Spam has a lot of calories and is heavy in fat, protein, and sodium. Even though it has some of the vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients that your body needs, it is not a complete food. Due to its high levels of fat and sodium, it is an unhealthy meat product, which has caused people to consider healthy spam alternative, such as veggies.
Spam is not nutritionally capable of standing alone, but if you begin supplementing with other foods roughly four weeks before, especially if those meals are fruits and vegetables, you will not likely encounter problems. You must eat these fruits and vegetables to provide your body with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Preservatives such as sodium nitrite, included in every can of Spam, should also be considered. This component preserves color and prevents bacterial development, which leads to deterioration. However, these preservatives can also evolve into chemicals that might cause cancer and eventually cause cell harm.
Here are five healthy substitutions for Spam if you want to reduce your consumption of red meat but can’t bear to give up its flavor:
1. Tofu
The meat alternative you are probably most familiar with is tofu. Curdled milk is used to make this vegan, and the vegetarian dish is pressed like cheese. It’s a good suggestion for Spam because it has fewer calories and more protein. Furthermore, it doesn’t raise the amount of cholesterol in your diet.
Additionally accessible and simple to use, tofu. Just be careful not to overcook it. The finest tofu for this use is soft or silky, though tofu varies from region to region.
2. Treet
A sort of ground meat called Treet is produced from chicken and pork. Although it is comparable to Spam, it doesn’t have the same robust flavor. Before eating, you can either fry or bake the food, as in some situations where people prefer eating these canned items due to their adaptability.
You can prepare them however you like! Pinnacle Foods, which appears sufficiently proud of its product, produces Treet.
3. Potted Meat
Spam can be replaced by potted meat. The ingredients for this product are cooked ham combined with spices and placed in a mold. Pork or beef, fat, salt, pepper, sugar, sodium nitrite, and sodium nitrate are frequently used in the mixture. The flesh becomes softer as a result, and the flavor is improved.
It’s important to note that this food product does not need refrigeration and has a long shelf life. The essential point to remember with potted meat is that it may be kept cold and served that way.
4. Pork roll
Another common meat alternative is pork roll. But you could have a tougher time finding this product. The pork shoulder is divided into pieces to prepare a pork roll and then seasoned with pepper and other seasonings.
It has a lengthy shelf life, making it extremely comparable to Spam. It does not, however, include phosphates or preservatives. It also has a significantly longer shelf life and less fat than Spam. A 3-ounce serving does, however, contain 160–170 calories.
5. Jambon
A product formed from the pig’s shoulder is called a jambon. Before arriving in America, it gained popularity in France and Switzerland. Here, it is used as a topping for sandwiches and baked potatoes. The main advantage of jambon is that it is frequently smoked and contains much less fat than Spam.
It has a flavor almost identical to Spam but just a little lighter. However, this ham product’s color varies depending on its constituent parts. Jambon does need to be refrigerated and does not have the same long shelf life as Spam.