February is Heart Month! It’s a great time to highlight how lean beef can be part of a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle. Lean beef nourishes people with high-quality protein, iron, zinc, choline, and B-vitamins. Numerous research studies have shown that incorporating lean beef into a heart-healthy diet can help maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Including lean proteins like beef in the diet can also help improve satiety and help prevent mindless eating. It also may help with diet satisfaction and compliance. On average, a 3-ounce serving of lean beef only contains about 170 calories. This can easily be incorporated into a heart-healthy diet alongside plenty of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts, and low-fat or non-fat dairy.
Here are a few tips when it comes to choosing lean beef and heart-healthy diet tips!
• Choose lean beef. There are approximately 36 cuts of beef that meet the government's definition of “lean”. Look for the term loin and round in the name. That is usually a good indicator that it’s a lean cut.
• Keep portion size in mind a 3-ounce is about the size of a deck of cards.
• Trim visible fat from cooked beef before serving.
• Don’t forget to include fiber-containing foods such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains. They add flavor to a nutrient-rich meal with beef. Some ideas are broccoli, carrots, beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, strawberries, whole-wheat pasta, and brown rice.
• To help with portion size control when dining out, order a child-sized portion or eat half an adult portion and save the rest for your next meal.
Looking for a flavorful, heart-healthy recipe? Try this Creole Steak with Jambalaya Rice recipe which is an American Heart Check Certified recipe. To learn more about the research and how lean beef can be incorporated into a heart-healthy diet, visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.
Posted: February 11, 2025
Conceived by rancher and blogger, Terryn Drieling, this recipe is as good as is sounds. Green herbs provide more flavor to this roast that is sure to satisfy any hungry family.
The Federation of State Beef Councils represents the 43 Qualified State Beef Councils. Collectively, the QSBCs include more than 700 state board members and these board members represent a wide range of industry organizations and every segment of the beef industry. The Federation is a division of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), which is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. The program is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
