With Easter just around the corner, there's a whole lot to get done! Whether you are having some friends over, throwing an Easter celebration with kids, or having a meal with family, there are tons of easy Easter treats to make that everyone will enjoy. While it's tempting to just throw a pack of Easter eggs or chocolate bunnies on the table and call it a day, why not keep the sugar intake to a minimum? If you know us, you know we'd choose some of our cured cuts over a sweet snack any day. So here's a wild idea - opt for savoury Easter snacks like beef jerky instead!
Cut back on mindless chocolate-eating this Easter and opt to enjoy some tantalising 24-hour marinated, air-dried beef from The Jerky Co. Plus, there are tons of ways you can get creative with jerky in the kitchen. We have a whole recipe section dedicated to that! Keep scrolling to learn why you should go easy on the sugary Easter snacks, and get inspired by some of our favourite ways to serve jerky at your next Easter dinner.
Why you should cut back on sweet treats this Easter season
Sure, having chocolate eggs on Easter is as tasty as it is tempting, but there's a number of reasons why it's so hard to quit snacking on this processed sweet treat. The large amounts of added sugar in milk chocolate gives you an instant dopamine kick - one that makes you crave it again and again! Sugar is one of the main culprits responsible for making you feel bloated, put on unwanted weight, feel anxious, have increased blood pressure, and much more. Although the initial spike in blood glucose levels can trick your body into thinking you feel great, the high only lasts for a short while before blood glucose levels crash and bring on the negative bodily symptoms. Indulge now and feel the consequences in your gut later.
Easter baskets tend to be filled with festive snacks like white chocolate Easter eggs, caramel Easter bunnies, jelly beans, and almost anything else made out of chocolate. These Easter snacks may be a tempting sweet treat, but they have an exceptionally high sugar content that contributes to that familiar post-meal sluggishness. While it's okay to snack on sweet treats from time to time, the Easter season tends to encourage us to overindulge on heavily processed, sugar-loaded snacks.
Unless you are eating only dark chocolate that is 70% cocoa or higher, you're feeding your body more sugar and calories than it needs. So, to avoid the sugar crash that can lead to more sugar cravings and mood swings, why not opt for healthier Easter snacks instead? As we said, beef jerky can be a surprisingly tasty alternative that comes with health benefits.
Surprising health benefits of red meat
If you find yourself asking "is beef jerky healthy?", then try our 24-hour marinated, air-dried beef jerky to see for yourself! We think that our protein-packed snack is some of the best beef jerky in town, as we use only topside MSA grade red meat. Also, our mouth-watering jerky is made using a treasured family recipe passed down for 20 years, so you can be sure you are getting a high-quality treat. And did you know that red meat is loaded with nutrients?
Besides being an excellent source of animal-based iron that your body can easily absorb, this powerful protein is abundant in key micronutrients such as vitamin B12, zinc, calcium, and omega 3 fatty acids. While you might be tempted to snack on it all day long, it's best to chomp in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.
As the Heart Foundation recommends eating one 350g serve of red meat per week, what better way to enjoy your weekly serving than with a delicious bite of beef jerky? Treat your body and taste buds to The Jerky Co goodness - we promise you'll be back for more after Easter celebrations have ended!
How to prepare beef jerky at home
There are so many different ways to include jerky in your Easter dinners and snacks. Whether you choose to use it in entire meals, bite-sized Easter snacks, appetisers, or as drink pairings, jerky goes well with a variety of flavours and textures. Here's what we're doing this Easter at The Jerky Co:
- Easter brunch: You can't go wrong with a well-presented charcuterie board! Be generous with the amount of cured cuts and sprinkle the board with a variety of nuts, dried fruit, cheeses, and even pickled nibbles. You can also serve this as a starter.
- Easter parties: Mojitos anybody? Whip out that cocktail shaker and impress your guests with a classic mojito. Pair this refreshing drink with some jerky canapés for a real good time.
- Easter dinner: Serve up some warm Mediterranean style soup and top it with slices of fresh jerky to impress your guests.
Eat well, feel better
Opting for protein-rich snacks like beef jerky will help you stay fuller for longer while curbing any cravings for sugary Easter snacks. Do yourself a favour and check out our range of creative yet easy-to-follow recipes that include jerky. Make sure to follow us on our socials too for the latest ideas on spicing up your meals with cured cuts. And if you prefer a juicier chunk of air-dried steak, we've got just the biltong for you.
Be sure to check out our droewors and snap sticks while you're here - they're a real crowd-pleaser, that's for sure. While we’re not suggesting that you give up chocolate altogether, it’s a good idea to be more mindful about what you are fuelling your body with over the Easter holiday.