When thinking of easy, on-the-go snacks, Slim Jim seem to always come to mind. These delicious, smoky treats can be found almost anywhere and will stay fresh no matter where you go. If you’re a Slim Jim lover like myself, you may question if Slim Jim is keto. If so, should this snack be a keto pantry staple?
Slim Jim is keto-friendly because of their relatively low carbohydrate content. However, they are not the healthiest option. Slim Jim is high in sodium, contain corn syrup, and have a higher carb content than other meat sticks. For those adhering to a clean keto lifestyle or diet, the healthiest keto alternative to Slim Jim is Chomps Grass-Fed Beef Jerky Sticks.
In this article, we’ll discuss the nutrient composition of Slim Jim, healthier alternatives to this popular meat stick, and answer some burning questions from fellow readers. Let’s dive in!
Contents
Are Slim Jim Bad For You?
While Slim Jim is certainly not the worst keto-friendly snack on the market, they aren’t exactly the best for you either.
Contrary to popular belief, Slim Jim is not 100% beef. They contain pork, beef, mechanically separated chicken, corn syrup, textured soy flour, salt, and other additives.
Slim Jim has added corn syrup. Corn syrup of any amount can lead to sugar cravings if you’re following a very low carbohydrate diet. Intake has been linked to obesity and increased risk for metabolic syndrome.
This snack also has 3.5 grams of saturated fat, which is higher than many competing brands. While the keto diet is primarily composed of fat, choosing high-quality fat is vital to avoid elevated cholesterol levels.
Slim Jim contains around 480 mg of sodium per snack stick. The American Heart Association recommends keeping your daily sodium intake less than 2,300 mg per day and, ideally, less than 1,500 mg for optimal heart health.
By snacking on a Slim Jim, you already are over 20% of the upper sodium limit for your day. If you want to stay under the recommended daily sodium intake, you will have to seriously restrict your salt intake during other meals.
Slim Jim Nutrition Facts By Flavor
Slim Jim comes in various flavors, including original, mild, tabasco, teriyaki, nacho, and hot AF. Most of the products have similar macronutrient compositions but vary in ingredients and sodium content.
Let’s dive in and look at the ingredients and nutrition facts for some of the most popular Slim Jim flavors.
Slim Jim Original
Ingredients:
- Beef
- Pork
- Mechanically separated 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
Nutrition Facts (per 1 stick):
- 130 calories
- 450 mg of sodium
- 5g carbohydrates
- 1g sugar
- 6g protein
- 10g fat (3.5 g saturated fat)
Slim Jim Mild
Ingredients:
- Beef
- Pork
- Mechanically separated chicken
- Water
- Textured soy flour
- Corn syrup
- Salt
- Dextrose
- Natural flavors
- Paprika
- Maltodextrin
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Lactic acid starter culture
- Barley malt extract
- Citric acid
- Soy lecithin
- Sodium nitrite
Nutrition Facts (per 1 stick):
- 130 calories
- 440 mg of sodium
- 5g carbohydrates
- 1g sugar
- 6g protein
- 10g fat (3.5 g saturated fat)
Slim Jim Tabasco
Ingredients:
- Beef
- Pork
- Mechanically separated chicken
- Water
- Textured soy flour
- Corn syrup
- Salt
- Natural flavors
- Dextrose
- TABASCO® brand processor’s blend
- Distilled vinegar
- Red pepper
- Salt
- Paprika
- Sodium phosphate
- Maltodextrin
- TABASCO® brand pepper sauce
- Distilled vinegar
- Red pepper
- Salt
- Lactic acid starter culture
- Barley malt extract
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Sodium hydroxide
- Citric acid
- Soy lecithin
- Sodium nitrite
Nutrition Facts (per 1 stick):
- 130 calories
- 490 mg of sodium
- 5g carbohydrates
- 1g sugar
- 6g protein
- 10g fat (3.5 g saturated fat)
Slim Jim Teriyaki
Ingredients:
- Beef
- Pork
- Mechanically separated chicken
- Water
- Textured soy flour
- Corn Syrup
- Salt
- Natural flavors
- Dextrose
- Habanero pepper powder
- Paprika
- Maltodextrin
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Lactic acid starter culture
- Barley malt extract
- Citric acid
- Soy lecithin
- Sodium nitrite
Nutrition Facts (per 1 stick):
- 130 calories
- 360 mg of sodium
- 4g carbohydrates
- 2g sugar
- 6g protein
- 10g fat (3.5 g saturated fat)
Slim Jim Nacho
Ingredients:
- Beef
- Pork
- Mechanically separated chicken
- Water
- Textured soy flour
- Corn syrup
- Salt
- Natural flavors
- Dextrose
- Maltodextrin
- Sugar
- Tomato powder
- Green bell pepper powder
- Paprika and extractives of paprika
- Barley malt extract
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Jalapeno pepper powder
- Lactic acid
- Lactic acid starter culture
- Citric acid
- Soy lecithin
- Sodium nitrite
Nutrition Facts (per 1 stick):
- 130 calories
- 500 mg of sodium
- 5g carbohydrates
- 2g sugar
- 6g protein
- 10g fat (3.5 g saturated fat)
Slim Jim Hot AF
Ingredients:
- Beef
- Pork
- Mechanically separated chicken
- Water
- Textured soy flour
- Corn syrup
- Salt
- Natural flavors
- Dextrose
- Habanero pepper powder
- Paprika and extractives of paprika
- Maltodextrin
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Lactic acid starter culture
- Barley malt extract
- Citric acid
- Soy lecithin
- Sodium nitrite
Nutrition Facts (per 1 stick):
- 130 calories
- 410 mg of sodium
- 5g carbohydrates
- 1g sugar
- 6g protein
- 10g fat (3.5 g saturated fat)
These long lists of ingredients are pretty bothersome. As you can see, Slim Jim does not only contain a lengthy list of additives and preservatives, but this snack also contains Sodium Nitrite.
