By Kelly Bogard

February is Heart Health month. It serves as a good opportunity to look at what we’re eating and start making better choices on what we put on our tables. Lean meat is a great way to nourish our body and our taste buds.

For as long as I can remember, there has been a sometimes loud and sometimes not-so-loud discussion about the benefits and risks of lean beef in our diet. And, though I’m no expert on this, I do believe lean proteins are an important part of our diet and should be consumed in moderation.

These tips will make it tasty and nutritious.

1. Get the right cut
Every steak is not the same. You want to select one that is well-marbled, meaning it has fat evenly distributed throughout the cut. A t-bone or strip steak are both good lean choices.

2. Season it up
You can season a steak without adding a lot of sodium to it. Fresh cracked black pepper and garlic add a bit of heat and flavor. To give it just a little salt, we like to marinate our steaks in Worcestershire sauce or low sodium soy sauce for about 30 minutes prior to grilling.

3. Heat is good
Searing a steak over high heat seals in the juices and brings out the natural flavors of the meat. A quick flash of heat to both sides before moving to a lower temp area of the grill will help your steak stay juicy while it gets to your preferred doneness.

4. Take a rest
When your steak is close to being grilled to perfection, pull it off the grill and let it rest while wrapped in foil. This will help the meat finish cooking and will also let all of the juices redistribute in the steak. After all, no one likes a dry steak.

5. Finish out your plate
Adding grilled vegetables or a nice spinach salad can give you some of the extra nutrients you need and make for a filling meal.

Following these simple steps will get you to a tasty, satisfying meal. Finding a heart-healthy balance for your meals isn’t always easy, but it can bring plenty of flavor and, hopefully, many more healthy years. From all of us at Texas Table Top, enjoy!