Ground Turkey vs. Ground Turkey Breast

[thenewchamp]

My diet consist of chicken, turkey, and salmon. The other day I realized that I had bought 3lbs of ground turkey...I couldn't figure out why I enjoyed it so much! It wasn't dry, full of flavor...that's when I knew something was wrong. So, I went back to my regular ground turkey breast.

But my question...how big of a deal is it? Turkey breast is obviously better but turkey is lean...period! Can I keep the good stuff?

[bignick270]

I'm thinking off hand that the ground turkey is like 93% lean but can not exactly remember and then the ground turkey breast is the leanest, thats why it cost like 3 dollars more.

Its up to you how your diet is structured if you can work in the extra fat contents. Look at the nutritional info on the package next time at the store and decide.

[sixzebra]

There's a difference in fat/calories content between ground turkey and ground turkey breast. Ground turkey includes the dark meat which ups the fat/cals. That's why it tastes so much better.

[thenewchamp]

There's a difference in fat/calories content between ground turkey and ground turkey breast. Ground turkey includes the dark meat which ups the fat/cals. That's why it tastes so much better.

But my fat and calorie intake is ver very low and I noticed on the nutrition pack that the sodium was more than twice as much as the breast.

[rich55]

But my fat and calorie intake is ver very low and I noticed on the nutrition pack that the sodium was more than twice as much as the breast.

Yup, there is certainly more fat. It really depends on the overall totals of your diet and timing of your meals. If you are needing a meal SLIGHTLY higher in fat such as ground turkey or lean beef with maybe some veggies then that should be fine. But if your goal is lower fat content then you should probably pass.

[ctgblue]

even ground "turkey breast" can range from One gram (99%lean) to Eighteen grams (85%lean) of fat per 4oz serving
So you need to keep track of this closely, don't fool yourself that all turkey is lean
Sirloin (lean) is only 7grams per 4 oz, so watch the brand and the %

my wife makes us turkey burgers from the 99% and has to use oats and some veggies to hold them together, they are awesome

[thenewchamp]

Yup, there is certainly more fat. It really depends on the overall totals of your diet and timing of your meals. If you are needing a meal SLIGHTLY higher in fat such as ground turkey or lean beef with maybe some veggies then that should be fine. But if your goal is lower fat content then you should probably pass.

even ground "turkey breast" can range from One gram (99%lean) to Eighteen grams (85%lean) of fat per 4oz serving
So you need to keep track of this closely, don't fool yourself that all turkey is lean
Sirloin (lean) is only 7grams per 4 oz, so watch the brand and the %


my wife makes us turkey burgers from the 99% and has to use oats and some veggies to hold them together, they are awesome

Thanks guys...I'll take all this into consideration. My fat intake is around 38-42 grams per day with the ground turkey and my caloric intake is less then 1,400 a day. I'm not sure if want to get lower than that until I'm 2-3 weeks out from my first contest.

[ctgblue]

make sure you are keeping the protein high enough so you don't chew off all that muscle
how far out are you?

[sixzebra]

Agreed. Keep your protein up; 1400 cals is not that much so you need to preserve all the muscle you can.

[thenewchamp]

make sure you are keeping the protein high enough so you don't chew off all that muscle
how far out are you?

Agreed. Keep your protein up; 1400 cals is not that much so you need to preserve all the muscle you can.

I've got 7 weeks till my competition and my protein intake is between 160-190 grams per day.