Low carb, dried meat snacks have come a long way since the kind of beef stick sold in the gas station. These are the modern jerkies that foodies like. Rather than the traditional beef, some are made from such ingredients as elk, ostrich, alligator, venison, turkey, buffalo, trout or ahi tuna.
If it's a beef jerky stick, it may be flavored with curry, teriyaki, jalapeno peppers, and the beef even may from grass-fed cattle. These upscale jerkies are pricey but are a tasty and convenient snack that's high in protein.
You can even make your own. According to BerkeleyWellness.com, here's how to do it.
Cut lean meat (like sirloin, flank steak or top round) into thin strips. Marinate them in a low-sodium sauce or apply a low-sodium rub. Then leave them in the refrigerator for up to a day.
Bake them on low heat, 200 degrees or lower if possible, until it's dry, which will take anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours, depending on the thickness of the strips.
It costs a lot less to make your own jerky, and you'll probably like it.