Prospre: Meal Planner
Meal plans based on macros
Prospre: Meal Planner
Meal plans based on macros
Prospre: Meal Planner
Meal plans based on macros, macro tracking, and more
FREE
Shop High-Quality Supplements at Transparent Labs.
Shop Supplements
Purchases made through this affiliate link support Prospre.
October 15, 2023
When you want to eat healthy, it may be tough at first to find foods that are good for you and still taste great and last a long time on the shelf. Canned meats can be a great source of protein, even though people may think of them as bad for you. If you pick the right ones, those that aren’t too high in sodium or fat, you can make well-balanced dishes and healthy snacks that still taste great.
For this list, we included meats only and did not include seafood. However, many canned seafoods are among some of the healthiest canned foods out there.
The main benefit of including canned chicken breast in your diet is that it does not contain that much sodium. In fact, some versions of it can contain no added sodium at all. Due to its lean protein, you can still feel full hours after a meal.
It also contains a variety of vitamins that help various parts of your body, such as calcium, iron, zinc and vitamins B and D. With all the vitamins you get from consuming this particular meat, finding ways to incorporate it into main courses can benefit you physically. Looking for a brand that does not add any extra salt or sodium is another important step if you want to find healthy canned meats.
Similar to other kinds of meats, the sodium you would find in canned turkey is rather low. Since you can make dishes with this meat and freeze them for later, it makes it easy to create filling meals even when you do not have lots of extra time.
The amount of protein in a typical serving of canned turkey is also important since this macronutrient can help you stay full longer. It also helps repair parts of your body throughout the day like your skin, blood and tissue.
While this kind of meat may not be as popular as some other items on this list, canned corn beef brings a flavor to a dish that is unlike any other while also including a solid amount of protein. While you should always take care to notice the amount of sodium in a serving of this meat, you can find some brands that are better in this area.
If you are looking for a lot of protein, amino acids and vitamins, canned ham can be a beneficial choice for you. Canned ham is used in tons of recipes, particularly the Spam brand in Hawaiian cuisine. Beware though, many canned ham brands can have excessive added salt and nitrates, among other additives. However, if you check the labels and look for the ones with the least additives, it can be a good item to have in your pantry.
Certain types of canned beef, such as the all-natural versions, can also be a relatively healthy pantry food. However, if you already eat a lot of red meat, it may be best to skip this one.
There is a large amount of protein per serving in canned beef. Protein is more filling than all other macronutrients and can also help you suppress appetite for hours after a meal. There is also a good amount of zinc and vitamin B12 in a serving of canned beef. Since canned beef is not processed that much in general, it can also have fewer substances that may harm you.
By paying attention to all the ways that varieties of best canned meats can be a source of essential vitamins and protein, you can better understand how to use healthy canned meats in everyday life. The idea that canned meats are not nutritious is not always true, since there are many ways to incorporate and eat canned meats in a healthy and filling meal, and the nutrition can vary significantly from brand to brand. If you’re looking for a tool to help incorporate them into your diet, check out our meal planning app!
