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NUTRITION                                                                                The Midwest Cattleman · February 25, 2021 · P12
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      More of that good home cooking        “As people have become more  personal nutritional needs and  mune system. “So does vitamin A,
         One of the more positive out- concerned with their health and  preferences.                          which is found in carrots, broccoli,
      comes from the COVID-19 pan- more aware of the connection               “Consumers will continue to be  spinach, sweet potatoes, red bell
      demic has been the increase in the  between nutrition and well-be- more specific about what types of  peppers, apricots and other foods
      number of people cooking meals  ing, they are now more focused  food and products they feel will  fortified  with  vitamin A  such  as
      at home, says Odessa Keenan,  on preparing healthier meals for  provide  them  with  safe  and  nu- milk,” she says.  “The same goes
      Texas A&M AgriLife  Extension  themselves and their families,”  tritious options,” she says.  “Peo- for vitamin C, which you get from
      Service program coordinator for  she says.  “This is a trend that  ple are increasingly curious and  citrus fruits, strawberries, bell
      the agency’s Dinner Tonight ini- has been growing, and we expect  knowledgeable about ingredients  peppers and tomatoes.”
      tiative, Bryan-College Station.    to continue through 2021 and be- and nutritional content, as well as    Anding also noted that vita-
         “For the majority of 2020, peo- yond.”                             where their foods come from.”     min E, which is found in sunflow-
      ple have mostly had to stay at        Keenan says to help provide       Seguin-Fowler also noted that  er seeds, almonds, peanut butter
      home and have generally been  busy families with quick, healthy  shortages of some foods and other  and avocados, works as an anti-
      unable to enjoy their favorite  and cost-effective recipes that  food-access challenges during the  oxidant and can also help support
      restaurants unless it’s for take- are also tasty, AgriLife Extension  pandemic have drawn consum- immune function. Zinc, found in
      out,” Keenan says.  “As a result,  developed the Dinner  Tonight  er attention to alternative food  poultry, seafood, lean meats, milk,
      more people have begun — or re- program.  The program provides  choices.                                whole grains, beans, seeds and
      turned to — cooking at home. And  free recipes and offers free week-    “People have discovered new  nuts, also supports the immune
      while this trend began mainly out  ly video demonstrations on food  foods or have found alternatives  system and plays a role in wound
      of necessity, it will likely continue  preparation techniques, nutri- to the foods they typically pur- healing.
      because people have found it to be  tion topics, menu planning and  chase,” she says. “In some instanc-    “These are just some of the nu-
      an enjoyable experience.”          healthy living.                    es, they may have decided these  trients that can play a role in sup-
         “People are increasingly curi-  More attention to food quality,    foods were as good as or better  porting a healthy immune sys-
      ous and knowledgeable about in-    food chain                         than their regular choices.”      tem,” she says. “Other beneficial
      gredients and nutritional content,    Rebecca Seguin-Fowler, as- Greater focus on foods that            nutrients include  vitamins B6,
      as well as where their foods come   sociate  director  of Texas A&M  support the immune system          B12 and folate, as well as miner-
      from.” — Rebecca Seguin-Fowler     AgriLife Research  and associate     The  COVID-19  pandemic  has    als such as copper, selenium and
         Keenan says home meal prepa-    professor in the Department of  also made consumers more aware       iron.”
      ration allows people to personal-  Nutrition and Food Science in  of the importance of nutrition in a      Anding noted the best way to
      ize their food choices, is general-  Texas A&M’s  College  of Agricul- healthy immune system.           obtain these nutrients is through
      ly healthier and less expensive,   ture and Life Science, says great-   “Eating a healthy diet is one   food.
