Are Cheap Processed Meats Junk Food or Health Food on Carnivore? 

What makes a processed meat okay on carnivore?

I am a carnivore. My criteria for keto, ketovore or carnivore on a budget are:

1. It is predominantly meat, about 90% or more.
2. The other ingredients are not a big enough deal that I care.
3. Total carbs are less than 1 gram of carbohydrate per rational serving.

If it meets those, it is fine on keto, ketovore or carnivore when money is tight. If you are on a lion diet for specific reasons, these will not fit. If you can afford better quality meat, I encourage you to buy it. If the month is running out and you still want meat-heavy low carb food, the items below fit.

Is Spam or store-brand luncheon meat junk food?

No, not by my criteria. Great Value luncheon meat is chopped meat, gelatin, salt and spices. One whole can has about 2 grams of carbohydrate, plus animal fat and protein. The label may say six servings. For me the can is one serving, so you get a large amount of animal fat and protein. Ingredients are not perfect. If you are on a budget, eat your Spam or store brand.

Is potted meat a health food?

Yes, in my view. The first ingredient is meat, chicken and pork. The whole can has less than 1 gram of carbohydrate. It may have a little maltodextrin. It is not perfect. It is ground meat, salt and spices. People call it ultra-processed and say it causes cancer. Ask which part: the meat, the salt or the spices? Think through the ingredients instead of what your mom or a magazine said.

What about summer sausage, deviled ham and hot dogs?

Johnsonville summer sausage is full of animal fat and protein and under 1 gram of carbohydrate per labeled serving. Underwood deviled ham is ham, salt and spices, about 1 gram of total carb for the whole can.

Great Value beef franks: beef, water, sea salt, a tiny amount of dextrose, mustard, garlic powder, paprika and natural flavors. About 1 gram of carbohydrate per dog. By the time you are deep on the ingredient list you are talking about tiny amounts. Roughly 95% or more is beef, water, salt and spices. Read labels and pick the lowest carb version.

Why does ingredient order matter?

In the United States, ingredients must be listed by amount. The first three ingredients are almost all of what is in the package. On a hot dog, beef, water and sea salt can be about 97% of the product. The rest is minuscule. Companies sometimes split sugar under several names on other foods. That trick does not work the same way with meat, because meat stays the predominant ingredient.

Are corned beef, bologna and beef sticks junk?

Great Value corned beef is about 99% meat, salt and spices, about 1 gram of carbohydrate per serving. Oscar Mayer bologna has about 6 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein per slice, and about 1 gram of carbohydrate per serving. Far more fat and protein than carbs. Jack Link's beef sticks: about 7 grams of animal fat, 8 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbohydrate per serving.

In my view none of these hide a magical cancer ingredient. That fear is foolishness. I would eat them, feed them to my family and recommend them when the goal is low carb and meat heavy on a budget. They are good enough to help people reverse type 2 diabetes, lose weight and lower blood pressure when that is the pattern of eating.

I still prefer discrete meals over snacking. If you do want a carnivore snack, a beef stick beats a carb snack. Better quality meat is better when you can afford it. Perfect is not required when money is tight.

This is not medical advice. Work with your own doctor on diet changes, especially if you have medical conditions or take medications.