Spam and Ham
Canned meats may be convenient, and you’ve probably got a few stashed away even now, but they’re not exactly health food. They’re packed with sodium and preservatives, and can make you feel terrible if eaten too often. Here’s a look at 15 of the unhealthiest canned meats you’ll find on the shelves—and why moderation is key.
Potted Meat
Potted meat looks unappetizing and tastes even worse. It’s usually made with odds and ends of different meats (chicken, beef, pork) that didn’t make the cut elsewhere. It’s cheap, yes, but it’s also high in sodium, fat, and additives.
Vienna Sausage
Those tiny sausages floating in mystery liquid pack a big punch of sodium and fat in each can. They’re easy to pop open for a snack, but they’re more like processed meat sticks than real sausage. And speaking of, why not just buy real sausage instead?
Chicken Spread
This canned spreadable meat might sound like an easy shortcut to chicken salad, but it’s often, brace yourself, barely recognizable as chicken at all. It’s loaded with salt, preservatives, and stabilizers and is far from fresh or healthy. You’d be better off cooking some chicken breast and making your own spread if you want real flavor and nutrition in your salad.
Canned Beef Stew
Crack open a can of beef stew and you’ll usually find a salty broth with chunks of beef, potatoes, and carrots. Sounds good at first, but most versions are overloaded with sodium and preservatives. Why not just make your own stew with fresh ingredients?
Deviled Ham Spread
Deviled ham spread has its fans, but it’s not exactly healthy. It’s more about flavor and shelf life than actual quality ham. It’s fair to have a couple stashed away for food emergencies but you definitely shouldn’t be eating too much of it.
Canned Chili
Canned chili might be a quick and easy, but it’s also an absolute explosion of sodium. Many brands rely on salt, fat, and filler to make the taste. The beans and spices sound healthy on paper, but the reality is that you really don’t want to be eating canned chili every day.
Canned Chicken
Canned chicken might sound like a healthier choice compared to pork or beef, but it’s still packed with sodium and often has a gross rubbery texture. While it works in a pinch for salads or casseroles, fresh or frozen chicken is much better.
Canned Ham
Canned ham is pressed, processed, and preserved with enough salt to keep it shelf-stable for years. It’s a favorite of preppers, but don’t worry, the apocalypse isn’t coming anytime soon and you really have no reason to eat canned ham over the regular kind.
Corned Beef
Canned corned beef is salty, fatty, and often loaded with nitrates. While it can make a quick sandwich or hash, the sodium levels are off the charts, and the fat content isn’t doing your heart any favors either. Eat it once in a while if you must, but please don’t include it as a regular part of your diet.
SPAM
SPAM is legendary, but not for being healthy. This pork-in-a-can classic that comes to us from World War II is super high in sodium and fat, with a reputation for being more about survival food than healthy eating. Sure, it has a cult following, but that doesn’t mean it’s actually good.
Canned Beef Hash
Canned beef hash is basically a jumble of beef, potatoes, and seasonings cooked into a salty, mushy mix. While it does taste nice after being fried, admittedly, the canned version is really heavy on sodium and light on actual beef.
Roast Beef Spread
Like other canned spreads, roast beef spread leans heavily on preservatives, salt, and stabilizers to keep it lasting long. The flavor is (unsurprisingly) beefy but not exactly fresh, and it usually spreads more like a paste than anything resembling real roast beef – not very appetizing.
Canned Pork Luncheon Meat
Similar to SPAM, canned pork luncheon meat is processed, salty, and loaded with fat. It’s often a mash of pork parts held together by preservatives and plenty of sodium. You can fry it up for breakfast, but if you care about your heart health, you’ll want to keep this one in the “occasional treat” category.
Canned Meatballs in Sauce
Meatballs from a can might sound quite tasty, but they’re usually more filler than meat. The sauce tends to be overly salty and sweet, masking the fact that the meatballs themselves are highly processed. Fresh or frozen meatballs are much better for you.
Canned Sausage Gravy
This southern breakfast fave isn’t exactly health food when it comes out of a can. It’s loaded with sodium, fat, and preservatives. If you want sausage gravy, why not try making some yourself instead of buying cans?
