4 Tips to Eating Venison for Lean Gains

When the colder weather blows into town, most guys are focused on the big game on TV and not the game that is roaming around in their local forests. Deer populations have exploded in recent years, and while that’s a danger to motorists, it also means there is a lot of delicious lean meat hanging out in the woods.

Deer meat, or venison, is a great alternative to the boring boneless, skinless chicken breasts consumed by so many bodybuilders and weightlifters. “Venison is lower in fat and calories and offers a different taste to traditional red meats,” says Heather Mangieri, R.D., a nutrition consultant and the author of Fueling Young Athletes. “Plus, it’s high in the essential amino acids needed to build muscle.”

And if you are serious about building lean muscle and getting stronger, you know that increasing your intake of high-quality protein should be a priority. On average, a three-ounce cut of venison equals about 129 calories and has 27 grams of protein, two grams of fat, and one gram of saturated fat. “That makes it a low-fat but high-quality protein food perfect for a bodybuilder looking to increase muscle mass while main- taining a lower body-fat percentage,” Mangieri says. She notes that those three ounces of venison will also provide 45% of a man’s daily iron needs for the day and that the meat is a great source of phosphorus, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins.

The main drawback to venison is that the lower fat content makes it less tender than beef, but marinades can help with this problem. Also, it’s slightly higher in cho- lesterol than other red meats, so make sure to check your portions and stick with three to four ounces at one sitting.

“Venison can also be difficult to find, and it’s more expensive than other high-quality protein options,” Mangieri says. “You will likely need to visit a specialty grocery store to find this meat or become friends with a neighborhood hunter who is willing to share his stash with you.”