bacon

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1/21/13 9:47 A

good idea...

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1/21/13 8:06 A

Not sure if this was suggested yet but....

Go for the real bacon and cut it up or crumble it into small bits and mix it into your scrambled eggs or whatever you eat with it. It'll stretch out the flavor while using less. I use this trick with all fatty meats like pork sausages and kielbasa for nutrition reasons and also to save some money and make things last longer!. :)

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1/21/13 7:35 A

Mmmm Bacon. Luv this thread.

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1/19/13 6:30 P

Turkey bacon is terrible IMO! Turkey sausage can be pretty tasty though.

If you are interested in cutting back the fat, and you're cooking your bacon in a skillet, you might look into the oven method of cooking it. I cook big batches of bacon this way, a whole package at a time, once every few weeks to have ready for putting on sandwiches, etc. It takes a while longer than doing it in the skillet, but the end result is crispier, and since you cook it on a rack over a cookie tray, a lot of the excess fat that might be clinging to your bacon instead drips off, so you JUST get baconey goodness. (And then you can drain off that fat from the cookie tray and use it in cooking, if you're into that kind of thing.)

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1/19/13 6:14 P

Clark.........that is exactly the correct answer !!!!!!

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1/19/13 6:08 P

dragaonchild: love your comment
"nothing will make you fat unless you eat too much of it, and you can get fat on healthy foods"

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1/19/13 1:35 P

I won't do turkey bacon... if I can't have real, pig bacon, I'm not interested. ;)

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1/19/13 9:56 A

My hubby likes turkey bacon, I like the real stuff. We buy the already cooked.

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1/19/13 2:51 A

My personal preference is Turkey Bacon by Oscar Meyer (I do not like Butter ball's), and I do not care for regular bacon...I never liked all the fat it had visible on it! I always ended up taking the fat off to eat it, and ending up with about enough to use on a salad for a topping!!!! Sorry to those of you who like regular Bacon, it's just a personal preference.

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1/19/13 1:05 A

I agree, its all about moderation

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1/18/13 9:39 P

you can totally get fat on healthy foods, just ask me! lol :) I have eaten a diet largely based on organic, local, traditionally raised whole foods for the past few years and my weight has crept up to where I am, all while doing it! Eat the bacon! you only live once, don't deprive yourself, just portion control! And forget turkey or chicken bacon... overpriced and uber disappointing lol.

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1/18/13 9:17 P

You can pry my bacon out of my cold, dead fingers if you want it, because I will *never* give it up. ;)

There is no such thing as a "fattening" food... there are foods that are healthier than others, but nothing will make you fat unless you eat too much of it, and you can get fat on healthy foods! As long as you're keeping track of your sodium and your calories, there's no reason NOT to enjoy your bacon, guilt-free!

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1/18/13 3:55 P

Only eat peameal bacon, very lean

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1/18/13 3:53 P

Bacon is awesome. If I were you I'd keep up the habit so long as it makes you happy and fits into your goals. I would steer clear of turkey bacon. It is highly processed. It's not just a cut of meat like pork bacon, it is chopped and formed, etc. Definitely not natural.Yuck!

I'm having a version of bacon with my dinner tonight--some lardons in my white beans. So delicious!

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1/18/13 3:37 P

Forget turkey bacon! Go for center cut. It's a bit more expensive, but toally worth it. I think it's actually lower in sodium than turkey bacon, but I can't remember for sure now. You get 3 slices for 60-70 calories. I don't see anything wrong with eating it for breakfast on a regular basis. You can also get the pre-cooked stuff you just have to zap to save time. I found after comparing nutrition, that turkey bacon isn't really all that much better than regular bacon, and, while I substitute turkey for lots of things, nothing beats real bacon! ;) As long as you're tracking it and fitting it within your daily ranges, it's fine.

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1/18/13 3:35 P

I vote for if it fits into your nutrition plan, and you like bacon, eat it.

I do not like turkey bacon so i still eat regular bacon.

I buy hormel natural choice. (no nitrates) 2 slices has 80 calories and 7 grams of fat. I also buy coleman brand from cost co. 2 slices 70 calories and 6 grams of fat (no nitrates)

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1/18/13 3:34 P

Yes indeed you "should be able to eat that every day even though you're on a diet"! As others have mentioned, find a way to fit it into your nutritional plan for the day, and you are golden.

Personally I can't stand turkey bacon, and the vegetarian bacon-like substance that my sister eats, is just plain nasty. If I have bacon, I want the real goods. It's not a bad idea to look at the nutrition info on the packages in the store and try to find your best possible choice, in terms of saturated fat, preservatives, etc.

But the beauty of the Spark plan is that we can have ANYthing we want, in moderation. No need to deprive ourselves. It's not a "diet" so much as a way of life-- a way to eat that we can maintain for the rest of our lives.

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1/18/13 3:24 P

Eating bacon once in awhile is OK, the key to food, really any kind is moderation. A little bit of something now and then doesn't do any harm. BUT remember, not a little of EVERYTHING
every day !!!!

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1/18/13 3:07 P

I started eating healthier about a year ago and have lost about 90 pounds, and I still eat pork bacon once in awhile on weekends. If you fry it crisp and drain it on paper towels, it's really not that many calories. You don't have to eat very many strips of bacon to get a lot of flavor.

