Meat Eater Mondays

Have you heard this rubbish?  From what I am reading and understanding on a Meatless Monday website, going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

By not eating meat, you can limit your risk of cancer, reduce heart disease, fight diabetes, curb obesity, live longer, and improve your diet.  I am no dietitian  but from what I understand of diabetes, (I had gestational diabetes with both of my pregnancies), that diets high in protein are better at managing diabetes.  Where does protein come from?  Oh yeah....meat!  As far as curbing obesity, get outside and go for a walk and quit eating fast food every day of the week.  As far as living longer, both of my paternal great grandmas lived well into their 90's, my great Aunt is 86 and still going strong as well.  Guess what they eat (or ate) everyday?  You guessed it meat!

Since I'm feeling rather feisty today, and I totally disagree with all of the meatless Monday propaganda, I am initiating my own Monday plan.  Introducing to the Rambling Ranch Wife, starting today, every Monday is Meat Eater Monday.  I will be sharing beef facts and recipes made with beef.  (No offense to lamb, pork, and chicken producers, all awesome forms of meat, I'm just sticking with what I know)!

According to Beef Magazine, Here are six reasons to include meat in your diet:

1. It’s healthy. There are 29 lean cuts of beef, according to USDA standards. Beef provides nutrients like zinc, iron, protein and B vitamins, and half of the fat found in beef is monounsaturated, the same heart-healthy fats found in olive oil.
2. It’s easy. Using recipes from beefitswhatsfordinner.com, beef is an easy addition to a well-balanced meal. Simply fire up the grill or turn on the slow cooker, and you’ve got a healthy, simple meal that stars meat.
3. It’s environmentally friendly. Cattle graze on land that is too steep, hilly or rocky for farming. Cattle aerate the soil and eat brush, which is good for wildfire management. Check out our Earth Day page to find more reasons why beef production is good for the planet.
4. It’s affordable. Calorie-for-calorie, beef is more nutrient dense than vegetarian protein options like peanut butter, tofu or beans. You get more nutritional bang for your buck by choosing healthy, lean animal proteins. 
5. It’s kind. Cattlemen care about their livestock; it makes good business sense and it’s the right thing to do. Respectfully harvesting these animals to nourish people is a part of the circle of life, and something that ranchers take very seriously.
6. It will make you feel sexy. Without protein as the center of my diet, I feel depleted of energy. Sure, vegetables and fruits are great, but without protein power, I’m not strong. And, being strong is sexy! Be inspired by all the Team Beef members who are out leading busy, active lifestyles, competing in triathlons, marathons and more! 

In honor of our first Meat Eater Monday, I'm sharing with you my favorite Meatloaf recipe.  It is from the Country Women Magazine, reprinted in Spend The Day With Beef cookbook by the Nevada Cattlewomen.

Sweet and Sour Meatloaf 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 c. dry bread crumbs

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 eggs

1 tsp/ dried minced onions

15 oz tomato sauce, divided

Topping:

reserved tomato sauce

2 tbs. brown sugar

2 tbs. vinegar

1/2 c. sugar

2 tsp. prepared mustard

Mix together beef, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and eggs.  Add onions and 1/2 can of tomato sauce.  Form into a loaf in a 9x5x3 pan.  Bake at 350* for 50 minutes.  In a sauce pan, combine topping ingredients; bring to a boil.  Pour over meatloaf and bake 10 minutes more.  Makes 6 servings.

You can put some potatoes in the oven the same time as the meatloaf, and have baked potatoes with it.  Serve with a nice salad and you have a complete meal!