Meat and Poultry Nutrition

Health experts, federal nutrition guidelines and parents everywhere recognize the importance of protein in our diets. According to the U.S. government’s “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” meat and poultry are high quality sources of complete protein, and “proteins are the most important macronutrient in the diet.” They provide essential amino acids, are a source of energy, and “are particularly important during growth and development.”

In addition to providing high quality protein, meat and poultry are also excellent sources of heme iron, which is especially important for women, children and adolescent girls, who are often deficient in iron.