Tips for Making Smarter Choices When Eating Meat

For a lot of people, meat is a key part of their daily dinner menu that they just won't give up. Interestingly enough, the USDA recently found that beef and pork consumption in the U.S. has decreased over the past decade. However, the U.S. is still among the countries with the highest rate of meat consumption in the world.

With meat being such a prominent part of our diet, itís important to keep your health and well-being in mind while planning your meals. Here are a few choices you can make to work toward a smarter, healthier diet.

Don't Forget about Veggies

When youíre eating delicious burgers or fried chicken, itís easy for fruits and vegetables to slip your mind. Try to include these in your meals as often as possible. One of the easiest ways you can do this is to make a salad to go with dinner. Salad is a very versatile side and you can incorporate fruits, vegetables, dressing, and just about anything else that you want into them.

Go for Grass-Fed Beef

Many beef cows are fed grain every day. But, grass is the natural bovine food source. Studies have shown that meat from cows that have eaten grass provides more nutrients than from cows who are fed grain. This includes vitamin A, vitamin B, and omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, grass-fed beef has been known to contain up to five times the omega-3s of grain-fed beef. Grass-fed beef also contains more conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty acid which actually helps to reduce body fat.

Add Some Eggs

Eggs are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. They provide you with nutrients such as vitamin D and B12, which helps to lower your risk of heart disease.†But, donít limit yourself to breakfast when it comes to incorporating more of them into your diet. Poached or hard-boiled eggs go great in a salad at lunch or dinner. Just make sure not to overdo it, especially if you have high cholesterol or diabetes.

Meat can be a perfectly healthy addition to any diet routine. It's one of the best sources of protein available and also provides essential nutrients such as iron, selenium and zinc. But, like with any food, it's important to take nutritional value into consideration while planning a menu.

Always try to prepare reasonably sized servings and to include a diverse mix of different food groups in every dish. This will ensure that you eat balanced meals that provide everything that your body needs for a long, healthy life.