Healthiest Lamb and Game Meats, Ranked
Lamb, venison, bison, and other game meats are some of the most nutrient-dense proteins available. Here is how they compare.
Whole-category ranking instead of cherry-picked favorites
Nutrient density scoring that accounts for calories
Clear standout nutrients for each recommended food
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EatAndAchieve Editorial System
AI-assisted editorial system
This content is assembled from USDA FoodData Central data, in-house ranking logic, and reusable editorial templates to make nutrition information easier to understand.
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Pages on EatAndAchieve combine USDA source data, site-specific scoring logic, and AI-assisted drafting, then receive human review for clarity and methodology. They are educational tools, not medical advice. Read more on the About page.
We analyzed all 464 lamb, veal, and game products in the USDA database and ranked them by overall nutritional density — factoring in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals relative to calories. All values are per 100g from USDA FoodData Central.
What is being ranked
These are category-specific foods scored for overall nutrient density, not just one headline vitamin or mineral.
Why calories matter
Foods score better when they deliver more useful nutrition for the calories they cost.
How to read it
Use the top of the list for reliable staples, then scan the tradeoffs before making a food a daily default.
What makes this category strong
Category spotlights are broader than nutrient posts. They reward foods that do several jobs well at once instead of winning one narrow metric.
Best for
Finding reliable staples inside one aisle of the grocery store.
Read the list this way
Higher-ranked foods usually combine better micronutrients, better fiber or protein, and a more reasonable calorie tradeoff.
Game meat, bison, shoulder clod, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, raw ranks #1 because it is the strongest all-around performer in this category, not just the winner of one narrow metric. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (42% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 66mg per 100g.
Lamb, foreshank, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, raw makes the list because its overall nutrient density holds up well against the rest of this category. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (42% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 69mg per 100g.
Veal, shank, separable lean only, raw
Veal, shank, separable lean only, raw makes the list because its overall nutrient density holds up well against the rest of this category. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (40% DV).
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 62mg per 100g.
Veal, shoulder, blade chop, separable lean only, raw earns this spot by delivering a strong mix of nutrients without wasting too many calories. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (39% DV).
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 60mg per 100g.
Lamb, Australian, imported, fresh, foreshank, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, raw earns this spot by delivering a strong mix of nutrients without wasting too many calories. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (42% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 66mg per 100g.
Game meat, caribou, raw
Game meat, caribou, raw ranks #6 and lands roughly in the top 1% of foods we screened in this category. The biggest contributors to its score are protein (45% DV), iron (26% DV). The protein content also makes it more filling and more useful in complete meals.
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 83mg per 100g.
Veal, loin, separable lean only, raw
Veal, loin, separable lean only, raw ranks #7 and lands roughly in the top 2% of foods we screened in this category. Its clearest standout is protein (44% DV). The protein content also makes it more filling and more useful in complete meals.
Game meat, deer, raw
Game meat, deer, raw ranks #8 and lands roughly in the top 2% of foods we screened in this category. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (46% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 85mg per 100g.
Lamb, leg, shank half, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, raw ranks #9 and lands roughly in the top 2% of foods we screened in this category. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (41% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 64mg per 100g.
Veal, leg, top round, cap off, cutlet, boneless, raw ranks #10 and lands roughly in the top 2% of foods we screened in this category. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (44% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Game meat, beefalo, composite of cuts, raw
Game meat, beefalo, composite of cuts, raw earns this spot by delivering a strong mix of nutrients without wasting too many calories. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (47% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Lamb, shoulder, arm, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, raw makes the list because its overall nutrient density holds up well against the rest of this category. Its clearest standout is protein (40% DV).
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 64mg per 100g.
Game meat, buffalo, water, raw
Game meat, buffalo, water, raw makes the list because its overall nutrient density holds up well against the rest of this category. Its clearest standout is protein (41% DV). The protein content also makes it more filling and more useful in complete meals.
Game meat, horse, raw
Game meat, horse, raw makes the list because its overall nutrient density holds up well against the rest of this category. The biggest contributors to its score are protein (43% DV), iron (21% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Lamb, cubed for stew or kabob (leg and shoulder), separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, raw makes the list because its overall nutrient density holds up well against the rest of this category. The easiest thing to notice here is the protein (40% DV). It is also easier to use as a real meal anchor because the protein is doing meaningful work.
Worth knowing
Relatively high in cholesterol at 65mg per 100g.
How We Ranked
Each food was scored by adding up its contribution to 12 key daily values (protein, fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, C, D, magnesium, zinc, folate, and B12), capped at 100% each, then normalized by calories. This rewards foods that pack the most nutrition per calorie — true nutrient density.