What's Removed From Spam To Make Spam Lite?

We've all been there: it's almost time for bed, and you still haven't had dinner. At these moments, you need something quick and convenient, and there are very few things more convenient than Spam. This canned meat has a very long and interesting history. According to Hormel Foods, Spam became available to consumers in 1937. Since its creation, this food has served many integral roles, including providing an inexpensive dinner for families during the Great Depression and soldiers a long-lasting meal during World War II.

Today, Spam is way more than food to eat when you're looking to save time and money. There's so much you can do with this product, which is a key reason for its growing popularity; Hormel's Spam sales have been increasing for about the past seven years, reports CNN. The company has even expanded the varieties of Spam, as there are currently 15 different types available, per Hormel Foods. One popular kind of Spam is Spam Lite, which has the same flavor as Spam Classic but is often seen as a healthy alternative, via Spam. So, what's removed from Spam to make Spam Lite?

Though Spam is often branded as "mystery meat," it's only composed of a mere six ingredients. According to Hormel Foods, these ingredients are pork with ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrate. This is fairly straightforward for something that has been given a questionable reputation! However, even though Spam Classic has just a few ingredients, it's not very healthy for you. Healthline reports that a single serving provides roughly 15 grams of fat and a third of the daily amount of sodium.

As mentioned, Spam Lite has virtually the same flavor as Spam Classic, but some sodium and fat are removed to make it a healthier option. This Spam variety has 33% fewer calories, 50% less fat, and 25% less sodium, per Spam. The decrease in these components is the only difference between Spam Classic and Spam Lite. So, if you enjoy the salty, ham-like flavor of Spam Classic but don't want the extra fat and sodium, Spam Lite is the perfect option.

In hindsight, it may seem like there's not much to do with Spam. Many people simply slice and fry it, which is an easy way to enjoy this canned meat. However, there are an endless number of ways you can cook Spam, so you don't ever have to get bored when eating this food. According to the Food Network, some creative ways you can use Spam include chopping it up and incorporating it into a burrito or an omelet. Sure, you can always fill your burrito or omelet with more typical proteins, like sausage or deli ham, but Spam provides another option on days when you may get tired of choosing from the same few types of meat.

Another thing you might want to consider is neutralizing the saltiness of Spam. MasterClass reports that adding raw potatoes to a dish can level out the salt content. So, if Spam's salty taste is a bit overwhelming to you, maybe try cooking it with some diced potatoes. You can also add a dash of sugar to it, which will contrast with the salt. However, if you really want to cut down on sodium intake, you should probably just substitute Spam Classic for Spam Lite.