Friday Food Facts

Arizona is not only a destination state, but a nutrition state all because of our 300-plus days of sun. In fact, Arizona agriculture grows everything from Apples to zucchini and everything in between; we’re so good at it we can grow the healthy Mediterranean diet in the desert and that includes fish.

Today, 66 percent of beef cuts sold at retail are lean (when trimmed and cooked). And, lean beef cuts have less than 10 grams of total fat. Lean beef consumption contributes protein, iron and B-vitamins. Arizona beef is some of the tastiest around.

Eat yogurt since you’ll get millions of good bacteria in every serving. Researchers have confirmed that probiotics in yogurt are useful for improving our immune function and all around good digestive health. Arizona’s dairy farmers provide the freshest milk that makes our healthy yogurt.

Regularly workout? Make milk your sports drink. Recent studies find milk can repair and replenish muscle tissue after exercise by replacing nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. Arizona’s dairies serve up fresh milk daily.

A three ounce serving of lean beef contains more than 10% of your daily needs the following essential nutrients – protein (50%), zinc (39%), vitamin B12 (37%), selenium (24%), phosphorus (20%), niacin (18%), Vitamin B6 (16%), iron (14%), riboflavin (12%). My family raises high-quality Arizona beef.