Deli meats are low in calories but may contain a lot of sodium.

Image Credit: oksix/iStock/Getty Images Most deli meats are low in calories and make for a convenient meal choice because they provide a quick, tasty dose of protein in sandwiches, wraps, salads or even in plain slices.

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 However, if you have specific dietary concerns, especially if you're following a low-sodium diet, it can be helpful to check the nutritional information for deli meats before you buy them because deli meats can be very salty.

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  Deli Meat Nutrition Facts

Here’s a breakdown of standard lunch meat nutritional information per 2-ounce serving, according to the USDA:

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70 calories 2 g fat 1 g saturated fat

679.8 mg sodium 4 g carbs 0 g fiber 3 g sugar

9 g protein

Deli Turkey Nutrition Turkey deli meat, whether freshly-cut or prepackaged, is available in almost every supermarket. It comes in a variety of flavors to suit any palate.

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 Some turkey deli meats have been smoked, others cooked with honey and maple sugar, and others covered with a crust of ground pepper or fragrant herbs.

Tip If you’re not sure what you want, ask for a sample — most meat departments are happy to let you try before you buy. The standard serving size of deli turkey is about 2 ounces, or 3 slices. One serving of plain oven-roasted deli turkey contains:

70 calories 2.5 g fat 1.5 g saturated fat

459.8 mg sodium 1 g carbs 0 g fiber 1 g sugar

11 g protein

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 About 63 percent of the calories in deli turkey come from protein while 32 percent come from fat and the remainder from carbs (there's just 1 gram of carbs in deli turkey).

Deli Ham Nutrition Sliced deli ham is a common option for salads and sandwiches. Deli ham can be sliced directly from a large ham or from ham pieces pressed together to form loaves.

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 While this luncheon meat does contain a high amount of sodium, it has some good nutritional value including minerals and protein. It is also relatively low in calories and fat.

A 2-ounce serving of smoked deli ham contains:

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61 calories 1.5 g fat 0.5 g saturated fat

526.7 mg sodium 1 g carbs 0 g fiber 1 g sugar

10.1 g protein

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 About 70 percent of the calories in deli sliced ham come from protein while 24 percent come from fat and the remainder from carbs.

Deli Meat Ingredients Nutrition facts for deli meats vary according to types, ingredients and processing methods. In curing and preparing meat for packaging and sale, some companies throw in quite a few additives, including salt, to keep the product as fresh as possible.

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 One leading brand's salami includes salt, sugar, water, artificial flavor, potassium chloride, sodium ascorbate, sodium nitrite and a lactic acid starter culture in addition to beef.

Take Portions and Toppings Into Consideration In addition to ingredients, serving size and accompaniments also affect how many calories and which nutrients you’re getting from deli meat.

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 For example, if you pile on 6 ounces of turkey instead of a more moderate 2-ounce serving, you'll add calories to the total as well as more sugar and cholesterol. The types of bread, condiments and other foods you eat along with the meat can further raise those totals.

\In addition to eating deli meat, form a balanced diet with daily servings of vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products and whole grains. Tip Try using deli meat in sandwiches made with 100 percent whole-grain bread to get more fiber into your diet. Or, you could use it in wraps with fresh vegetables and whole-grain tortillas.

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  references
  
      USDA: "oven-roasted deli turkey"
    
      USDA: "Premium Deli Meats"
    
      USDA: "deli ham"
       




  references
  
      USDA: "oven-roasted deli turkey"
    
      USDA: "Premium Deli Meats"
    
      USDA: "deli ham"
    




Deli meats are low in calories but may contain a lot of sodium.

Image Credit: oksix/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: oksix/iStock/Getty Images

  • 1 g saturated fat

  • 0 g fiber

  • 3 g sugar

If you’re not sure what you want, ask for a sample — most meat departments are happy to let you try before you buy.

  • 1.5 g saturated fat

  • 0 g fiber

  • 1 g sugar

  • 0.5 g saturated fat

Try using deli meat in sandwiches made with 100 percent whole-grain bread to get more fiber into your diet. Or, you could use it in wraps with fresh vegetables and whole-grain tortillas.

      USDA: "oven-roasted deli turkey"
    
      USDA: "Premium Deli Meats"
    
      USDA: "deli ham"