Forget the Carbs and Chew on This - A Tribute to Beef Jerky

Thanks to the low carb diet craze so many Americans seem to be on, beef jerky is once again become a popular snack.  Part of its popularity is that to make the jerky last long, the fat needs to be trimmed or the beef will go bad (unless, of course, a lot of salt and preservatives are added). Because of this curing process, beef jerky is very high in protein and low in carbs. 

Beef Jerky Is Not Just For Carb Conscious Dieters

It doesn't matter whether you believe the "end of the world" is nigh -- it is always a good idea to have emergency food rations on hand.    Beef jerky is one of the best emergency foods to keep around, as it stays fresh for long periods of time, does not require special storage facilities such as refrigeration, a dark basement, a root cellar or the like, and does not need to be cooked.  For these reasons, it's also a good "emergency food" to put with your car's emergency supplies.  You never know if you'll break down in the middle of nowhere and need some food that you do not need to process.

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If you are looking for a healthy and convenient snack to take anywhere, whether it's hiking, camping or just to have around, beef jerky is the best. It is especially great for camping as it is compact and lightweight, gives needed nutrients, tastes great, and can be eaten straight out of the package.  Beef jerky is often preserved in vacuum sealed packaging to pack in the freshness, so no matter how long you carry the beef jerky, it stays fresh. This packaging also protects it from moisture if you are on a hiking or camping trip.

Enjoying an Old Tradition

Although beef jerky may be thought to be one of today's important diet snacks, it's been around for a long time and was "invented," so to speak, for practical reasons.

Many believe that beef jerky came from South America during the 1800’s.  The Quechua tribe of Indians made a product similar to beef jerky which they called "ch’arki," which is obviously where the name "jerky" came from. The Indians used elk, deer, and buffalo meat for jerky, adding salt to the meat before drying it out or placing it over a fire.  Combining the salt and drying techniques, the Indians' jerky was a perfect way to preserve meat so that it would be available during any season.

Impressed with the Indians' jerky, the Spaniards quickly adopted this meat product as a popular snack  when they inhabited parts of South America.  The Spaniards were responsible for introducing jerky to the international marketplace.   Beef jerky became a staple for cowboys and pioneers in the United States frontier.  They would construct smoke huts where they would smoke and dry strips of meat. Tastier versions of beef jerky where introduced when these pioneers discovered that they could flavor their preserved meat by adding spices.  

Conclusion - The Rebirth of Beef Jerky

While it has its practical food storage and preservation aspects, beef jerky consumption is enjoying something of a rebirth.  People seeking low-cost, low-carb healthy diet foods are turning to beef jerky as a snack source.  It’s a great snack for adults and kids alike, and certainly eating a stick of beef jerky is much better for you and better tasting than a high fat treat.

"Forget the Carbs and Chew on This - A Tribute to Beef Jerky" contributed by Evan Rowe