Here at DietsInReview, we believe in thoroughly enjoying holiday meals. Many diet plans encourage having a splurge meal once every week, and Thanksgiving is the perfect moment to enjoy rich foods without counting calories. In general, this prevents people who want to lose weight from feeling deprived and helps them avoid ditching a healthy eating plan for the entire holiday season.
However, certain foods seem over-the-top, even for a day of indulgence, and the deep fried turkey is one of these. On one hand, without the skin, deep fried turkey is deceptively moist and doesn’t have a greasy taste. On the other hand, we know quite well how many calories frying anything will add. So, I consulted with Alison Lewis of Ingredients Inc.
“The amount of fat and calories for a deep fried turkey is higher than a regular turkey,” says Lewis. “Three and a half ounces of deep fried turkey has approximately 190 calories and 11 grams of fat. The same portion of a roasted turkey typically has 165 calories and 7 grams of fat.” Eating turkey without the skin will lower the calories even further. “If you eat your roasted turkey skinless, calories drop to only 150 calories and 3.5 grams of fat,” adds Lewis.
If you’re still determined to stick that turkey in the fryer, know that your choice of oil can also cut calories, since you will be using several gallons of it. “To make a deep-fried turkey healthier, I recommend using Canola oil,” says Lewis. “It has the least saturated fat on any culinary oil, half that of olive oil and is free of trans fat and cholesterol. It also has the most omega-3 fat on any cooking oil and is a good source of vitamin E. It has a neutral taste and high heat tolerance (468 degrees) making it ideal for frying.”
Do you think a deep fried turkey is a worthy holiday indulgence? Or does roasted turkey do the trick for fewer calories? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
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