Summary of 13 Best & Worst Sausage Brands, According to Dietitians:
*for other sources of healthy fats throughout the day. Additionally, each serving contains 490 milligrams of sodium, which is over 20% of the daily recommended limit. It’s important to note that the sodium and saturated fat content is based on a small serving size of just 3 links, so if you typically eat more than that, the numbers can quickly add up.
Courtesy of Johnsonville ONE SERVING: 1 link (76 g), 280 calories, 26 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 610 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 9 g protein Johnsonville is a popular brand of sausage, but its nutritional profile leaves much to be desired. Each link contains a whopping 26 grams of fat, with 9 grams being saturated fat. This is already over the recommended daily limit for saturated fat in just one serving. In addition, it contains 610 milligrams of sodium, which is about 27% of the daily recommended limit. If you’re looking to make healthier choices, it’s best to steer clear of this brand.
Courtesy of Hillshire Farm ONE SERVING: 1 link (66 g), 180 calories, 16 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 470 mg sodium, 2 g carbs (0 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 5 g protein Hillshire Farm is another brand that falls on the less healthy end of the spectrum. While it contains slightly less fat than the previous brands, with 16 grams per serving, it still has a significant amount of saturated fat at 5 grams. It also contains 470 milligrams of sodium, which is about 20% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re looking for a healthier option, it’s best to choose a brand with lower fat and sodium content.
Courtesy of Ball Park ONE SERVING: 1 link (57 g), 180 calories, 16 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 480 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 6 g protein Ball Park is known for its hot dogs, but their sausages fare just as poorly in terms of health. Each link contains 16 grams of fat, with 6 grams being saturated fat. It also contains 480 milligrams of sodium, which is over 20% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re looking for a healthier sausage option, it’s best to skip this brand.
Courtesy of Eckrich ONE SERVING: 1 link (71 g), 210 calories, 19 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 610 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 7 g protein Eckrich sausages are high in both fat and sodium. Each serving contains 19 grams of fat, with 6 grams being saturated fat. It also contains 610 milligrams of sodium, which is about 27% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re looking to make healthier choices, it’s best to choose a brand with lower fat and sodium content.
Courtesy of Smithfield ONE SERVING: 1 link (74 g), 280 calories, 25 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 1,010 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 10 g protein Smithfield sausages are one of the worst options when it comes to healthfulness. Each link contains a staggering 25 grams of fat, with 9 grams being saturated fat. It also contains a whopping 1,010 milligrams of sodium, which is over 40% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re trying to make healthier choices, it’s best to stay away from this brand.
Courtesy of Oscar Mayer ONE SERVING: 1 link (57 g), 170 calories, 16 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 480 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 5 g protein Oscar Mayer sausages may be a convenient option, but they are far from healthy. Each link contains 16 grams of fat, with 6 grams being saturated fat. It also contains 480 milligrams of sodium, which is about 20% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re looking for a healthier sausage brand, it’s best to choose one with lower fat and sodium content.
Courtesy of Jimmy Dean ONE SERVING: 1 link (76 g), 280 calories, 26 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 610 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 8 g protein Jimmy Dean is another brand that falls on the less healthy end of the spectrum. Each link contains a whopping 26 grams of fat, with 9 grams being saturated fat. This is already over the recommended daily limit for saturated fat in just one serving. In addition, it contains 610 milligrams of sodium, which is about 27% of the daily recommended limit. If you’re looking to make healthier choices, it’s best to steer clear of this brand.
Courtesy of Eckrich ONE SERVING: 1 link (71 g), 210 calories, 19 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 610 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 7 g protein Eckrich sausages are high in both fat and sodium. Each serving contains 19 grams of fat, with 6 grams being saturated fat. It also contains 610 milligrams of sodium, which is about 27% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re looking to make healthier choices, it’s best to choose a brand with lower fat and sodium content.
Courtesy of Smithfield ONE SERVING: 1 link (74 g), 280 calories, 25 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 1,010 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 10 g protein Smithfield sausages are one of the worst options when it comes to healthfulness. Each link contains a staggering 25 grams of fat, with 9 grams being saturated fat. It also contains a whopping 1,010 milligrams of sodium, which is over 40% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re trying to make healthier choices, it’s best to stay away from this brand.
Courtesy of Oscar Mayer ONE SERVING: 1 link (57 g), 170 calories, 16 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 480 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 5 g protein Oscar Mayer sausages may be a convenient option, but they are far from healthy. Each link contains 16 grams of fat, with 6 grams being saturated fat. It also contains 480 milligrams of sodium, which is about 20% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re looking for a healthier sausage brand, it’s best to choose one with lower fat and sodium content.
Courtesy of Johnsonville ONE SERVING: 1 link (76 g), 280 calories, 26 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 610 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 9 g protein Johnsonville is a popular brand of sausage, but its nutritional profile leaves much to be desired. Each link contains a whopping 26 grams of fat, with 9 grams being saturated fat. This is already over the recommended daily limit for saturated fat in just one serving. In addition, it contains 610 milligrams of sodium, which is about 27% of the daily recommended limit. If you’re looking to make healthier choices, it’s best to steer clear of this brand.
Courtesy of Hillshire Farm ONE SERVING: 1 link (66 g), 180 calories, 16 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 470 mg sodium, 2 g carbs (0 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 5 g protein Hillshire Farm is another brand that falls on the less healthy end of the spectrum. While it contains slightly less fat than the previous brands, with 16 grams per serving, it still has a significant amount of saturated fat at 5 grams. It also contains 470 milligrams of sodium, which is about 20% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re looking for a healthier option, it’s best to choose a brand with lower fat and sodium content.
Courtesy of Ball Park ONE SERVING: 1 link (57 g), 180 calories, 16 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 480 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 6 g protein Ball Park is known for its hot dogs, but their sausages fare just as poorly in terms of health. Each link contains 16 grams of fat, with 6 grams being saturated fat. It also contains 480 milligrams of sodium, which is over 20% of the recommended daily limit. If you’re looking for a healthier sausage option, it’s best to skip this brand.
When it comes to choosing the healthiest sausage brand, it’s important to pay attention to the sodium, saturated fat, and type of meat content. Opting for lower sodium options and selecting sausages made from lean meats like chicken or turkey can help reduce your intake of unhealthy fats and sodium. It’s also a good idea to consider portion sizes and how the sausage fits into your overall daily caloric and nutrient needs.
While sausage can be a delicious and versatile addition to meals, it’s crucial to be mindful of the nutritional content of the brands you choose. By opting for healthier options and being conscious of your intake, you can still enjoy the flavors and convenience of sausage while keeping your health goals in check.
