Jerky: It’s not just for meatheads anymore. “For years, it was seen as a bodybuilder’s food, and not a very good one,” says Keri Gans, R.D.N., author of The Small Change Diet. But today’s dehydrated meats have gone upscale, with hormone-free beef, turkey, and pork varieties full of honey, herbs, fruits, even wine. Plus, many manufacturers are ditching sketchy artificial additives and cutting way back on sodium, allowing the treat’s biggest star— protein—to shine.
Most jerkies pack upwards of 10 grams per serving, a rarity in a grab-and-go treat. “It’s hard to find protein-rich snacks—at least ones you can just throw in your gym bag,” says Gans. Some strips are also surprisingly lean, with one or even zero grams of fat.
Another win? Jerkies no longer taste like shoe leather.…
