Carson meeting a baby calf for the first time this winter! Big Brother Corbin was excited to show him the ropes in the barn!
May is National Beef Month so I thought it’d be fitting to talk about this powerhouse lean protein! In addition, today is Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday so a fitting day to discuss hamburger which you use for your taco meat!! As many of you know, my husband Adam raises beef cattle with his dad and brother. Our sons are the 6th generation of Raml Cattle. Cattle and ranching aren’t just their jobs, it is truly their passion and they do anything in their power to make sure their cattle are healthy and well to produce a top notch protein on your plate. Ranching and farming are not easy in today’s world, but we are blessed to be able to raise our boys on the ranch and show them how hard work, perseverance, and passion can pay off.
Now you may think I am just bias, but science doesn’t lie–I’m putting on my nutrition hat now and want to share how lean red meat can be included in a heart healthy diet! Did you know that beef is 20% leaner than it was about 15 years ago? There are at least 29 cuts of lean beef which means they meet the government guidelines for lean, meaning each cut has less than 10g of total fat, less than 4.5 g of saturated fat, and less than 95mg of cholesterol (in a 3 oz serving). Lean beef is also a great source of multiple vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, iron, and choline.
Here are some tips for you to make beef a part of your heart healthy meals:
• Look for key words such as “round” or “loin” …these are typically leaner cuts.
• Choose 90% or greater lean beef. This means in a 3oz serving there is less than 5g of fat in it.
• Use healthy cooking methods such as grilling, broiling, baking, roasting, or braising. The less tender cuts can be marinated in a tenderizing marinade such as salsa or light Italian dressing.
• Trim the fat! Trimming the fat before cooking will help eliminate some of the fat from the cut.
• Cook with fresh ingredients such as lemon juice, peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs instead of adding extra fat to the cut.
• Practice portion control. Select the 3-5 oz serving over the 10oz. Balance is key to a healthy diet, so be sure to include your fruits and veggies and whole grains along with your lean meat to create a healthy plate.
• All meat is required to have the nutrition content (label) posted by it in the grocery store. Be sure to use this when you’re selecting your cuts of meat and pay special attention to the total fat and saturated fat content.
Right now with meat shortages in the grocery stores, it’s a perfect time to check out your local ranchers and buy their meat. You know where it comes from and it’s an excellent and nutritious power packed protein for you and your family!
If you want to learn more about the benefits of beef and explore healthy recipes check out these websites: www.beefnutrition.org and www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com.
Below are some of my favorite pictures of our world on the ranch.
Eat beef, it’s what’s for dinner!
Kelsey
Corbin checking out the show calves.
Corbin loves the baby calves! He enjoyed a break from working cattle with this little one last summer.
Tough guy ready to work those calves. 🙂
Helped his dad deliver twins this spring!Adam giving the cows some mineral. We like happy, healthy cows!Learning the ropes from dad at the Black Hills Stock Show. This baby’s mom won the Black Hills Stock Show Champion Angus and Supreme Row.
Last week I ran a Half Marathon–a virtual Half Marathon because the Skedaddle race in SF was cancelled due to COVID-19. It was the furthest I have run in the last 15 months. I was not sure how I would do, both physically and mentally. My health issues took a lot out of me last year, and again, both physically, and for sure mentally. I did not know how I would do, or feel, or if I could make it. Sarah rode her bike along side me the whole way, to keep me company, as she tells me. I think it was more she was going to be sure I was going to do OK with this. She and some of the others in our run group ran it the day before, and of course, following social distancing as well. Our daughter was one of them, who also set a personal best for herself the day before mine. I held off because I had a sore calf, and did not know it I should, or could. Amazingly, everything went fine, and it was a perfect day for weather.
I am definitely feeling like I am alive again, and getting stronger. I am not ready to be done running. It is my escape, and time to think, and when we can all get back to running together again, it is a time to socialize with friends.
Just go! No music, no distractions. Just running with my own thoughts, and some discussion with Sarah on this run.
