We couldn’t have been more proud of our grandkids at last week’s county fair.
Twelve year-old Addi showed her two goats, 11-year-old Frances competed with her heifer (young cow), and 10-year-old Paisley participated with her two beef steers, John and Wayne.
All three came home with ribbons and great support from the judge, who praised their hard work of caring for the animals. He ended his two days of judging by encouraging the kids to remain in agriculture because “it’s young people like you who will feed the world in the years to come.”
When I got home, I was surprised to find a new report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization titled “Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes” (https://www.fao.org/3/cc3912en/cc3912en.pdf).
The document was compiled by researchers and nutrition experts around the world with evidence from 500 scientific papers and 240 policy documents.
Conclusions: A variety of dietary patterns can meet our nutrient needs. Nutrient-rich foods are a critical part of a healthy diet. And “terrestrial animal source foods provide energy and many essential nutrients, such as protein, fatty acids and several vitamins and minerals that are less common in other food types.”
“Terrestrial animal source foods” was a new term to me. It means all food products obtained from animals on the earth, including mammals, birds and insects.
Evidence from way back in our human past shows that higher intakes of these foods were associated with increased height, brain size and longevity, say these experts.
They acknowledge that some populations today eat too much and others eat too little of these foods.
When consumed in appropriate amounts and balance, however, these foods provide nutrients that can help with normal growth and development, prevent anemia and benefit other health outcomes, according to the report.
In one example, meat from pasture-fed animals has been found to contribute meaningful amounts to beneficial omega-3 fats to the diets of people who don’t eat fish regularly.
These experts also acknowledge the many challenges we face in providing food to feed the world, including how animals are fed and cared for and their impact on the environment.
Well-managed livestock, however, is an essential component of agricultural ecosystems. The animals contribute to the overall efficiency and resilience of our food system, according to this report.
Keep in mind these experts reviewed the nutritional needs, cultures and lifestyles of people around our globe. And many find it necessary to avoid animal foods for one reason or the other.
Still, I find it interesting that these foods really do have something to offer to the health of our world.
One more reason to encourage the good care my grandkids give their animals.
Barbara Quinn-Intermill is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator affiliated with Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. She is the author of “Quinn-Essential Nutrition” (Westbow Press, 2015). Email her at to [email protected].
