MOBeef Update

Many consumers may make the mistake of skipping specific foods or food groups to save money. Eliminating one type of food from the diet can be a costly decision when it comes to good nutrition. Healthy foods like lean beef don’t have to bust the family budget. It’s all in how you count your pennies – and your nutrients.

When pricing food, consumers should factor in nutritional benefits and the cost per serving to understand the full value of a food item. For example, beef is priced per pound, not per serving. If you pay $2.79 for 1 pound of ground beef, you are actually paying 69 cents per serving, because 1 pound yields four 4-oz portions.

High food prices these days are due to lot of factors consumers can’t really control. So they’re looking for ideas on how to serve nutritious family meals in an economical way. Let me assure you that beef fits the bill. It’s naturally nutrient rich; and is always a family-pleaser.

Some additional “Food For Thought”:

Beef is a nutrient powerhouse, providing less than 10 percent of calories to a 2,000-calorie diet per 3-ounce serving, and is an excellent or good source of nine essential nutrients.

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines encourage Americans to first choose nutrient-rich foods and beverages from each basic food group. These foods deliver the most nutrients in the fewest calories.

Emerging research suggests that high-quality protein, such as lean beef, plays an increasingly important role in muscle maintenance, weight management and disease prevention.

Consider that a 3-ounce serving of lean beef (179 calories) contains about the same amount of protein as 1 ½ cups of legumes (an average of 360 calories) but in half the calories.

Tips for making the most of budgets and beef meals:

Plan ahead. Shop the specials and freeze extra meat. Roasts and steaks can be frozen for six to 12 months; ground beef can be frozen for three to four months.

Consider cuts from the chuck, sirloin and the round for economical family beef meals.

Know the best way to cook the beef you buy. Even less tender cuts, such as flank steak, offer a delicious eating experience when prepared properly.

Get advice from your local meat market manager or Internet sites such as www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Prepare once, dine twice. For example, save roast beef leftovers and use them later in the week for beef fajitas to stretch food dollars.