Heather Travis Beef Information Centre March 2010

Heather Travis, Beef Information Centre

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A Trip to the Healthy Butcher

Heather Travis, Beef Information Centre

In the real (and busy) world, deciphering fact from fiction when it comes to what is really in our food can be a daunting task. Available online in an easy to use format, the Beef Information Centre’s (BIC) Healthy Butcher confirms what we always knew to be true – Canadian beef is lean, delicious and nutritious.

“With this new online feature detailing updated nutrient data, it highlights the health benefits of beef that we have always promoted,” says Carolyn Kallio, a registered dietitian with the BIC. “Canadian meat is lean and is part of a healthy diet beneficial to your overall health.”

The Healthy Butcher allows you to access the nutrient profile from four different beef categories (steaks/medallions, strips/cubes, ground beef, roasts), for up to 14 individual cuts within each category. With this interactive tool, you can compare and contrast the nutritional content of specific beef cuts at a glance in an easy to use format. The percentage of Daily Value indicates whether there is a lot or little of nutrient in the specific amount of food compared to the recommended daily intake for that nutrient. The percentage of Daily Value is represented in the virtual counter by checkmarks indicating if the nutrients within each cut are a source, good source or excellent source of each nutrient.

To gather this information, an independent, fully accredited laboratory conducted an extensive nutrient analysis on behalf of BIC. The data for each cut and ground beef category has been verified by Health Canada and is now included in the Canadian Nutrient File 2007b, published recently. The Canadian Nutrient File is a widely used database which contains a listing of foods and their nutritional information.

As you view your cuts of choice you are provided links to a corresponding recipe, making meal preparation a cinch. Within each recipe you can view the complete nutritional information for that recipe and its total list of ingredients showing clearly that beef is a healthy choice and a convenient meal option.

Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide recommends Canadians eat one to three servings of Meat and Alternatives a day, 75 grams per serving (based on age and gender). The scientific and medical communities agree eating lean meat as part of healthy balanced diet is beneficial to health. Lean Canadian beef is nutrient rich and a source of 14 essential nutrients needed every day: zinc for healthy growth, iron for oxygen and protein to build and repair the body. Many Canadians, especially women and children are at risk for iron deficiency. Beef also contains nutrients reported to be preventative with respect to cancer. These include selenium and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

Visiting the Healthy Butcher is easy. Come and find out what you already know; Canadian beef is lean, nutritious and delicious.

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