I finished in 2:04:32. I did not think I would be breaking 2 1/2 hours, and I almost broke 2! I started out easy, and then gradually kept picking it up. It usually takes me a while to get in a groove to begin with, and this day was no exception. Physically I was able to do it, but I think, and even more important, my mind could handle it. I proved to myself I still could do what I love to do. It has been a slow process, but I continue to keep improving. What more could I ask for?
Boy is this the truth! I will never take it for granted again. We are all human, and cannot control everything. Many of us do not get second chances to do what we love to do. Many of us don’t even get second chances with life. Keep going each day, for tomorrow is not guaranteed. Don’t leave behind any unfulfilled dreams or goals.
Go find yourself! Whether running, walking, or other activity. Just keep moving! Utilize your time. “Choose wisely!” Never lose sight of your dreams/goals. There will be setbacks along the way, but don’t let them control your future. It may take longer to get there, but in the end, you will be stronger, both physically and mentally, to take on anything in life that comes along. Personal goals are different at this point compared to what they were when I was younger. Times achieved with the runs still provide me some degree of improvement for me, but the ultimate achievement is that I can still participate, regardless of how fast I may be anymore. I had those days already.
Now, for me, it is more important to see those sunrises on those early morning runs, or the sunsets on those late evening walks. I have to admit, I am taking the time to appreciate them more often. I am seeing things in a different light. They have always been there, but I have just been too busy to pay attention. I think that could be said for all of us. Slow it down, take the time to look, and appreciate what you see. This health experience has helped me to do that, so not all things bad are completely bad. Look for the positives in life. They truly have more meaning. Keep focused on that while you keep going. Keep moving everybody!
Inflammation is an important part of
our immune system’s response to injury and infection. It is our bodies way of
signaling the immune system to defend, heal, or repair itself against possible
infection or bacteria. Without inflammation as a physiological response, our
body would not heal properly, and many conditions would be deadly.
That being said, if our inflammatory
process goes on longer than needed or if it occurs in unnecessary places,
inflammation suddenly becomes an issue. Chronic inflammation has been linked to
the development of numerous diseases and health conditions.
Your diet and lifestyle habits can contribute to your bodies inflammation. It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep inflammation in check.
Starches, Fruits, Vegetables
Choose whole-grain starches, fresh whole fruits and vegetables.
Consume a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
Limit refined starches (white versions) and added sugars (white or brown sugar, soda, energy drinks).
Meats
Limit high-fat red meat such as prime rib, bacon and sausage, as well as processed meats (ex: bologna, salami and hot dogs). These are higher in saturated fat, which if consumed in excess can increase inflammation.
Choose skinless poultry, fish, eggs, legumes.
Fat
Limit saturated fat. This includes butter, whole milk, cheese, high-fat red meat and skin on poultry. Our bodies only require a small amount so excess intake will increase inflammatory risk.
Be very cautious or avoid trans-fat altogether (ex: prepackaged baked goods, flavored coffee creams).
Choose monounsaturated and omega-3 fats, these are thought to neutralize inflammation. Found in olive oil, avocados and nuts.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in salmon and tuna, walnuts, and ground flaxseed. Omega-3 is an essential fat that our bodies cannot make. We must obtain it from dietary sources or supplements.
Other suggestions
Flavor food with spices and herbs that have antioxidant properties such as garlic, green herbs, ginger, and turmeric.
Moderation in all areas, excess of any food (even if it has anti-inflammatory properties) is not a good thing.
An exact and strict diet plan for a patient with chronic inflammation is still lacking but we do know general healthy eating suggestions that help produce anti-inflammatory results over time. The suggestions above will come as no surprise, as it is information we have all heard numerous times. The key is to adapt these suggestions into your daily lifestyle.
