OneMoreDiet.com

Game meat or meat from wild animals and birds, is gaining in popularity in both the low carb and Paleolithic eating communities and beyond.  Though it may sounds bizarre to some, when you contrast the qualities of wild game with farm-raised game you may be surprised at the mild, lean taste of game meats.  Wild game meats are extremely high in protein and low in carbohydrates, benefits have led to higher demand, particularly as consumers try these cuts of meat and learn how good they taste and how easy they are to prepare. While these meats are infrequently available in supermarkets, several specialty suppliers sell directly to the consumer market; farm-raised game are specifically intended for the consumer marketplace, and you can often see choices such as buffalo, ostrich, elk, caribou, and even rattlesnake on local restaurant menus.

Elk and ostrich are two types of game meat occasionally seen on menus and via online providers. Elk, for example, is lower in fat than most meat, poultry, and fish products and typical elk meat is extremely lean, generally slightly less than 1% fat content. Ostrich is a very lean meat with low fat content and are very low in cholesterol.  Ostrich generally ranges from 2-3% fat, compared to ham which is approximately 6% fat, chicken breast 2-4% fat, and roast beef 6-10% fat.  Buffalo meat is also considerably leaner than beef and contains 30% less fat. Buffalo burgers and buffalo steaks benefit from cooking at lower heat levels, and tend to be a denser texture compared to beef. Buffalo meat is just a bit sweeter than beef as well. It can be cooked exactly the same way as beef, and can easily be substituted in recipes. Alligator meat has been a staple of Florida menus for years, with good reason. With a taste similar to veal, alligator meat is a white meat with roughly the same consistency as chicken breast but denser in flavor and somewhat more chewy, but not tough.  So with all of these great choices, you’re sure to find a healthy game meat to add to your repertoire!