Red Meat the healthy alternative to vitamins!

This post is an entry for the BritMums #HealthyRedMeat, sponsored by the Meat Advisory Panel.

I could never be vegetarian! If you ask people what my favourite food is they normally say Red meat! I wanted to ensure Erin loved red meat too. Especially with the nutritional values it gives including B vitamins, potassium,iron, zinc & selenium it can give her. It stops me worrying about the lack of these vital nutrients and is better than her taking vitamins. Thus stopping things like anemia and vitamin deficiencies.

Unfortunately I don’t think red meat has got a particularly good reputation. The amount of people that have said to me “you will get gout if you keep eating the amount of red meat that you do!’ I mean really!! Old wives tales galore. A lot of the so called negative effects aren’t true. The fact that read meat is cancer causing or the fact you will get heart disease. Yes If you eat a lot of saturated meat it will cause adverse affects but in the right portions and not too fatty, it can be a great source of nutrients.

Dr Emma Derbyshire, a public health nutritionist and mother, says: “Including a small portion of red meat in the diet a few times a week after weaning can help to bridge nutrient gaps and so help to maintain good health through childhood and beyond.” I think this is so important- you wouldn’t leave out any other food groups so why would not give your little one red meat (vegetarians I understand your reasoning! don’t worry).

Erin has always followed my footsteps in loving red meat! Roast dinners on a Sunday are normally red meat. In fact I don’t remember the last time I cooked chicken! We have everything from venison to lamb and beef. I have always been honest with Erin about where her meat comes from too. She understands that she is eating an animal.

In joining with the Meat advisory panel and Britmums, we are trying to bridge the gap of nutrients in little ones and get them eating red meat. We have picked lamb (Erin & I’s favorite meat) to show you our favorite way to eat it. Hopefully it will inspire mums out there to get cooking with kids. Using simple recipes to ensure kids eat ideal dinners to support their growth and mind.

Our Sunday Lamb-

• To make our roast dinner we start by prepping the lamb- I use a meat rack above a tray (pop a little water in the tray below).
• Use garlic salt and pepper to season the lamb.
• Put the lamb in the oven on 160′ to cook for 1.5hours (dependent on size)
• Next peel your potatoes and cut them into roast shapes. boil them until they are par boiled.
• Put vegetable oil into the oven on a tray to heat up.
• Drain the potatoes and shake them in the pan until fluffy. Next sprinkle dried semolina over the potatoes and shake to cover.

• Pop the potatoes onto your tray in the oven for 40 minutes turning them regularly!
• Boil or steam your accompanying vegetables.
• take your lamb out to rest whilst the rest of your dinner has around 20 minutes until ready.
• If your feeling gluttonous! we normally do! I add a few Yorkshire puddings to the meal- not from scratch; I’m a mum not wonder woman!!
• I add water from the veg to my meat tray and a spot of Bisto and stir to make a lush gravy. Sometimes I add cranberry and mint jelly to make it sweet.
• Voila! your done! Now enjoy and let your other half tidy up!!

As you can see Erin enjoys helping out with the non dangerous parts of dinner making!

We certainly enjoy red meat! give it a try with your little ones you may be pleasantly surprised!

If you want to check out how to make meatballs head over to Chilling with Lucas!