Turkey Talk: White Meat vs. Dark Meat
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and people are starting to plan their plates. Will you be serving yourself white meat or dark? Perhaps you'll be skipping the bird altogether and opting for a tofu version instead. Many people who avoid dark meat, thinking it's not quite as healthy as white, but depending on your nutritional needs a big ol' drumstick might be for you. We've created a handy chart to see how the different meats compare and have added the stats on Tofurky too. See how they all compare after the break.
| Meat Type (3.5 ounce serving) | Calories | Total Fat (g) | Protein (g) |
| Breast w/ skin | |||
| Breast w/o skin | |||
| Wing w/skin | |||
| Leg w/ skin | |||
| Dark Meat w/ skin | |||
| Dark meat w/o skin | |||
| Skin only | |||
| Tofurky (1/6 of the roast) |
Those dark meat morsels mean more calories per serving, not to mention an increase in cholesterol, than that found in white meat. The dark meat is, however, higher in iron than light meat, so if you're craving a leg — I say go for it . . . but maybe skip the skin. And while I certainly hope no one would choose to eat three and a half ounces of turkey skin, it's instructive to see how much fat it actually contains. If you love turkey skin, I say treat your taste buds to a few bites since Thanksgiving comes but once a year.
What type of meat will you be putting on your plate come T-day?
Source: Flickr Users SavaTheAggie and Betty Crocker Recipes
