How Many Calories Are in a Smoked Turkey Leg? A Closer Look

Smoked turkey legs are a classic carnival and fair food treat. Who can resist digging into the smoky, salty, meaty goodness of a giant turkey leg as you stroll through the midway? But with their huge size, indulging in one of these turkey legs means consuming a hefty amount of calories. Just how many calories are packed into these appetizing snacks? Let’s take a closer look at the calorie count of smoked turkey legs.

Typical Serving Size: Around 1 Pound

Unlike having a slice of turkey from a delicately roasted bird at home, the smoked turkey legs served up at fairs and theme parks are the entire leg of the turkey. These drumsticks likely come from very large commercial turkeys, weighing 40-50 pounds. A typical smoked turkey leg serving weighs about 1 pound.

That’s quite a bit larger than the recommended 2-3 ounce serving size for poultry! Consuming an entire leg means you’ll be taking in a lot more calories than a more reasonably sized portion

Calories for 1 Pound Smoked Turkey Leg with Skin: Over 1,100

According to data from CalorieKing, a 19 ounce (approximately 1 pound) smoked turkey leg with the skin on contains a whopping 1,135 calories!

To put that into perspective, that’s well over half the recommended daily calories for an average adult The standard guideline is around 2,000 calories per day for the average moderately active woman and 2,500 for the average moderately active man.

Clearly, demolishing a whole 1-pound smoked turkey leg in one sitting would blow a huge hole in your daily calorie allotment.

Where the Calories Come From

Of the 1,135 calories in a 1-pound smoked turkey leg with skin, a full 486 calories come from fat. That makes the fat content a hefty 42% of the total calories!

The remaining 649 calories come from protein. There are 0 grams of carbs in a smoked turkey leg.

With 54 grams of total fat and 48 grams saturated fat, a full leg also provides over 80% of the recommended daily limit for saturated fat for most adults. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat intake to no more than 13 grams per day.

Removing the Skin Slashes Calories

One of the best ways to reduce the calorie count of a smoked turkey leg is to remove the skin before eating it. The skin is where most of the fat is concentrated.

According to data from FatSecret, a 100 gram (3.5 ounce) serving of smoked turkey drumstick without the skin has only 130 calories. That same portion with the skin has 208 calories. So ditching the skin cuts about 40% of the calories!

Tips for Enjoying Smoked Turkey Legs Without Excess Calories

Smoked turkey legs can certainly be enjoyed as an occasional treat without ruining your healthy diet if you follow some moderation tips:

• Share the turkey leg with 1-2 other people so you don’t overeat.

• Remove the skin before eating to significantly reduce calories.

• Pair it with lower calorie side dishes like a salad or grilled veggies instead of fries.

• Pay attention to your hunger and fullness cues. Stop eating when satisfied instead of overstuffing yourself.

• Savor each juicy bite. Eat slowly. Don’t inhale it mindlessly.

• Drink water instead of sugary sodas or lemonade which pile on extra calories.

• Get up and walk around the fair or theme park rather than sitting and snacking all day.

While smoked turkey legs shouldn’t be an everyday food choice, enjoying one occasionally as a special treat in moderation can fit into an overall balanced diet. Being mindful of proper portion size, ingredients, and your eating habits can help prevent excess calorie consumption.

Nutritional Pros of Smoked Turkey Legs

While their high calorie and fat content necessitates caution, smoked turkey legs do also offer some nutritional pluses:

• They provide lots of protein with over 150 grams in a 1 pound leg. Protein helps keep you full and satisfied.

• You get a hefty dose of B vitamins, especially niacin, folate and thiamin. These support energy production and metabolism.

• Smoked turkey legs are a great source of potassium, an important mineral that many people don’t get enough of. One leg provides 44% of the RDA.

• You’ll also get a mega dose of selenium, a antioxidant mineral. A full leg provides over 100% of the RDA.

So in moderation, smoked turkey legs can be incorporated into an overall healthy diet. Just be mindful of portion size and enjoy the savory flavor and nutrition boost. But don’t make it an everyday habit or the calories will really add up!

The Bottom Line

A typical 1 pound smoked turkey leg with the skin on contains over 1,100 calories and 54 grams of fat. Removing the skin slashes calories by about 40%. To prevent excess calorie consumption, enjoy smoked turkey legs sparingly as a special treat, share with others, and pair with lower calorie side dishes. While they are high in calories, smoked turkey legs can offer a tasty source of protein, B vitamins, potassium, and other nutrients. So savor your smoked turkey leg in moderation at your next fair or theme park visit!