When you find a snack that is as good for you as it is sustainable, you keep it in your rotation and never let it go. In college, I fell in love with meat sticks: the elevated, more cylindrical version of jerky, if you will. A compact and elite snack. Most jerky, meat sticks, and other dried meat snacks are commonly made with beef, which is delicious and healthy in its own right. But what if I told you there was a better, more flavorful option out there—one that offers a more bioavailable source of protein, packs as many micronutrients as a multivitamin, and is better to consume for the health of the planet? I do not tell a lie: Maui Nui’s venison sticks are all that. Here’s why.
A Snack That’s Good for You, Good for the Planet
Using stress-free, wild-harvesting methods, Maui Nui sources its venison using ethical and responsible management practices to deliver a product that is just as good for the ecosystem as it is for you. Since Axis deer are not native to Maui, harvesting them helps to restore balance to the ecosystem. Maui Nui’s mission is built on honoring Hawaii’s history of land stewardship and continuing to take part in the islands’ important conservation initiative, which supports Maui’s delicate ecosystem. The result of this care and attention to history, sustainability, and the product being harvested is something you can taste and see in the nutritional value it boasts.
Getting Into the Macros & Micronutrients of Maui Nui
What makes Axis deer the healthiest red meat for you and the planet? Location, location, location. Because these deer feed on vegetation grown in the rich volcanic soil of Hawaii, their meat is incredibly nutrient-rich and protein-dense. It also delivers a staggering amount of macros, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids, making it the highest-quality protein with the fewest calories.
With only 107 calories per 3.5-ounce serving, you can acquire a significant percentage of your total daily value of vitamins and minerals. Moreover, Maui Nui’s venison has a 100% complete amino acid and fatty acid profile—so it’s the most balanced ratio of any red meat, pointing to healthy antioxidants and phytochemicals (the powerful nutrients traditionally thought to only be found in plants). Essentially, Maui Nui is nature’s meat multivitamin.
While you can cook and enjoy this delicious protein at home, being able to take such a sustainable and nutrient-dense source of protein on the go means you can level up your snack game tenfold.
Maui Nui Venison Sticks: The Most Nutrient-Dense, Portable Protein
Maui Nui’s venison sticks come in three flavors—all of which are hand-trimmed from whole muscle cuts, crafted in small batches, and naturally hardwood smoked. A recipe for deliciousness.
If you want to enjoy a venison stick that’s made of 98% venison and only 2% of a delicious blend of spices with just a hint of sweetness, the Original Stick is for you. With 9 grams of protein, 60 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 3 grams of carbs, it’s a satisfying snack.
Looking for something to put a little more pep in your step with the same amount of meat-to-spice ratio? The Peppered Stick sticks deliver a lightly peppered, subtle spice and is a sugar-free favorite. With 10 grams of protein, 55 calories, 1 gram of fat, and just 1 gram of carbs, it’s just a slightly more elevated version of the Original Stick.
Finally, if you’re not offended by the idea of offal, then the Peppered 10 Stick is for you. (Honestly, even if the idea of eating organs puts you off, you’d never know it was included in this one unless I told you…it’s that tasty.) The Peppered 10 Stick is the first Maui Nui meat stick to introduce offal into their snack line, truly embodying the sustainable practice of consumption that Maui Nui champions. With 5% liver and 5% heart in every stick, it harnesses the nutritional power of Axis deer organs without any of the organ flavors. So if you’re looking for a nutrition boost with significant concentrations of Vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, iron, fatty acids, amino acids, and phytonutrients, with the same delicious and lightly peppered flavor akin to their fan-favorite, this is the stick for you.
Enjoy Maui Nui at Home & on the Go
From flavorful venison sticks to fresh cuts of meat to bone broth, Maui Nui has something for everyone, for every occasion or snack situation. So whether you’re taking a weekend trip to the seashore and need a snack in the car or want to cook up a nutrient-dense dinner on the grill, you can enjoy Maui Nui’s exceptionally healthy, wild-harvested, and USDA-inspected venison at home or wherever you go.
Still not sure if you want to try it? Chew on this rave review from our founder, David Stewart:
“I have been a Maui Nui customer for over a year. This is simply the very best animal protein anywhere. I’ll have it twice a week (my favorite is the leg medallions). There is simply no other product out there that gives me this level of protein and micronutrients at such a low-calorie count. My doctors have emphasized to me how consuming high-quality protein is especially important during my surgery recovery. By being a customer, I am also contributing to improving the fragile ecosystem of Maui. This is a great, purpose-driven company with a best-in-class product.”