By Kelly Bogard

Too much red meat? Beef is bad? I’ve heard lots of rumblings lately about how beef is bad for you and that we should eat less meat by joining the “Meatless Mondays” movement. I just don’t understand how something so nutrient-rich and delicious can be so evil.

Last week, I was invited to a gathering of Texas food bloggers, hosted by the Texas Beef Council.  Twenty of us “foodie” and “mommy” bloggers learned more about how nutritious lean beef is and how it can fit into a healthy lifestyle. After getting the facts, I thought I’d dispel a common misconception about beef that I’ve been hearing lately.

Beef is not a good source of protein.

WRONG! Beef is an excellent source of protein. There are lots of different sources of protein, but beef is an extremely efficient way to pack a protein punch. There are 29 lean cuts of beef readily available at your local grocery store.

Take a look at the chart below and decide what you want to eat. Each of these choices will give you the same 25 grams of protein, but consider the calories that go along with your choice. Keep in mind, 25 grams of protein is only half of the recommended daily allowance.

beef protein -calorie comparison

It would take seven tablespoons of peanut butter to get the same protein as three ounces of steak. Now, I love peanut butter, but there is no way I can put seven tablespoons on one sandwich. (Not to mention you tack on three times the calories with your PB&J!)  And if you can eat 1-1/2 cups of black beans a day, I don’t want to sit near you anytime soon. As for tofu, there are no words… Just try it raw and tell me you wouldn’t prefer a steak.

I’m not saying you have to eat beef with every meal or even every day, but it’s time to use a little logic. The facts speak for themselves. Thanks to the Texas Beef Council and Registered Dietician Stacy Bates, MS, RD, LD, for giving me the opportunity to learn more about lean beef.

I think if I have a choice between tofu and beef, I’ll grill steak for dinner tonight!