Beef as part of a healthy lifestyle

Recognized by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee as a nutrient-dense food, lean meats – including lean beef – make it easier to “enjoy our food, but eat less” as encouraged by the 2011 Dietary Guidelines.  In fact, there are 29 lean cuts of beef that meet government guidelines for lean including sirloin, tenderloin, T-bone steak and 95 percent lean ground beef, making it easy for Americans to enjoy a variety of healthful meals that include nutrient-rich lean beef.

Released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on June 2, 2011, the new visual icon called MyPlate offers a straight forward visual that brings Americans back to the basics of nutrition, illustrating how to create a healthful plate with a balanced mix of nutrition from a variety of foods through simple, actionable steps.

America’s favorite protein, lean beef, is an essential building block for consumers to enjoy a healthful plate.  In fact, lean beef is a perfect partner for fruits, vegetables and whole grains, because beef provides 10 essential nutrients that help America build healthier diets. Pairing produce and whole grains with a favorite food like nutrient-rich lean beef helps you meet USDA Dietary Guidelines and the consumer tool recommendations while beefing up your high-quality protein needs.

For more information on MyPlate and beef nutrition, please visit the following websites:

www.beefnutrition.org
www.ChooseMyPlate.gov

For those interested in using the MyPyramid guide as a teaching tool, click here.