Summer meats: Australian beef

We’re right in the thick of barbecue season, which means plenty of juicy steaks. But if one of your new year’s resolutions is to eat less meat, you’re not alone. More than 50 percent of Australians are now making an effort to cut back on meat. But while cutting down on red meat is great for the planet and your health, eating Aussie beef as part of a balanced diet is actually really good for you. As a bonus, choosing Australian beef also supports our farmers and our legendary butchers, who are an absolute font of knowledge when it comes to meat prep and meal ideas. So pop into your local butchers and say hi.

According to Veronique Droulez, Senior Nutrition Manager at Meat & Livestock Australia, the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend you eat 455g of cooked red meat each week. That’s the equivalent of 650g per person of raw meat after trimming.

“This equates to three to four red meat meals a week” Droulez explains. “With meal portion sizes ranging from 100g to 200g, raw weight. This is important, as red meat is the best way to get enough iron and zinc in your diet. Both are recommended for good health.”

Aussie beef: all the good stuff

Iron is an essential component of haemoglobin, which is needed to carry oxygen around your body through your blood. It’s also important for producing energy. Zinc is needed by almost 100 enzymes to carry out vital chemical reactions in your body. It’s also a key player in the creation of DNA, cell growth, the building of proteins and healing damaged tissue. But perhaps most important of all, with Omnicron running rampant right now, zinc and iron are also essential for supporting a healthy immune system.

Red meat is also packed with 12 essential nutrients like omega-3s, B vitamins, magnesium, selenium and phosphorous. According to Droulez, we need these nutrients for energy, and for healthy muscles and optimum brain and immune system function.

So make sure you include some Australian beef at your barbecues this summer. To help you make the most of your meat, check out our tips on cooking with fire, a pit master’s pro advice on getting the most out of your backyard barbecue, and some expert guidance on how you can raise your humble barbie to greatness. Happy grilling!

For loads of recipe ideas, as well as cooking and serving techniques and advice on choosing the right cuts, head to the Australian Beef website.