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Beef Jerky

Beef Up Your Immune System and Cooking Skills

Kylie Peterson | March 19, 2020

Contact: Rochelle Gilman, Director of Nutrition & Health, Iowa Beef Industry Council, 515-238-0944
Kylie Peterson, Director of Marketing & Communications, Iowa Beef Industry Council, 515-296-2305

While some of you may be stuck at home with the kids and frantically racking your brain for simple supper recipes, others may be looking for ways to boost your immune system with a nutritious and delicious meal. Either way, beef has you covered on both counts.

One serving of this Lazy Day Beef Vegetable Soup gives you a whopping 80% of your Daily Values for zinc. An added bonus—it uses stew beef meat, which is an economical cut of beef.

Most have recently been to the grocery store to stock up on essentials, and odds are you visited the meat case. If you’re looking for beef recipes for a specific beef cut, a budget or kid-friendly meal, ground beef recipes, insight on using leftover roast beef, or tips for freezing ground beef—we have resources to help.

Beef has long been America’s favorite protein and rightfully so as it delivers great flavor and powerful nutrition. The following tips will give you a better understanding of how to properly store, prepare, and cook beef:

  • Conquering New Cuts & Cooking Methods—Not sure how to prepare a recipe for a beef cut you purchased? Don’t worry, this cuts collection will provide you with everything you need to choose the perfect recipe and these cooking lessons will having you preparing a five-star meal in no time.

  •  Handling Beef Safely—Follow these beef food safety tips in order to ensure you and your family have the best eating experience possible.

  • Frozen Ground Beef—Ground beef is versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. This video shares the simple steps it takes to freeze beef to be used for a later date.

  • Ground Beef Recipes—Besides being a family favorite, these recipes are economical, versatile, and easy to make.

  • Kid-Friendly Recipe—Enjoy the goodness of this Easy Skillet Chili Mac recipe that is a fast and kid-friendly skillet meal combining ground beef, chili beans, salsa, and macaroni.

  • Recipe for Under $15—Most pantries have ingredients for meatloaf—ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs and a simple tomato-based topping. Use oatmeal or crushed saltine crackers if you don’t have breadcrumbs.

  • So Long Leftovers—Got a hankering for delicious shredded beef? Turn that leftover beef roast info a second meal—saving you time and money.

Eating a nutrient-rich diet is important for good health and strength—a diet that combines lean protein, such as beef, with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy. Beef is a natural source of 10 essential nutrients including protein, zinc and many B vitamins. “Beef is an excellent source of zinc, important for supporting a healthy immune system,” commented Rochelle Gilman, RD, Director of Nutrition and Health for the Iowa Beef Industry Council.  “In fact, the zinc found in beef is a readily available zinc source, meaning it’s in a form the body can easily absorb.” ¹

Visit https://www.iabeef.org for more beef recipes, cooking tips, and nutritional information.


¹Lonnerdal B.  Dietary factors influencing zinc absorption.  J Nutr 2000;130:1378S-83S.

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About the Iowa Beef Industry Council: The Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the $1-per-head National Beef Checkoff Program and the $0.50-per-head Iowa State Beef Checkoff.  Checkoff dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information and foreign market development, all with the purpose of strengthening beef demand.  For more information, visit https://www.iabeef.org.