Deli meat might be a lunchbox classic, but let’s be honest — not all cold cuts deserve a spot between your bread. Some are lean, protein-packed powerhouses that make throwing together a meal a breeze. Others are salt and saturated fat bombs that sneakily contain added sugars.
So, how can you tell what’s what? HuffPost spoke with three dietitians to break down the most popular picks — and help you build a better sandwich.
First, isn’t deli meat carcinogenic?
From bacon to bologna, processed meat has been on the nutritional naughty list ever since 2015. That’s because the WHO classified red and processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen, citing “sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer.”
Despite the classification, you don’t have to go cold turkey on cold cuts. “It is possible to occasionally integrate deli meats in an overall healthy and balanced diet in moderation,” said Kayla Farrell, a registered dietitian in Chicago, Illinois. “For example, one serving (2 ounces or 3-4 slices), once per week or less.”