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1/18/13 2:57 P

Recently read an article on cooking bacon in water. Just add the bacon and a little water to your skillet. When the water boils off continue to "fry" the bacon until crisp. It's said to taste better but I am not sure it is healthier.

Remember all things in moderation.

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1/18/13 2:38 P

Mmmmmm.......bacon.......


I like a slice of turkey bacon on an egg sandwich or I like to crumble up a slice to go into a salad. I wouldn't eat a ton of it, but I think it's fine in moderation. Like someone else said, just enter it into your nutrition tracker and make sure you are staying within your ranges and getting the nutrients that you need. You may need to cut out fat elsewhere during your days, but it shouldn't be a problem.


Edited by: LOVE4KITTIES at: 1/18/2013 (14:41)

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1/18/13 2:21 P

I agree with everyone. Go ahead and enjoy as much as you want. If it is one of your few sources of protein then enjoy, do try to find low or no sodium though. If you are eating it with eggs you are golden - I'd skip the toast that usually goes with it.

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1/18/13 2:15 P

I agree with everyone else, bacon is fine; however, if you are going to eat it frequently, I'd look for the uncured variety that has no nitrites/nitrates in it. Uncured bacon used to be hard to find, but it's becoming more common.

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1/18/13 12:35 P

A new study in... The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reanalyzed data about bacon and they found that if you eat enough polyunsaturated fat (found in nuts and vegetable oils) you should be okay. Of course, that doesn't mean to go "Hog Wild"...lol

Bacon is about 40 percent Staurated fat...a better choice for breakfast is Jimmy Dean's Turkey Sausages...They are good and you get 30 links for $5.99

I tried the turkey bacon...Im not so crazy about that... but those Jummy Dean links are tasty.



Edited by: SUNSHINE6442 at: 1/18/2013 (12:37)

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1/18/13 12:16 P

That is nice to know. I am going to get some more bacon.

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1/18/13 12:03 P

2 slices of the center cut bacon I mentioned has 1.5g of saturated fat. Normal bacon does have more, 7 grams of regular fat, 2.5g of saturated.

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1/18/13 11:53 A

If you are going to eat bacon everyday, then you probably need to tweak your fat elsewhere. I would imagine that Bacon contains a lot of saturated fat.

I eat pork bacon, but not every day.

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1/18/13 11:36 A

Put it in your nutrition tracker and see if it works in your calorie and fat ranges for the day. If you love it and are willing to perhaps give up stuff at other times it may just work in your program. For me, it is an occasional treat. :)

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1/18/13 11:27 A

Of course you can figure out a way to fit bacon into your lifestyle! It's WAY better than having a donut or big stack of white flour pancakes. Make sure you measure out your portion and track it with your other foods.
I buy lower sodium bacon without nitrates - Hormel All Natural, I think. I sometimes cook 2 pieces up to crumble into a pound or two of fresh sauteed green beans. Just 2 slices of bacon for a load of green beans really gives it awesome flavor.

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1/18/13 11:23 A

Bacon gets a bad rap. It's really not that bad for you at all. I've been eating bacon all along and I even occasionally use bacon grease in my cooking (a little goes a long way, a lot longer than butter or oil does). I personally like center cut bacon. It's a bit more expensive than the cheapo stuff, but it has less fat on it. 2 slices is only 50-75 calories and 4 grams of fat (depending on the brand) but it is soooo delicious and even 1 slice crumbled up in a salad or mixed with veggies, or cut in half and added to a sandwich adds so much flavor. Both Hormel and Private Selection (Kroger's "fancy" store brand) have center cut bacon. I don't like turkey bacon AT ALL...and it's only a bit less fat (like 1-2 grams) and the same calories as regular bacon.

I'm in the camp of "figure out how to fit what you like into your nutrition plan". If you don't like the food you're eating, you're not going to stick with it.

Edited by: YOJULEZ at: 1/18/2013 (11:24)

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1/18/13 11:01 A

try some Turkey bacon and just eat one portion. Some brands are better than others and you get what you pay for. Also, try making it in the microwave....wrap them fully in paper towels and place on a microwavable plate. You may need to cook them for about 3 minutes.

The paper towels will help absorb most of the excess oil. take them out of the microwave after cooking, remove them from the oily paper towel, and let them rest/cool down.

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1/18/13 10:59 A

All things in moderation! If you want to have it in the morning, then go for it. Personally I think it's better, nutritionally, than a doughnut or muffin. If I were to eat it, I would do my best to drain out the excess fat and blot the pieces with a paper towel after it's done cooking. Maybe you could try turkey bacon, which I assume has fewer calories and grams of fat? I've never had turkey bacon so I don't know how to tastes in comparison to regular bacon. (I'm a vegetarian so I've actually forgotten what regular bacon tastes like, haha.)

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1/18/13 10:45 A

I love bacon in the morning. I don't eat much protein, so it appears like I get a better balance of food when I eat it in the morning. But! It's bacon, I mean come on. I shouldn't be able to eat that every morning when I am trying to lose weight....or can I?

Opinions needed! =)

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