Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has this week launched a new video highlighting the important role of beef, lamb and pork in a healthy diet.
The video, entitled “The Meat We Eat“ aims to dispel some of the myths about red meat and communicate, as simply as possible, the many nutritional benefits it offers.
“Eating a healthy balanced diet, including proteins such as beef, lamb and pork, helps keep us fit and active and our new video aims to explain that role in a simple and engaging way which all ages can understand,” said dietitian Jennifer Robertson, Health and Education Co-ordinator with QMS.
The video also helps people understand more about recommended daily intakes and highlights the fact that most people are eating an amount of meat which falls within the correct intake guidelines.
“Lean red meat not only tastes good, but is a great source of protein, b-vitamins, iron and zinc. With more than a third of Scotland’s young people lacking in iron, red meat is an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet,” said Mrs Robertson.
The video also highlights the other nutritional benefits of red meat including the role of protein in building muscle, zinc in maintaining a healthy immune system and b vitamins in fighting fatigue. Red meat can also contain vitamin D which helps to keep teeth and bones healthy and Omega 3 which helps to maintain a healthy heart.
QMS undertakes a range of activities throughout the year to help communicate the importance of a healthy diet and the role of red meat.
Among these is the QMS school voucher initiative which aims to support Scottish secondary schools to encourage pupils to learn to cook quick, tasty and healthy meals.
Every secondary school in Scotland is eligible to apply for a voucher worth up to £100 which can be exchanged at local retailers by the school for top quality meat such as Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork.
The scheme was developed by QMS in response to concerns that tight budgets mean many Scottish schools are unable to afford fresh, red meat products for cookery lessons and pupils leaving school without the skills to cook simple, healthy meals.
The new video can be viewed on QMS’s MooTube page on YouTube and also on the QMS Facebook and Twitter feeds.
