I prefer to avoid processed meat products completely. Who needs all those chemicals? After so many years of not touching this stuff, it doesn't even taste good anymore.

Original Post by: lkbr

I prefer to avoid processed meat products completely. Who needs all those chemicals? After so many years of not touching this stuff, it doesn't even taste good anymore.

A very good point about processed meats.  While I still eat them I have cut back on them dramatically, and after reading this review will be sure to try the turkey pepperoni.  I've tried the turkey bacon and prefer pork bacon on the rare occasion when I do eat bacon.

A while back I read that some scientists are speculating that processed meats play a large role in the chances of getting cancer from eating red meats.  It's all the additives and the processing itself that are the problem.  This info helped motivate me to avoid processed meats more than I had prior to reading about this possibility.

Although the calorie and fat count might be reduced, I'm willing to bet they're still packed full of sodium.

Yes, I love pizza and since I've been dieting and losing weight have been making my own - using low fat cheese, along with a lot of veggies and whole grain crust.  I started using the turkey pepperoni a few months back and love it!  I've also found this chicken sausage at Walmart which I also put on the pizza.  It's called Bistro Sensations - flavor is Habanero with Monterey Jack Cheese.  They are delicious on their own as lunch or on a pizza.  They are only 120 calories per sausage, have 18 grams of protein and only 6 grams of fat.  They have so much flavor (if you like spicy).  I love them!

Nice review! I don't eat red meat, so a pepperoni substitute (other than soy) sounds wonderful! I'm sure it would taste great in a low cal Italian sandwich/sub. Very surprised that the sodium is actually lower than other types of pepperoni, 430mg versus 500+. Will be sure to try it once I see it on the shelves. :)

we like the turkey pepperoni too, but turkey bacon has never turned out good for me!  I think there is a fine line between it being done and overdone, and when cooking time crosses that line the bacon becomes dangerous to eat... it gets TOO crispy.  I had nearly choked on a piece stuck in my throat, then my 2 year old did too :(  I have yet to find a way to cook turkey bacon that I like the consistency...

Have not tried the turkey pepperoni but will do so now!  We have made a complete switch to turkey bacon and have not looked back.  We use it in everything.  I think if you can save the calories then thats the way to go.  It has worked for us!  I have lost 70lbs and my husband is up to about 80lbs!

Gotta be careful of that - if they cut out the calories, they're likely cutting out nutrients too, and as soon as that happens, you're gonna eat it and get hungry as heck :x

The Hormel turkey pepperoni also is very good.  I actually prefer it over the regular stuff because it is not as greasy.  A few slices on a sandwich liven it up quite nicely, and I do not mind putting some of these on a homemade pizza.

Yes, of course, these products are still packed with sodium and are hardly good for you.  However, no one should think they could just go hog-wild with them.  These are "better," but they are still treats or good ways to ease into a healthier lifestyle.

I thought one of the basics of dieting they said on calorie count was not to reward yourself with food? Oh well~

I love turkey pepperoni! The type we get is usually spicier than the real stuff though. However I really, really don't like turkey bacon. The brand we tried wasn't anything close to real bacon and just all around gross lol. We don't eat bacon very often so when we do I just eat a smaller portion and buy the real stuff. 

I love turkey pepperoni! The type we get is usually spicier than the real stuff though. However I really, really don't like turkey bacon. The brand we tried wasn't anything close to real bacon and just all around gross lol. We don't eat bacon very often so when we do I just eat a smaller portion and buy the real stuff. 

Recently I tried the Hormel Turkey Hot Italian Sausage, and it is a fantastic product. I used it in my pasta sauce recipe and my husband never noticed any difference. Next I made a sausage stew, and cut up the sausage into 1/2 inch rounds and browned them, then added all the vegetables and tinned tomatoes and simmered it until they were fork tender.  There was no grease floating on the top as happens with regular Italian sausage, and the taste was exactly the same.  Hormel got this one right!! I highly recommend it.

My favorite turkey bacon is Trader Joe's Uncured Turkey Bacon 30 calories & .5 g fat per slice, I crisp it in the microwave. Similar to, but much cheaper than what Whole Foods sells.

As for the soy, I like the Armour brand, but have also been very happy with

Smart Deli Pepperoni which is actually soy protein that admirably mimics the real thing.

"15 slices provides 50 calories" not sure how that can be correct unless it contains about as much nutrition as the packaging!!!

