Jerky, fruits, and other dried snacks are tasty and are easy to store and eat. Drying or dehydrating is one of the oldest ways to preserve foods. It makes them last longer and keeps them safe to eat. Nutrition-wise, food stays mostly the same, although the drying process can destroy vitamins A and C. And the calorie count can rise as the food shrinks and nutrients become more concentrated.
Jerky comes from the Spanish word “charqui,” which means dried meat strips. You can make it from almost any lean cut of meat like beef, pork, or turkey. Beef jerky is high in protein, with about 9 grams an ounce. It’s low in carbs and high in nutrients like zinc, B12, and iron. It is high in sodium. An ounce gives you almost 22% of what you need for the day. One ounce also has about 14 milligrams of cholesterol.
