ISSUES POLICY
Nutritional Value Lacking from Proposed Dietary Guidelines By Claudia Wright
E
VERY 5 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRI- culture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services joint Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) is charged with revising Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In December 2014, the DGAC held a closed-door
meeting and approved the elimination of nutrient-dense lean meat from their proposed healthy diet recom- mendations. The lack of transparency in this meeting concerns me and leads me to believe this decision was not made with sound science. As a mother, cancer survivor and fourth-generation
rancher, I am appalled by the federal government’s seemingly all-out war on the meat industry. In fact, the suggestion of removing meat from the dietary guidelines only encourages Americans to make poor diet choices by excluding a great source of protein and vitamins from their meals. While the DGAC has proposed removal of all meat
from their suggested diet, as a rancher I can tell you fi rst-hand about the many health benefi ts of implement- ing beef into your diet. Beef provides an extremely important source of
protein for those who eat it. A 3-ounce serving of lean beef provides 51 percent of the daily value for protein. Including protein at the center of your plate will help you manage your weight, retain muscle mass, lower your risk for heart disease, improve blood sugars and make your bones stronger. The protein in beef helps you maintain a healthy metabolism and adding it to your meals can make you feel satisfi ed longer. Additionally, beef is one of the most nutrient-rich
food products because it packs a powerhouse of essen- tial vitamin nutrients that benefi t people of all ages. It provides an excellent source of zinc, vitamins B12 and B6, selenium, phosphorus, niacin, choline, iron and ribofl avin. These resources help provide for a healthy
110 The Cattleman March 2015
body that will give you energy throughout the day. Some schools across the country have decided to
practice “meatless Mondays”, removing meat from school lunches every Monday. USDA has also supported this initiative in the past. In my opinion, this is not the way to start off a child’s week, and I have many concerns with the trend of removing meat from meals. It is crucial for young children to receive a suffi cient
amount of protein and nutrients for proper growth. I remember that when my daughter was younger, I made sure she had beef in her diet. I knew that in- cluding this important food source would provide the healthy resources she needed to help her grow strong and healthy. I would never suggest that vegetables be removed
from a person’s diet, so why would anyone suggest taking meat off the plate? I believe the 5 food groups of meat, vegetables, fruits, grains and dairy are all es- sential in a person’s diet, and they are included for a good reason. No single food group can provide all the nutrients needed each day. Moderation and balance are key factors, and that is what we should be teach- ing our kids. Meat has always been on the menu at my house
and it always will be. There is no denying the many health advantages that beef and other meat and poul- try sources provide for people of all ages worldwide. I strongly encourage everyone involved in the meat
and poultry industry, as well as producer groups, to take a stand and let the DGAC know the many posi- tive aspects of meat in a person’s diet, and how their proposed dietary guidelines must be reconsidered. TSCRA will be remain actively involved to make
sure meat remains a part of the American diet, and we will do everything it takes to educate our kids and consumers on the many benefi ts of implementing beef into their diet.
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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