Exercise Makes Wild Game Leaner

Deer or elk hunters might spend more effort retelling the story of their successful pursuit than the dietary health benefits of their properly prepared game meat.

But lean and just plain healthy game meat is substantially lower in saturated fat than beef, pork, chicken and even some seafoods, according to health experts contacted by the California Fish and Game Department.

Considering that the fat intake for most Americans exceeds the recommended daily allowances established by the American Heart Association (AHA), game meat becomes a healthy, attractive alternative.

Wild meat is lean by virtue of exercise. Wild animals expend a tremendous amount of energy foraging and staying alive, and develop lean muscular tissue.

Domestic meats generally are from animals that receive little exercise and, in the case of beef, are raised to develop marbling, fat streaks prized for flavor but high in saturated fat.

Further reducing their fat content, wild animals tend to forage on grasses and shrubs rather than on the richer diet of grains and other feed that domestic livestock is fed.

Comparisons between game and domestic meats are striking. For example, a 3.5-ounce serving of elk contains 146 calories, 1.9 grams total fat and .7 grams of saturated fat. Lean roast beef, on the other hand, has 239 calories, 14.3 grams total fat and 7.2 grams of saturated fat.

Those who prepare game meat need to recognize that it is naturally lean and has very little muscular fat. Cooks must prepare it differently than they would store-bought domestic meats.

Here are two successful ways to prepare good cuts of game meat.

Hot and quick searing on a mesquite grill is a tried-and-true method for the better cuts of game meat, such as tenderloins and small medallion cuts. Searing keeps the moisture in, an important consideration with lean game meat.

Slow cooking with moisture. It’s important to retain moisture since there’s so little fat to begin with. For lesser quality cuts, brazing with flour, adding liquid and combining with other food items, such as in a stew, is recommended.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo; Graphic: The skinny on wild meat