Can You Eat Slim Jims and Lose Weight? (Pros and Cons)
September 15, 2022
We all search for the perfect snack choices when losing weight, so what about Slim Jims?
Can you eat Slim Jims and still lose weight? Are they a good snack choice for you? Do you have to give up Slim Jims entirely in order to shed some LB’s?
Overall, the average person can include Slim Jims as a snack when trying to lose weight, and there are actually benefits of including them as a snack due to the fact that they are low in calories and provide ample protein.
Is It Possible To Eat Slim Jims and Still Lose Weight?
Of course it is possible to eat Slim Jims and still lose weight, as long as you are mindful of how many you are eating and accounting for the calories they contain.
One thing that is not going to get you very far when trying to lose weight in a calorie deficit is being too restrictive with your food and snack choices.
You need to find a way of eating that you can stick to long term, and that means finding foods and snacks that you actually enjoy eating.
Slim Jims certainly fall into the category of being a tasty snack, and they can absolutely be part of a weight loss diet as long as you are smart about it.
Are Slim Jims the healthiest food in the world? No. But that does not mean you can’t enjoy them every now and then if they are a snack that you really enjoy.
All that you need to do is make sure you are accounting for the calories they contain and making sure you adhere to your calorie deficit range, and you will still lose body fat eating Slim Jims as a snack.
How Many Slim Jims Can I Eat While Still Losing Weight?
This completely depends on your daily calorie budget. You need to be aware of the serving size of Slim Jims and the calories they contain, while also being mindful of if you can fit them into your daily calorie goals.
Serving Sizes of Slim Jims
Slim Jims come in different sizes, and it is important to be aware of the calorie contents of the size of Slim Jim you choose.
For example, a giant Slim Jim stick contains 130 calories, but 4 packs of Snack Size Slim Jims contain 40 calories per stick.
If you choose to include 4 smaller Snack Size Slim Jims, you will be consuming about 150 calories, which is just a little bit more than having one giant Slim Jim stick.
Slim Jim Monster Sticks, and Savage Sticks will contain more calories than the regular counterparts because they are larger.
There are about 260-270 calories in one Slim Jim Monster Stick.
There are 130 calories in 1/3 piece of the Slim Jim Savage Stick, so you will rack up more calories if you eat the entire thing.
No matter what Slim Jim size you pick, you must be aware of the calories each contain.
If you are chowing down on entire Slim Jim Savage Sticks multiple times per day, you could easily be consuming in excess of 400 calories while not even realizing it.
You could be enjoying those 400 calories as part of an actual meal, so just be calorie conscious and be aware of the calories you are consuming.
What Are Slim Jims Made Of?
Slim Jims are primarily made up of beef, pork, and chicken, with the primary meat ingredient being beef.
Other extra ingredients in Slim Jims include soy protein isolate, sugar, salt, corn syrup, and maltodextrin to name a few.
Slim Jims also contain some preservatives to help them stay fresh longer.
According to EWG, the exact ingredients of Slim Jims include:
Beef
Pork
Chicken
Water
Textured soy flour
Corn syrup
Salt
Natural flavors
Dextrose
Paprika
Hydrolyzed soy protein
Maltodextrin
Lactic acid starter culture
Barley malt extract
Citric acid
Soy lecithin
Sodium nitrite
So are Slim Jims the absolute healthiest things you can eat? Of course they aren’t.
But there is nothing wrong with having them every once in awhile as a snack if you choose.
It is very hard to find foods that do not have preservatives and additives in them, especially if you are an extremely busy person or are eating on a budget.
Now, if you are someone who chooses to steer clear of preservatives and additives at all costs, this is fine and is surely a great idea, but if you are not one of these people, having a Slim Jim as a snack once in awhile is not going to derail your progress.
Now, if you have any health issues that prevent you from consuming Slim Jim ingredients listed above such as high cholesterol or congestive heart failure, definitely consult with your doctor first.
Macronutrients in Slim Jims
Let’s take a look at the macronutrients that make up the overall total calories of one Slim Jim giant stick and evaluate them.
Protein
One Slim Jim Giant Stick contains about 6 grams of protein.
If you are someone that loves when you find a snack with an ample amount of protein, you might be surprised to learn that Slim Jims contain a healthy amount of it.
This is a great find because protein is essential when trying to lose weight because you want to try and preserve as much of your overall muscle mass as possible.
Fat
One Slim Jim Giant Stick contains 11 grams of total fat and 4 grams of saturated fat with 25 mg of total cholesterol.
Overall, this is not fat that comes from a good source. Healthy fats are those fats that are found in plant based sources, like avocados, nuts/seeds, and olive oil. Fish is also a great source of healthy fat with Omega-3’s.
Saturated fats are the type of fat that you want you want to avoid but if you are enjoying a Slim Jim every now and then and not excessively consuming them, it is likely to be fine.