      saves travel time, and makes it    er transparency in each link of  way to support a healthy immune        “No single nutrient is going to
      easier to watch calories.          the food chain will be another im- system,” says Jenna Anding, pro-  protect you from illness,” Anding
         “Preparing meals and dining at   portant nutrition trend for 2021.  fessor and  AgriLife Extension   says. “Choose a diet that includes
      home also helps with family bond-     “In  recent  years,  consumers  specialist in the Department      a variety of nutrient-dense foods,
      ing and creates a more intimate    have  been  eager  for  more  trans- of Nutrition and Food Science.   including fruits, vegetables, lean
      experience than taking the family   parency related to the foods they  “There are many nutrients that   meats, whole grains, nuts, seeds
      to a crowded restaurant,” Keenan   eat and beverages they drink,” she  benefit the immune system and    and low-fat dairy products.  And
      says. “Not only that, cooking with   says. “They want to know where  overall health.”                   check with a registered dietitian
      the family helps teach kids an im-  and how their food is grown —       Consumers are now more          or  your  health care provider be-
      portant skill and can help them    and what, if any, alterations are  aware of the importance of foods   fore taking any nutritional sup-
      create healthier eating habits.”   made to a product before it gets to  that serve to boost the immune   plements.”
         Keenan says home cooking        their table.”                      system.
      also allows the flexibility of choos-  Seguin-Fowler says consumers     For example, Anding says the    Texas A&M AgriLife
      ing more healthful ingredients for   look for brands they can trust to  protein found in lean meats, poul-
      making meals with fewer calories,   deliver a high-quality, consistent,  try, eggs, seafood, beans, peas and
      saturated fats and sugars.         safe experience that meets their  nuts can help support the im-

      KANSAS CATTLEMAN AND VETERAN JERRY                                    honor  and  opportunity  to  give  you better do it with the National
      BOHN NAMED NCBA PRESIDENT                                             back to the industry that made  Cattlemen's Beef Association, or
                                                                            me who I am today and for that I  it is not going to get done. This
                           The Nation- Flint Hills, to his time on Kansas   am forever grateful.”             is the greatest testament to the
                         al Cattlemen’s  State University’s award-win-        Bohn’s term as president along  grassroots power of our members
                         Beef Associa- ning livestock judging team, and     with a new officer team was ap- and state affiliates. It is why I
                         tion  (NCBA) eventually serving 34 years as        proved by NCBA’s board of direc- am so proud to represent NCBA
                         concluded its  the manager of Pratt Feeders, a     tors. Don Schiefelbein of Minne- as President and it is the reason
                         virtual  Win- commercial cattle feeding opera-     sota was named president-elect,  I get up every day, ready to fight
                         ter  Business tion in his home state of Kansas.    Todd Wilkinson of South Dakota  for the American producer."
                         Meeting with  He  has also dedicated  his  time    was elected vice president. Wyo-     The    National   Cattlemen's
                         the election of  as a leader for several state-level   ming rancher Mark Eisele was   Beef  Association (NCBA) has
                         Jerry Bohn, a  associations, using his expertise   elected chair of the NCBA Policy  represented America's cattle pro-
                         cattle produc- and experiences to mentor the       Division and Nebraska cattle pro- ducers since 1898, preserving
      er from Wichita, Kan., as NCBA  next generation of industry advo-     ducer Buck Wehrbein was elected  the heritage and strength of the
      president.                         cates.                             policy vice chair. Clay Burtrum of  industry through education and
         Bohn, a retired Lieutenant         “As I look forward to this year   Oklahoma and Brad Hastings of  public policy.  As the largest asso-
      Colonel in the U.S.  Army Re- as NCBA president, I have im-           Texas were elected as chair and  ciation of cattle producers, NCBA
      serves, has been a part of the cat- mense pride for the cattle indus-  vice chair of the NCBA Federa- works to create new markets and
      tle industry his entire life. Bohn  try and our dues-paying members   tion Division, respectively.      increase demand for beef.  Efforts
      has had an expansive career  that help to make this the leading         "I have heard quite a few pro- are made possible through mem-
      in  the cattle  industry since his  cattle organization representing   ducers in the past year say if you  bership contributions.
      early days of custom grazing cat- U.S. producers,” said Bohn.  “Be-   want to get something done in
      tle with his family in the Kansas  coming president is my greatest    Washington, D.C. in agriculture,   NCBA
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