As students head back to classrooms and extracurriculars, maintaining optimal nutrition is crucial for their success. Packed with ten essential nutrients kids need to thrive, including zinc, protein, and iron beef is a food that stands out in supporting academic and physical performance.
This month we are encouraging you to share content on your social channels to help get the school year off to a happy and healthy start, by highlight easy meal ideas, school lunch recipes, and the nutritional benefits of beef. Read more below for other ideas on joining these conversations this month and how beef can play a vital role in a thriving school year.
- Highlight your families favorite quick and easy meals or how you meal prep for the week
- Showcase the nutritional benefits of beef and how it fits into a healthy, sustainable diet
- Share how you pack your kids’ lunch and use planned-overs to save time
Let us know what you are sharing on your social channels in the MBA Facebook Group, and by tagging Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. in your social media posts!
Check out this delicious Recipe!
Tiny Taco Beef Tarts:
Ingredients:
12 ounces Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup prepared mild or medium taco sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 packages (2.1 ounces each) frozen mini phyllo shells (30 shells total)
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese blend
Toppings:
Shredded lettuce, sliced grape or cherry tomatoes, guacamole, lowfat dairy sour cream, sliced ripe olives (optional)
Cooking:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef, onion and garlic in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up beef into small crumbles and stirring occasionally. Add taco sauce, cumin, salt and pepper; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is heated through.
- Place phyllo shells on rimmed baking sheet. Spoon beef mixture evenly into shells. Top evenly with cheese. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until shells are crisp and cheese is melted.
- Top tarts with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, and olives, as desired.
Safe Handling Tips:
- Wash hands with soap and water before cooking and always after touching raw meat.
- Separate raw meat from other foods.
- Wash all cutting boards, utensils, and dishes after touching raw meat.
- Do not reuse marinades used on raw foods.
- Wash all produce prior to use.
- Cook steaks and roasts until temperature reaches 145°F for medium rare, as measured by a meat thermometer, allowing to rest for three minutes.
- Cook Ground Beef to 160°F as measured by a meat thermometer.
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
For more information on degree of doneness and other cooking tips visit: https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/cooking/determining-doneness
For more information on safe food handling and beef safety, see: https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/cooking/food-safety
