Beef is a naturally nutrient-dense protein food that contains a number of the nutrients of concern that many Canadians need more of in their diets.

Reality check: Canadians don’t eat too much beef (or red meat)

Think you might be eating too much beef? If you’re like most Canadians, you’re not.

FACT: On average, red meat (including beef) accounts for just 5% of our total calorie intake. Tracking at approximately 2 beef meals per week, the amount of beef Canadians eat lines up with the global recommendations from organizations like the World Health Organization. To reduce the amount of nourishing beef that women, children and aging adults eat, would leave them vulnerable to deficiencies in protein, iron, zinc and B-vitamins.

Reducing red meat in our diets is not necessary, not beneficial – and in fact detrimental to some.

What’s concerning: Almost 50% of our calories today come from highly processed foods – replacing calories that should be coming from nutrient-rich foundational foods like beef. Highly processed foods typically deliver very little nourishment, yet contain high levels of fat, sodium, calories and sugar.

Most Canadians could benefit from eating less highly processed foods and eating more whole foundational foods overall. It’s the quality-calorie foods featured on the food guide plate (like beef) that are precisely the types of foods people need to eat most often. More…