However, if you are someone who NEEDS to stay away from these fat sources and already have high cholesterol or other health issues, it is wise to consider a different snack option.
Carbs
The Giant Stick contains 4 carbohydrates, which is quite low to be honest.
Now, while this carb content is coming directly from sugar only and not from fiber, this is still not an amount of carbohydrate to be too overly concerned about.
Sodium Content
There is about 480 mg of sodium in one Giant Stick, according to the package.
This isn’t the best number and is probably the second biggest pitfall of the Slim Jim, and if you are someone that is watching your sodium intake and needs to avoid excess sodium, you should highly reconsider having a Slim Jim as a snack choice.
High amounts of sodium should be something you want to stay away from, because high sodium intake is associated with high blood pressure, which is not good for your overall health.
If you are not someone who is overly cautious of sodium, a Slim Jim every once in awhile is fine.
Pros of Including Slim Jims as a Weight Loss Snack
1. Low in Calories
There are only 130 calories in one Slim Jim Giant Stick, and this is the perfect calorie amount for a snack.
When choosing snacks to include between meals in a calorie deficit, it is best to aim for snacks in a range of 100-150 calories.
Slim Jims fit into this calorie range and will be able to hold you over until your next meal.
2. Good source of protein
Protein is essential, and you want to search for snacks with a good amount of protein packed inside.
Protein will also help to prevent muscle loss when decreasing overall body fat and will also help you to stay full longer as it takes longer to absorb by the GI tract.
At 6 grams, Slim Jims contain a good amount of protein to add to your daily protein intake goal as a snack.
3. Easy to take with you
Slim Jims are the ultimate portable snack.
They are already wrapped and ready to go. If you need a snack that is easy to fit into your bag or purse and that you don’t have to worry about preparing, a Slim Jim also fits into this category.
You can even fit Snack Size Slim Jims in your pocket.
4. No refrigeration needed
Slim Jims do not need to be refrigerated.
This is also a great quality for a portable snack, as you don’t have to worry about packing a cooler or finding a place to store your Slim Jims if you are out and about or are taking a snack to work.
You will have a snack that you can keep at room temperature all day and not have to worry about it spoiling.
5. Cost effective
Slim Jims are a very cost effective snack option. A package of 12 Slim Jim Giant Sticks can be found for around $5.
This comes out to be only 42 cents per Slim Jim, which is a great deal when you compare it to other snacks.
If you are a fan of the Giant Sticks, they run for about $1-2 at Walmart.
Cons of Including Slim Jims as a Weight Loss Snack
1. High Sodium Content
A major con of Slim Jims is the high sodium content. If you are someone who needs to watch their sodium intake or is trying to lower their blood pressure, Slim Jims are probably not the best snack for you.
If you are looking for a snack with a lower amount of sodium, it is better to look for a different snack.
Some healthier snack options with less sodium include:
Fresh fruit or vegetables
Yogurt
Nuts such as cashews
No salt added baked chips
No salt added popcorn
2. Fat Content
Another downside of Slim Jims is the fat content. There are 11 grams of fat in one Giant Stick, which is quite high.
Consuming snacks and overall meals with high amounts of unhealthy fats is not the best choice if done repeatedly, so if you are concerned about the fat content in Slim Jims or were told you need to watch your overall fat intake, it might be a good idea to consider a different snack.
Some snack ideas with a lower fat content include:
Low-fat cheese sticks
Cottage cheese
Baby carrots with low fat Ranch dip
Granola
3. Additives and Preservatives
Slim Jims also contain a long list of additives and preservatives, which some people may not be comfortable with.
Slim Jims also contain sodium nitrate, which is primarily used in Slim Jims to give them their overall meat color as well as a preservative.
Yes, who would have known Slim Jims are not naturally a meat colored hue.
Sodium Nitrate has been linked to heart disease and diabetes so if you are someone who is looking to prevent these diseases or who already has these conditions, you may want to reconsider and pick a different snack.
How Many Slim Jims Are Too Many?
A Slim Jim is fine to enjoy every once in awhile, but they may not be a snack choice you want to include as part of your diet every single day due to them having high levels of sodium, fat, and additives/preservatives.
It is best not to enjoy Slim Jims no more than 2-3 times per week due to their high levels of sodium and saturated fat.
If you are looking to have a Slim Jim more often than this, it might be a good idea to consider getting the snack size instead of the large Giant Stick.
If you are choosing to have a Slim Jim as a snack, try to refrain from eating them everyday, multiple times a day and make sure you are monitoring your overall intake of sodium and fat.
Last Words
Slim Jims can be a good snack choice for most people and they are low in calories and high in protein while also being low in carbohydrates.
It is important to just be aware of the sodium and fat content that they contain, and if you are someone who needs to monitor these levels, it might be better to just pick a healthier snack.
The good news is that there are so many snack options out there to choose from.
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