Mince - it's a staple in many a meat-eaters diet, with no shortage of different meal ideas you can use it in.
We've seen an increasing number of recipes out there suggesting a swap from beef to turkey mince if you're looking to cut calories and/or fat. So yep, you've guessed it...Beef Mince Vs Turkey Mince - which one wins?
Looking at the chart above, we can see that it's a close call between turkey and beef. Turkey has 100 calories per 100g, whilst beef has slightly more at 124 cals. As expected fat is higher for beef, with 4.g per 100g versus the tiny 1.2g in turkey (find out more about fats here). Protein levels give another tick in turkey's box with 22.3g compared to the 20.8g in beef.
So although turkey mince is indeed lower in calories and fat and higher in protein, there isn't a big enough difference between the 2 to make it a no-brainer. Turkey breast has a rep of being a bit tasteless and on the dry side, so don't sacrifice taste for slightly better macros if you much prefer the taste of beef mince.
If you are going to swap to turkey then make sure you are using turkey breast mince, not thigh. The thigh is a much fattier cut of meat and can end up the same if not higher in calories and fat than beef mince and undoing all your good intentions! Equally, always try and choose a lean beef mince - 5% or less fat.
So, the big question - should you choose turkey or beef? In this case, go for what you prefer- after all food is there to be enjoyed and both are good options as part of a healthy, balanced diet. As always the goal is to be food aware and to ensure we're nourishing our bodies as best as possible. Just be sure to go for lean, low fat cuts!
