Back in the late 1980s, when Chris Bailey was a professional cyclist, he craved high protein snacks to keep his stamina up without the sugar crash caused by carb-based energy foods. Unfortunately, they didn鈥檛 exist. Two decades and a career shift 颅later, in 2010, Bailey was heading up , a smokehouse in Barre, when he had a revelation: he could make that high-protein snack he鈥檇 always dreamed of, and he could do it naturally and sustainably.
Bailey is at the vanguard of what you could call a jerkaissance. The salty shoe leather of yore is a distant memory. Responsibly raised dried meats of all sorts鈥攂ison, kangaroo, salmon鈥攁re booming, and according to retail-analyst group , conscientious options are now driving the industry.
For athletes, the jerky boom is a dream come true. Dried meat can be an exceptional snack: eat some an hour before a high-intensity workout for an energy boost or afterward to aid muscle recovery, or sneak some in the middle of an endurance ride or run to replenish amino acids. Plus, protein helps you feel full compared with sugary bars and gels. Here are some of the tastiest options on the market.
Chicken: The New Primal
The New Primal鈥檚 deliver 60 calories per serving and no saturated fat鈥攑erfect when you need a boost without the bloat.听
Protein Per Serving: 6 grams
Cost Per Serving: $3.44
Pork: Vermont Smoke and Cure
A bump in sodium before (or even during) a run or ride is never a bad idea to replenish the salt you lose through sweat. Why not ?
Protein Per Serving: 8 grams鈥
Cost Per Serving: $2
Beef: Krave
Jerky made from beef鈥攊n this case, 鈥攊s loaded with iron, which is critical for oxygen transport and metabolic function.
鈥婸rotein Per Serving: 10 grams鈥
Cost Per Serving鈥: $2.40
Bison: Shurky Jurky
厂丑耻谤办测鈥檚 contains nearly a quarter of your daily vitamin C (an antioxidant), 10 percent of vitamin B6 (which helps convert food into energy) and 10 percent of phosphorus (which can improve aerobic capacity).
鈥婸rotein Per Serving: 13 grams听
Cost Per Serving:听$7.50