Heart Month: Nebraska Beef Council promotes heart-healthy eating with beef

Even before February begins, conversations about heart health are underway across Nebraska, with the Nebraska Beef Council working to help residents enjoy nutritious meals while managing cardiovascular risk.

“February is Heart Month. And for us, Nebraska Beef Council, it is honestly one of the most important times of the year,” said Mitch Rippe, director of nutrition and education with the Nebraska Beef Council.

Throughout February, the council partners with healthcare facilities statewide – from Omaha to Alliance -to host nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations. This year, 18 facilities are participating, including Nebraska Medicine, Methodist Health System, and Bryan Health. The programs aim to help patients make realistic food choices rather than focusing solely on restrictions, with a particular emphasis on lean beef.

“Instead of focusing on restriction, we’re going to focus on realistic choices,” Rippe said. “We talk about lean beef. We talk about portion size. We talk about cooking methods. And we show people how to build meals that are both nutritious and enjoyable.”

A recent outreach project with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association targeted physicians and family care providers with “high quality protein toolkits,” providing both patient-focused and scientific resources. The results showed measurable behavior changes among healthcare professionals.

Rippe said 94 percent of physicians plan to recommend beef more often.

“But perhaps my favorite statistic is that as a result of these toolkits, 80 percent of physicians now plan to increase their personal consumption of beef.”

In addition to education, the council encourages practical meal planning for heart health. Rippe recommended focusing on lean cuts in moderate portions and incorporating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

“Let’s not overcomplicate things. Let’s try to go ahead and select the lean beef cut in a three-, maybe up to a six-ounce portion. Let’s add in some fruits, vegetables and whole grains in any capacity that you want,” he said.

Heart-healthy beef recipes can be found at beefitswhatsfordinner.com