Healthy and Delicious: What’s the Low Down on Grass Fed Beef Jerky?

You might hear this term when choosing beef jerky: grass fed. But what does that mean exactly? It’s a term that’s used by the cattle industry to describe the quality of their beef products.

Many companies in the cattle industry will feed their cattle low-quality byproducts, but cattle weren’t bred to eat the scraps. When the animals primarily graze in a pasture and eat wild grass, they are bound to be much healthier and produce a higher-quality meat. Let’s answer some of the common questions that gluten-free readers have about grass fed beef jerky and other beef snacks.

Are Grass Fed Beef Sticks Healthy?

When you get down to it, the quality of the beef is going to be much better if cattle eat what they’re designed to eat, than if they are fed low-quality feed. Grass is the natural diet of cattle. Eating the right foods makes for a healthier animal and if nothing else, you don’t want to be eating the meat of an unhealthy animal. 

On a molecular level, grass fed beef is known to have a higher nutrition content. There are healthy levels of beta-carotene, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B6, and more. Grass fed beef jerky may not be the healthiest component of a diet, but it is definitely one of the healthiest meat snacks out there.

Is Jack Link’s Jerky Grass Fed?

Yes, Jack Link’s jerky is grass fed. Jack Link’s is one of the most famous companies making beef jerky and other meat snacks. In 2016, Jack Link’s acquired Grass Run Farms, a fully grass fed beef jerky company based in Wisconsin. The acquisition was aimed at shifting Jack Link’s products into a healthier category of snack foods. Since the acquisition, Jack Link’s beef jerky has been fully sourced from cattle farms that use grass as the primary feed. This has put them at the forefront of the growing trend of beef jerky seen as a healthy snack.

Why is Beef Jerky So Healthy?

Beef jerky may not be one of the things that comes to mind when you hear the term “health food.” However, this popular snack actually has many health benefits. 

Beef jerky is a relatively low-fat snack that’s very high in protein. In fact, beef jerky is around 33% protein by weight. That means for every ounce of beef jerky, you’re getting an incredible 9 grams of protein. Other minerals or vitamins in beef jerky include Zinc and Vitamin B12, with one ounce providing 21% and 12% of your daily value of these nutrients. 

This snack fits well into paleo and low carb diets due to its high protein quantity. Don’t forget that beef jerky is shelf stable for up to one week, so it can come with you practically wherever you go. In the fridge, it can last for up to two weeks inside its original bag.

In order to last up to a week, beef jerky needs to be kept out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources. Similarly, it needs to be stored in the original bag which is designed to protect the meat. What about that little packet inside the bag that says “do not eat”? It has silica gel inside, which will absorb any moisture much quicker than the food. This addition to the bag will keep your beef jerky softer, fresher, and safe to eat. 

Beef jerky can be a great snack that accompanies so many outdoor activities. Many outdoors enthusiasts use beef jerky on hiking, backpacking, camping, and mountain biking excursions for its high protein content and easy storage. The high protein content of beef jerky means that it will support your muscles in recovery from strenuous exercise: and because of its low carb content, you won’t get a sugar spike/sugar crash associated with many other snacks. With a small amount of salt content, the beef jerky will also push for higher water consumption while you’re moving around. Even when you’re not doing a strenuous activity, beef jerky can make a healthy snack to keep your brain working hard.

Is Krave Jerky Healthy?

Like many other brands of jerky, Krave is known for being a great healthy snack. Krave has many types and flavors of jerky snacks. Of course, the basic flavors are more nutritious and have fewer carbohydrates or other flavor additives. Beyond just beef jerky, Krave also makes some chicken jerky and turkey jerky snacks that are also nutritious. The company is also expanding into other health food territory, putting out products that include quinoa. 

Krave jerky has been well-known for years to never add nitrates to their meat products. Sodium nitrate, which is present in many processed meats, has been linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Is The New Primal Good Jerky?

One of the companies that has been quickly growing in the field of beef jerky for the last decade has been The New Primal. Right in the name you’ll see that they’re concerned with taking things back to basics. That means that there are no growth hormones, chemical preservatives, or additives added to the meat. 

The New Primal also makes a line of turkey jerky that highlights how the birds are treated. The turkeys sourced by the company are free-range, another buzz word used in the industry. Free-range poultry simply means that the animal is allowed outdoor access and not kept inside a cage. Again, the healthier the animal, the better the meat will be. The same goes for The New Primal’s beef jerky. If you’re looking for a healthier beef jerky, The New Primal could be a great choice.

Who Owns The New Primal?

Jason Burke is the CEO and founder of The New Primal since the company began in 2012. While still technically a small business, the company has grown quickly around the United States and expanded its own footprint. No longer selling just beef jerky snacks, The New Primal launched a subsidiary brand called Noble Made in 2019. Noble Made focuses on spice blends and sauces that go well with all sorts of cooking. While The New Primal has investors to propel growth, it is still a fairly small operation that focuses on quality.

The New Primal Spicy Beef Stick: a Gluten-Free Treat

You may be wondering if beef jerky is gluten free or not. At its base, beef jerky is gluten free. It is just typically just meat, but what you should look out for is the flavoring ingredients that may be added. Some of these added ingredients, such as traditional soy sauce, often contain gluten. However, The New Primal Spicy Beef Stick does not have any gluten in its ingredients. This makes the New Primal Spicy Beef Stick completely gluten free!