1. Your Beef Checkoff: Sharing Beef’s Nutrition Message

2. Beef: A Nutrition Powerhouse
Naturally rich source of 10 essential nutrients
Excellent source of protein, one of the most satisfying nutrients
More than 29 lean cuts
“Nature’s best tasting multi-vitamin”
By choosing beef, your patrons can enjoy healthy meals without sacrificing taste they love.
The protein in beef is a powerful nutrient that helps strengthen and sustain your body.
A substantial body of evidence shows the 10 essential nutrients in lean beef, such as protein, iron and B-vitamins can help satisfy you and maintain a healthy weight, build muscles and fuel a healthy and active lifestyle.
There are more than 29 cuts of beef that meet government guidelines for lean and have less than 10 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.

3. Lean Beef: A Nutrient-rich Food
A 3-ounce serving
of Lean Beef =
154 Calories and
10 Essential Nutrients
Calorie-for-calorie, beef is one of the most naturally nutrient-rich foods.
A 3-oz serving of lean beef contributes less than 10 percent of calories to a 2,000-calorie diet, yet it supplies more than 10 percent of the Daily Value for 10 essential nutrients.
You’d have to consume 18 oz of cooked chicken breast to get the same amount of zinc as in 3 oz of cooked beef.
You’d have to consume at least 7½ oz of cooked chicken breast to get the same amount of iron as in 3 oz of cooked beef. 3

4. Beef: an ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ Source of 10 Essential Nutrients
Protein
Zinc
Vitamin B12
Selenium
Niacin
Vitamin B6
Iron
Riboflavin
Choline
Phosphorus
Lean beef is a naturally rich source of 10 essential nutrients that are needed for a healthy, active lifestyle
A 3-ounce serving of lean beef is an excellent source of:
protein (51% of the DV)
zinc (38% of the DV)
vitamin B12 (37% of the DV)
selenium (26% of the DV)
phosphorus (20% of the DV)
*An excellent source of a nutrient provides at least 20% of the daily value for that nutrient in one serving.
A 3-ounce serving of lean beef is a good source of:
niacin (17% of the DV)
vitamin B6 (15% of the DV)
iron (14% of the DV)
riboflavin (12% of the DV)
choline (18% of the DV)
* A good source supplies at least 10% of the daily value for a given nutrient, per serving
**A 3 oz serving of lean beef provides approximately 16% of the highest adequate intake for choline (550mg)

5. Role of PROTEIN Protein
Protein is an important nutrient due to its role in:
Managing weight
Boosting immunity
Brain development
Disease prevention
Essential for:
Regulating metabolism
Energy
A 3 oz serving of beef provides 48% of recommended daily value of protein
Americans could benefit from adding protein to their diet
Protein
The protein in beef is a powerful nutrient that helps strengthen and sustain your body.
When it comes to choosing healthy proteins, lean beef is a delicious and healthy choice.
Many Americans may benefit from a moderate to higher protein diet because of its positive role in weight management, healthy aging and disease prevention.
On average, Americans consume 5.1 oz of protein foods each day (i.e., from meat, poultry, egg, fish/seafood, nuts, seeds and soy products).
The Dietary Guidelines recommend at least 5.5 oz of protein foods daily. Therefore, Americans are consuming protein foods within the Dietary Guidelines recommendations. Americans consume 1.7 oz of beef daily, on average.

6. Protein’s Role in Optimal Health
Build muscle Boost immunity Provide energy Aid satiety/fullness Support Bone Health Build better brains Manage weight Control blood sugars
Scientific research continues to indicate that protein plays a significant role in creating optimal health, particularly with the functions mentioned above.
High-quality protein provides the right amounts of essential amino acids, or “building blocks,” the body needs to grow, build and maintain muscle and function properly.

7. Not All Proteins are Created Equal
A 3 oz. serving of lean beef offers the most amount of protein in the fewest amount of calories when compared to plant proteins such as peanut butter, black beans and tofu
When it comes to choosing protein, it’s important to realize that proteins are not created equal. Animal proteins, like lean beef and pork, skinless poultry, lowfat dairy products and eggs, are complete high-quality proteins that contain all the essential amino acids the body needs to build and maintain muscle mass.
Lean beef provides an excellent source of protein in a caloric-package where vegetable sources of protein just can’t compare.
Lean beef as a source of high-quality protein is actually a calorie-saver. A satisfying 3-oz serving of lean beef is about 150 calories on average.
Often it takes 1 ½ to 2 times more calories to get the same amount of protein from beans, nuts and grains compared to lean meat.
You would have to eat six Tablespoons (564 calories, 48 g total fat) of peanut butter to get the same amount of protein found in a 3-oz serving of lean beef (about 150 calories).
A person would need to consume 1 ½ to 2 times the calories provided in 3 oz of beef to get an equivalent amount of protein in lentils or a plant-based meat alternative such as a veggie burger.
A 3-oz serving of lean beef provides about the same amount of protein as 1½ cups of cooked black beans – but in less than half the calories.

8. Role of ZINC Critical to: Zinc
Growth & development
Immune system maintenance
Wound healing
Taste acuity
Appetite control
Meat consumption increases absorption from other foods eaten at same meal
Zinc

9. Role of IRON Iron Critical to: Meat Factor Cognitive development
Intellectual performance
Healthy pregnancy
Immune defense and performance
Meat Factor
When consumed at the same meal, meat increases the absorption of plant iron 2-4x
Pair iron rich beef with other nutrient- rich foods for healthy menu options
Iron

10. Role of B VITAMINS B Vitamins What they do: Help the body use energy
Support healthy growth and help you maintain your health
Calorie-for-calorie, beef is one of the best sources of essential B-vitamins
What they are:
Thiamin
Riboflavin
Niacin
Vitamin B12
B Vitamins
Vitamin B6
Pantothenic Acid
Biotin
Folate

11. Roles of SELENIUM, PHOSPHORUS
Well-known antioxidant
May reduce risk of heart disease
Enhances the body’s ability to fight infections
Important for:
Building strong bones and teeth
Helps your body use food as fuel
Selenium
Phosphorus

12. Lean Beef: A Delicious Fit
Many of America’s favorite cuts are lean
Average 154 calories for 3 oz. serving; only 1 more gram of saturated fat than skinless chicken breast
90% of fat consumed by Americans found in foods other than beef
Fits into low-fat diets designed to lower cholesterol
Research shows eating 6 oz. of lean red meat five or more days a week can be part of cholesterol-lowering diet
More than 29 cuts of beef meet USDA definition of “LEAN”
Less than 10g of total fat
4.5g or less of saturated fat
Less than 95mg of cholesterol per serving and per 100 grams
Beef contributes less than 10 percent of saturated fat and total fat and less than five percent of total calories in the American diet.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, recent research shows that Lean beef fits as well as chicken or fish in a heart healthy diet.
A recent study called BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) demonstrated that when adding lean beef to the most recommended heart-healthy diet it lowered heart disease risk by reducing levels of total and LDL “bad” cholesterol. Including lean beef, even daily as part of a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle, improved cholesterol levels.

13. Lean Beef in Foodservice
Bottom Round Steak
Brisket Flat Half
Eye of Round Steak
Eye of Round Roast
Flank Steak
Petite Tender
Strip Steak
Tenderloin Steak
Tenderloin Roast
T-Bone Steak
Top Round Steak
Top Round Roast
Top Sirloin Steak
Tri-Tip
Help educate patrons on lean and healthy beef items on your menu
One tip to identify lean items is to look for the words “loin” and “round” in the description

14. Additional Resources BeefFoodservice.com BeefNutrition.org
FactsAboutBeef.com
BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com