Farm Turkey Breast, Ultra Thin, Oven Roasted: 60 calories, nutrition grade (C plus), problematic ingredients, and more. Learn the good & bad for 250,000+ products.
Is Hillshire Farm ham good?
Therefore, purchasing this high-quality Premium Carved Slow Roasted Seasoned Ham is definitely justifiable. It’s a cut above the other four ham offerings from Hillshire Farm. We could tell just by looking at it, even when removed from its more elegant packaging, that this is good stuff.
Is Hillshire Farms a good brand?
One of the best things about the Hillshire Farms brand is its diversity of meats, as well as the number of options it has for each type. In our particular store alone, for example, we were able to find four different kinds of ham: Smoked, Black Forest, Honey, and Brown Sugar, each with its own distinct tone.
Is Hillshire Farm pastrami salty?
That verve should infiltrate the rest of the slice and not just the edge, but unfortunately, this Hillshire Farm pastrami didn’t quite go the extra mile. Also, pastrami is especially salty when tasted back-to-back with other mild meats like turkey breast or rotisserie chicken.
Is Hillshire Farm pastrami good?
Pastrami has a brashly peppery, zesty border that can be off-putting to some and a real selling point for others. That verve should infiltrate the rest of the slice and not just the edge, but unfortunately, this Hillshire Farm pastrami didn’t quite go the extra mile.
Is oven roasted turkey breast good for a picky eater?
Altogether, it means that this Oven Roasted Turkey Breast doubled down on its simplicity, which is great for picky eaters or those who confidently proclaim they prefer food the old-fashioned way (before mashups like everything bagel potato chips or cookies and cream yogurt hit the market).