Mutton refers to meat from a domesticated sheep that is older than one year. Mutton meat is more flavorful than lamb, which is meat from a sheep slaughtered during the first year of life. It tends to be tougher and requires longer cooking times, however. Compared to other parts of mutton, mutton ribs are high in calories and fat.
Calories
A 3-ounce portion of roasted mutton ribs contains 197 calories, or 66 calories per ounce. While mutton ribs may not be the highest calorie meat choice, it is more calorie-dense than white meat poultry, lean pork chops and fish. Consuming too many calorie-dense foods may cause you to eat too many calories, leading to weight gain.
Protein
Mutton ribs are a good source of protein, providing 22 g in a 3-ounce portion. The protein in mutton also supplies your body with all of the essential amino acids, making it a complete source of protein. Your daily protein needs depend on your age, gender and activity level. In general, healthy adult men needs 56 g of protein a day and women, 46 g. One serving of the mutton ribs meets nearly half your daily needs.
Fat
Compared to other cuts of mutton meats, the ribs make a slightly higher-fat choice. A 3-ounce serving contains 11 g of total fat, 4 g of saturated fat and 74 mg of cholesterol. By comparison, the same size serving of 8 g of total fat, 3 g of saturated fat and 80 mg of cholesterol. Both the saturated fat and the cholesterol in the mutton ribs contributes to blood cholesterol levels. For heart health, you should limit your intake of total fat to 25 to 35 percent of calories, saturated fat to less than 7 percent of calories and dietary cholesterol to less than 300 mg a day.
Vitamins and Minerals
Mutton ribs can help you meet your daily iron and zinc needs. A 3-ounce portion contains 2 mg of iron and 4 mg of zinc. Iron makes up part of the proteins that carry oxygen in your body. Men and women older than age 51 need 8 mg of iron a day, and women between the ages of 19 and 50 need 18 mg a day. Zinc is necessary for immune health and wound healing. Adult men need 11 mg of zinc a day, and adult women 8 mg.
References
- Food Consumer; What is Mutton; July 2010
- Purdue University; Lamb: Good for You; Molly Sutherly, et al.
- MayoClinic.com; Exchange List: Meat and Meat Alternatives; May 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Protein
- American Heart Association: Know Your Fats
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Iron; August 2007
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Zinc; June 2011
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