Enjoy that turkey, really

3 comments November 19th, 2008

I’ve recently become a fan of audio-book adaptations of novels by James Patterson.

In one of them — it might be Roses are Red — he quotes a character as saying something to the effect that the properly prepared white meat of a turkey is too good to be enjoyed only twice a year. I agree and here are some facts about that bird you’re about to dig into on Thursday.

Four ounces of turkey — a serving slightly larger than a deck of cards — has about 214 calories and provides about 65 percent of the recommended daily value for protein with about half the saturated fat of red meat. It’s also a good source of selenium, niacin, vitamin B6 and phosphorous.

It’s also an excellent source of tryptophan, which other than overstuffing yourself, may explain why Thanksgiving dinner makes you sleepy.

Enjoy.