Pork Delivers Balanced Nutrition

Has there ever been a more pronounced moment in time where people are continually questioning the information they get? What diet they should follow? How much protein should they eat, and where should it come from? What’s on the label? Was this food ethically raised and sustainably sourced? In an age where the latest food fads often create confusion and uncertainty, pork provides balanced nutrition in a protein that offers authentic experiences and flavors, and the has a unique ability to bring people together.

As people are cooking more at home and food fatigue has set in, they’re experimenting with new recipes to break out of their normal routines. With an inability to travel during the pandemic, people are missing the new food experiences they normally enjoy when traveling across the state, the country, or the globe.

Not surprisingly, home cooks and those suffering from wanderlust have rediscovered pork at the grocery store, and they’ve been reintroduced to its incredible characteristics:

• Flavor and taste: It’s craveable and offers a variety of authentic culinary experiences.
• Connections and making memories: Pork is a centerpiece of many multicultural dishes that generations of families have enjoyed together.
• Family meals: Pork is as easy to prepare as it is versatile, so it fits into the family meal routine where quick and craveable meal solutions are important.
• Good for me: You won’t see a long list of ingredients on pork. Eight pork cuts meet USDA guidelines for “lean,” making them a good choice for the whole family.
• Sustainability and stewardship: America’s pig farmers produce pork responsibly, using farming techniques that protect the planet and are focused on animal welfare. And in the last six decades, they’ve reduced their overall carbon footprint by 7.7%.
• Farm to fork: Farmers are proud of where pork comes from and how it’s produced. From the work they’ve done to improve soil and water quality to improvements in animal welfare, consumers can feel confident about purchasing, cooking, and eating pork.

When compared to other protein foods, pork is a nutritional powerhouse providing 9 essential nutrients in just one 3 ounce serving. Pork is a high-quality protein source, providing all the essential amino acids needed for growth and maintenance, which plays an increasingly important role in muscle maintenance and weight management. Plus, it’s low on calories. A 3-ounce serving of pork tenderloin has 122 calories. You can feel good knowing that pork provides much of what your body needs to perform at its best.

For your clients wanting to live well and age vibrantly, pork is a delicious way to fuel your life as you age. Adding more protein to your diet – from foods in the meat group for instance – can be a simple way to help manage several age-related health issues. A growing body of research shows that eating a moderate amount of protein, combined with physical activity, is key to help lower risk of sarcopenia.

Additionally, studies have shown that higher protein diets – including those with lean meats such as lean pork cuts – can help with both weight loss and ongoing weight maintenance by reducing overall calorie intake and increasing the amount of calories used. Research has also shown that when people who were obese and overweight switched to a high-protein diet with 25 percent of total calories coming from lean pork and other proteins, they reported an increased feeling of fullness throughout the day.

There will always be more questions than answers when it comes to people, nutrition, and health. In a time of uncertainty and confusion, pork provides high-quality nutrition that people can feel good about eating.