Turkey is not just for the autumn season. Mackenthun’s has it available year round!
Your Dietitian’s Choice this week is Honeysuckle® Gr Turkey, 93/7 for $4.99 per 1 pound package.
All About Turkey Agriculture
Minnesota is the largest turkey producer in the United States!
The broad-breasted white is the most common breed of turkey for consumption in the United States. They are able to produce greater density of breast meat and thigh meat.
- It takes approximately 28 days for eggs to hatch.
Common predators of turkey include coyotes, lynx, foxes, racoons (seeks eggs), eagles, and owls.
Due to the availability of predators in the Midwest, it is preferred that turkey agriculture utilizes environmentally controlled barns to protect the birds.
Turkeys are fed a diet blend of corn and soybean mixed with vitamins and minerals.
- It averages 75 – 80 pounds of feed to raise a 38-pound turkey for the market
When turkeys are ill, antibiotics are used to treat and control the spread of disease in the barn. Before turkeys are sent to the market, federal law requires turkey to be antibiotic free for a minimum of 28 days after last dose. This includes turkey being imported into the United States from other countries.
The National Turkey Federation has been working on efforts to reduce antibiotic use and alternative strategies to mitigate turkey illness.
Health and Wellness Benefits
Tryptophan is an amino acid (protein) that is found in greater quantities in turkey and pork. It is an important ingredient for your body to make serotonin (happy hormone) and melatonin (sleep / relaxation hormone). Additionnaly, your liver can also use tryptophan to produce more niacin (Vitamin B3) to use in carbohydrate metabolism.
- This is why many times, we get sleepy after eating Thanksgiving turkey
Turkey is one of the highest sources of selenium at 46% per 3 ounce servings. Selenium is an ingredient to produce thyroid hormones T3 and T4 which are often impaired in the prescence of hypothyroidism.
Taco Stuffed Sweet Potato by Isabel Smith, RD, CDN, DELISH Dec 19, 2018
Ingredients
Cooking spray
- 4 small sweet potatoes
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 2 tsp. taco seasoning
- 1/2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
Toppings
- 4 tbsp. black beans, drained
- 4 tbsp. corn
- 1 avocado, diced
- 4 tbsp. sour cream
- hot sauce, optional
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400º and grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork and bake until tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool, then split down the middle from end to end and scoop out a little to create a “bowl” for ingredients.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onion and carrots and cook until tender and golden, 10 minutes.
- Add ground turkey and taco seasoning and cook until golden and no longer pink, 6 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and cook 3 minutes more.
- Fill each sweet potato boat with cooked turkey mixture and top with black beans and. corn.
- When ready to eat, top with avocado, sour cream, and hot sauce, if desired.