I prefer to make my own pizza and put chicken and hot peppers on it. Much tastier/healthier than boring ole pepperoni and cheese! 

With bacon and Parmesan, we never substitute. The real thing delivers so much flavor that eating them in moderation is pretty easy.

We don't often eat bacon, but when we do we buy uncured. It doesn't keep as well (obviously) and is more expensive, but it's worth the extra buck or two.

Did not know of the turkey pepperoni but will definitely try it once I see it out there now!  My son loves regular pepperoni-maybe I could get him to switch over to turkey :/ 

Switching to turkey bacon and/or turkey pepperoni doesnt just save you on calories but that bad for you FAT!  I completely switched to turkey bacon once I found out I had high cholesterol.  I even found a chicken bacon by a local meat dealer-YUM! Making those small changes like that on everything really makes the difference on staying healthy; not just losing weight!  And that is the key - maintaining a healthy lifestyle :)   Thanks for the great article!

I'd rather eat less real bacon than turkey bacon.  Even better is boar bacon which has 40% less fat than pork bacon.  It tastes better than pork bacon (if that's even possible).

I have been using turkey bacon for years and actually prefer it to pork bacon now. Much less fat, faster to prepare, less cleanup. But lately, I have stopped using it altogether because of the high sodium.  It is a rare morning when I treat myself to any kind of breakfast meat.

I have been using turkey bacon for years and actually prefer it to pork bacon now. Much less fat, faster to prepare, less cleanup. But lately, I have stopped using it altogether because of the high sodium.  It is a rare morning when I treat myself to any kind of breakfast meat.

I have never tried turkey pepperoni but I have had turkey bacon and turkey breakfast sausage patties which I really like.  However, I haven't had either in several months as I am trying to eat fewer processed foods.

I don't eat red meat, so if I eat pepperoni or bacon, it is always turkey based.  I buy the bacon at Whole foods that does not have MSG because I am sensitive to it.  I buy the Hormel Turkey Pepperoni and put it in salad or eat it with string cheese for a snack....Im always struggling to get protein and this helps.  I can't tell the difference in taste, but I am told it's because I don't eat REAL bacon or pepperoni :)

i use both the turkey bacon and the pepperoni occasionally. i have found that the turkey bacon comes out much better if you cook it in the microwave. i put it in a paper towel top and bottom and it comes out great. we like it a lot. and the pepperoni isnt bad when you make a homemade pizza, just use lots of onion and peppers, etc.

You are so right about the sodium.  I've been trying to stay low sodium for my husband and myself because we both have high blood pressure medication.  There's sodium everywhere, even in the ingredients I use to cook from scratch!

Bacon is bacon and that means Pork. You have to figure out what calories you want to"waste" or "use' your calorioes on.  Some bacon "substitute" products are good, others not so much.  It's all personal taste/&preference plus the sugar content like 'high fructrose corn syrup."  Beware of labels.  I have learned to  eat what i like in moderation, careful to read labels and be mindful of portion sizes. Turkey bacon and burgers can be decietful...look for the calorie content.  Sometimes a beef burger or pork bacon strip aren't so bad.  Depends on where you are at calorie wise.  good luck calorie counters....We Rule!!!!! 

Thanks for reviewing this. I was interested in the salad tip. I'll have to give it a try. Dinner for me is usually some gigantic salad, and it's nice to have new things to throw in there (after carefully measuring it, of course).

Do they add even more sodium than regular pepperoni or bacon?

I much prefer the real bacon.  I once bought the turkey bacon and actually threw out the rest of the package because of the taste.  I now buy center cut bacon which is a little smaller slice and is 70 calories for 3 slices.  For me it is a no-brainer to get the real stuff and enjoy.  I usually make two blt's out of 4 slices and have them on high fiber english muffins.  You get a lot of taste out of those calories  I guess it's just personal preference.  If you like the turkey substitutes then enjoy, but I will stick to the real thing.

I use Turkey products all the time, Turkey Bacon, Sausage, Ground Turkey, and I have also used the Turkey Pepperoni and I love it.

We use turkey products whenever we can, and have been for years.  My whole family loves it.  I know it still has a lot of sodium in it, but there is still less than the real stuff.

I use turkey for any meat I can. I make calzones and use whole wheat pizza dough, turkey pepperoni and reduced fat mozz cheese or I switch the pepperoni out for spicy turkey italian sausage. Soo much less grease and nobody can even tell the difference!