Sodium Nitrite is a preservative commonly found in processed meats. It can lead to the hardening of your arteries and heart disease. It also may affect your sugar utilization and increase your chances of getting diabetes.
Healthier Keto Friendly Alternatives to Slim Jim
As you can see, Slim Jim has some questionable ingredients and is highly processed.
Thankfully, if you want to snack on meat sticks, many alternatives are much healthier and keto-friendly.
Here are a few brands you should check out if you want to add meat sticks to your list of keto essentials.
Chomps Grass-Fed Beef Jerky Sticks
Chomps Jerky sticks are sugar-free, made with 100% non-GMO grass-fed beef, and certified gluten-free. They are also Whole 30 approved, certified paleo, and labeled keto-friendly. The beef comes from humanely raised animals that have never been given antibiotics or hormones.
Each 1.15 oz. stick has:
- 90 calories
- 6 grams of protein
- 0 grams of carbohydrates
- 0 grams of sugar
- 6 grams of fat
- 290 mg of sodium
- 5 grams of saturated fat.
Mission Meats Grass-Fed Beef Snack Sticks
Mission Meats Keto Beef Sticks are made with 100% non-GMO grass-fed cows that have never been given any hormones or antibiotics. They are also labeled keto and paleo-friendly. Though it is not certified gluten-free, Mission Meats reports their snack sticks are free of gluten.
Each 1 oz. stick has:
- 80 calories
- 7 grams of protein
- 1 gram of carbohydrate
- 0 grams of sugar
- 6 grams of fat
- 320 mg of sodium
- 5 grams of saturated fat
Vermont Smoke & Cure Meat Sticks
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to Slim Jim, Vermont Smoke & Cure Meat is a great option. Their meat sticks are a little lower in price than the other similar options but are still healthier.
These meat sticks are gluten-free, paleo-friendly, have no fillers, and are made with a combination of natural beef and pork.
Each 1 oz. stick has:
- 90 calories
- 6 grams of protein
- 1 gram of carbohydrate
- 0 grams of sugar
- 7 grams of fat
- 380 mg of sodium
- 3 grams of saturated fat.
Now that we’ve covered the ins and outs of Slim Jim, let’s answer some additional questions.
Related Questions
Are Slim Jim Gluten-Free?
Surprisingly, no Slim Jim are not gluten-free. Any food containing wheat, barley, rye, barley (and a few other ingredients) is not gluten-free. If you read the ingredients found on the Slim Jim labels, you will notice Slim Jim are not gluten-free.
Also, Slim Jim’s parent company lists all gluten-free products on their website, and Slim Jim are not found on this list. Fortunately, some of the great alternatives mentioned above are certified gluten-free.
What’s the Difference Between Slim Jim and Beef Jerky?
While it may seem like Slim Jim and beef jerky are the same thing— they are not. Both foods have similar properties, but beef jerky is usually higher in quality. Though beef jerky is typically high in sodium, most types go through less processing and contain less fat than Slim Jim.
It’s always important to read the food label and choose your snacks from organic, high-quality sources.
How Many Calories Are in a Monster Slim Jim?
A monster Slim Jim contains 270 calories, 22 grams of fat (8 grams of saturated fat), 9 grams of carbohydrates, 940 mg of sodium, and 11 grams of protein. Needless to say, with the sodium content, carbohydrate content, and saturated fat content Monster Slim Jim shouldn’t be a staple on the keto diet.