Skinless Turkey

Skinless Turkey The turkey is a wild bird native to the New World. With this said, the turkey has been consumed for more than 2,000 years by the Native Americans of North America and Central America. Highly prized for its taste and nutrition, the bird was quickly introduced to Europe upon the return of early American explorers. The female turkey is known as a hen, while the make is known as a tom or stag. Turkeys can live to an impressive age of ten years, and are still quite common as both a wild and domesticated bird. With opulent feathers and a distinct red beak, a turkey can be distinguished even when they are not visibly present by their unique and loud call. Today, turkeys are domesticated around the world, with Europe being a major cultivator of this delicious white meat. By removing the skin of the bird, you can create a relatively healthy meal which is high in protein and low in fat.

Key Nutrients

Skinless Turkey is an excellent source of essential amino acids, which can only be found in their complete form in animal meats. Essential amino acids include Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan and Valine. It is also a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Health Benefits

Essential amino acids provide the necessary building blocks for protein growth and development. This tends to promote healthy tissues and reduces the risk of certain cancers.

Season

Turkey can be purchased in any supermarket or food store year round.

Nutrition Information

Per 100 grams:

Calories (cKal): 120
Protein (grams): 21.77
Total Fat (grams): 2.86
Carbohydrates (grams): .24
Fiber (grams): 0

Buying and Storing

When buying skinless turkey, make sure the flesh is not bruised or cut. When storing at home, place the turkey in a sealed container and store up to five days.

Best Way to Add to Diet

Skinless turkey can be added to the diet in a number of ways. Try placing the turkey in some BBQ sauce or a mustard based marinade, then grill the meat until well done. Ground turkey also makes a great burger, just makes sure to add a bit of Dijon mustard and celery seed to the ground meat. Roast the skinless turkey in the oven, then slice the meat to make homemade deli meats.