When families want healthy dinners, pork meets their needs. They just don’t know it…yet…

My family is used to me serving dinners that are healthy, simple and (I hope) full of flavor. There are certainly times when I miss the mark on what the girls will like. But, I just love it when one of them says, “Thanks, mom – that was good!” 

Like many parents across the country, I try to plan meals for the week so that I’m not rushing after work. I want a menu that will please everyone at the table while still packing in the protein, vitamins and other nutrients we need. This usually means lean, fresh meat as the main course.

My pick of protein varies, of course, but I often reach for fresh pork because it’s delicious, easy and versatile. I tend to rely on my tried and true, good-for-you preparations I’ve committed to memory (everybody loves my chili and the pulled pork that I use for multiple meals such as BBQ sandwiches and tacos), but I also like to try new dishes I’ve come across at my grocery store’s meat counter or online, such as the very tasty and healthy Mostly Mu Shu pictured above. Click here for the recipe: https://www.yummly.com/#recipe/Mostly-Mu-Shu-Pork-2248723  Ready in 15 minutes!!

Sometimes I’ll use a special occasion, such as when the twins got their drivers’ licenses as a reason for a mini celebration that features a family favorite for dinner.  But usually, there isn’t anything extraordinary going on, other than we all get to enjoy a meal together, which is a special occasion in and of itself with our busy schedules.

I’ve noted in my previous posts that my family of five falls into just about each of the nine dinner occasions detailed in the new Dinner at Home in America report from the National Pork Board. The Healthy Family Favorites dinner occasion is no exception. These dinners often are based on a recipe and are not rushed, and they usually are prepared on the stovetop or in the oven. While I tend to use pork as the main course, these occasions also feature protein as part of a casserole, soup or stew.

When I serve pork as part of a Healthy Family Favorite, I also try to teach my girls about the power of protein and how it helps fuel their bodies and mind. While I’ve always promoted protein at home, the macro-nutrient has been enjoying the spotlight among many consumers over the past few years. As the health focus has shifted from the low-fat craze of the ‘80s and ‘90s to today’s more thorough understand of protein’s important role in health, we’ve seen protein pop up in everything from chocolate shakes to cereal.

What’s surprising, however, is that pork hasn’t yet benefited from that protein-positive halo. In fact, according to research from Nielsen, peanut butter gets a ridiculous amount of credit for being a high-protein food. Nielsen’s research shows that 32 percent of consumers think a 2-tablespoon serving of peanut butter has 20 or more grams of protein. In reality, it has just 8 grams. (Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE peanut butter, but as I’ve gotten older, the calories that go along with its protein don’t do my waistline much good!)

At the same time, only 38 percent of consumers think a 3-ounce serving of pork loin has 20 or more grams of protein, and 13 percent of consumers think it has less than 10 grams of protein. Pork loin actually contains 24 grams. And that is at a calorie bargain of only 159 calories in each 3 oz. serving.

So why the misconception? For one, we in the industry simply haven’t been doing enough to highlight fresh pork’s protein content. When was the last time you saw “High in Protein” called out on a pork label? But, I bet you’ve seen it on a lot of other things…including on candy bars in the checkout lane.

We must remind shoppers of the lean, protein-packed and delicious ways pork can fit into their families’ dinner rotation. We can do this with on-package call outs about the lean and protein-packed nature of loin cuts, as well as touting pork’s protein content and versatility at retail.

Fresh pork is a protein powerhouse that should be part of every healthy family’s favorite meal rotation. With enough education, we can help those families get out of the “oh, chicken again?” rut and perhaps, in the process, create new family favorites.