This week my 6-year-old is devouring Turkey Jerky by the pound. We typically keep some kind of jerky around the house because it’s super portable, easy to grab, and is a healthy snack that is high in protein. Sometimes it sits in our pantry in case we need it as an on the-the-go snack, and other times it disappears almost as fast as we can stock it.

We often make our own Beef Jerky, but I haven’t ever tried making Turkey Jerky. So this snack, we buy already made. That said, there are several important things to look for when buying pre-made jerky (this applies to both pre-made Beef and Turkey Jerky).

1. Artificial preservatives. Drying food is a great method of preservation all on its own, but many packaged jerky products add in all sorts of chemical preservatives, and some add in chemical tenderizers as well. Avoid products containing ingredients you wouldn’t use in your own kitchen. There are natural products available, you just need to look for them.
2. Sugar Content. Many packaged jerky products have high amounts of sugar.       Try to find one with little or not sugar added. Jerky does not need sugar to be flavorful or tasty, and none of us need these hidden sugars in our diet.
3. Meat source. There are some jerky brands that use responsibly sourced meat: grass-fed or organic beef, free-range turkey, and so on. Buying products that use responsibly sourced meat eliminates the hormones that come from CAFO-raised animals.
4. Gluten, Wheat, or Soy Content. Most commercial ingredients contain at least one, if not all, of those ingredients. You have to read the ingredients carefully to find products that don’t. If one or more of those ingredients are of concern to you, check the list of ingredients carefully before you buy it.

Turkey Jerky is a great snack to carry in your backpack or purse for when you need a healthy snack on the run. It tastes great, and won’t go bad if it spends a few weeks in your bag.