• Plan meals around fresh produce, lean proteins, and low fat dairy items that are on sale and utilize sales and coupons. Check store flyers and coupons for additional savings. Compare brands to choose the lowest price. Once you’ve identified the sale items, incorporate them into simple meals—baked, grilled, or broiled meats and fish, add veggies (frozen or canned…or fresh if on sale), and whole grains (brown/wild rice, whole grain noodles, etc…or even a potato—which is cost effective).
• Create a shopping list and weekly eating plan and stick to it! Prioritize your food dollars with nutrient rich choices. Prepare your meals with similar ingredients to keep your grocery list minimized. Skip highly processed and packaged foods. They are not so healthy and can add up in spending.
• Choose low-cost recipes and meals. Recipes with fewer ingredients are often cheaper and quick to make.
• Shop fruits and veggies in season—seasonal produce is at its peak flavor and typically sold at a lower price.
• Canned and frozen fruits and veggies can be just as nutritious and offer an alternative to fresh in regards to being more budget friendly. Be sure to check the ingredients and label to avoid items with high or added sugars or salt.
• Meat, chicken, and fish are often the highest dollar ingredient in a recipe. Consider buying a larger quantity of meat that is on sale and preparing extra for a few meals. You can also incorporate more non-meat proteins into meals such as beans, nuts, and eggs.
• Save leftovers! Freeze them for a later date. Or, keep them in the fridge and eat within a few days.
• You can also double a recipe so you’ll have extra for easy meals later that week.
• Reduce waste- make the most of your food spending by cutting down on waste. Plan to use highly perishable items first and save more hearty items for later in the week. Incorporate this into your planning!
Tips: Low-Cost Healthy Cooking
• For canned veggies and beans, drain and rinse them before using.
• For frozen veggies, use those without added sauces.
• For canned fruit, drain and rinse it if canned in syrup.
• For frozen fruit, make sure it has no added sugar by checking the ingredient list.
• Cook with less processed grains like regular oats and rice. They cost less than the instant type.
• Drink water with meals instead of buying soda and alcohol.
• For beef, cook with chuck or bottom round roast. These cuts have less fat and cost less. They need to be covered during cooking and cooked longer to make the meat tender.
• When cooking ground meat, drain and rinse it under hot water after cooking.
Working out as a family not only pushes you to get moving, but you can all gain strength at the same time. We all have particular exercises we like doing, but strength training is important for all of us. It not only makes us stronger, but endurance, balance, and coordination can all improve as well. When you are done, you can see which one of you in the family can have bragging rights for that day on who “killed that workout”!
A portion of my garage is converted into what I call the Reiflex Center, our personal gym, where we can work on weights, and body strength exercises. Some other additional equipment helps too, such as kettle bells, hand weights, weighted balls, and jump ropes. You can also be creative with certain exercises with make shift equipment. The best equipment to have is you! Show up! There are all kinds of body weight activities to do as well that are also very good for gaining strength.
They are numerous different activities that you can do to gain strength. With everything going on with the pandemic right now, we are out there 3 days a week, for up to 30 minutes each time, doing a variety of exercises. Typically Sarah and I will do 5 different exercises, with different repetitions depending on what the activity is, completing 1 round of all 5 activities, and then repeating for 5 different sets. We are sweating when we are done!
We can keep each other motivated, as well as have some fun. When our daughter Megan joins us, we can have someone else to push, or laugh at as well!
Especially when she is struggling with the push ups! Unless you have done them, you don’t know how tough they can be!
The biggest thing is we can all get a workout in, but we can have fun doing it. It is times like this when you have to be creative. That is what I like about working out at home. I have my own access 24/7, and just have to walk to the garage. You don’t need to have a lot of fancy equipment, you just have to move. The music is going, and we are laughing, but we are getting activity as well. The strength training is important, and we all need to do this 2-3 times a week. It is amazing how far we have already come in regards to this, and how much this helps our running for Sarah and I, and swimming for Megan. Be creative. You need a little space. What I have spent on equipment already has long been paid for with what a membership would cost, and I truly can use it anytime. What are you waiting for? Keep moving everybody!
