The holiday season isn’t just about gift giving and last-minute shopping. It’s also a time for celebrations, family gatherings and festive meals.

And while we all have fond memories of Grandma’s mashed potatoes or Uncle Charlie’s fudge, the star of the holiday table is often top-grade beef and pork, raised by Iowa farmers with care.

Iowa farmers are proud to provide high-quality, wholesome and nutritious meats for their families – and yours - to enjoy during the holidays and year-round.

“Thinking about the many families and friends that gather during the holidays for an extraordinary meal, centered around beef, make the hard work we do on our farm to feed and tend to our livestock more than worth it,” says Shannon Dietz, a Chickasaw County Farm Bureau who raises cattle with her husband, Drew, in Nashua.

Try these simple, festive and affordable beef and pork recipes for your holiday table.

Holiday beef recipes: 
- Air fryer tri-tip roast
- Beef tri-tip roast with rosemary-garlic vegetables
- Mini lasagna bites
- Mini meatballs with apricot dipping sauce
- Mediterranean beef pinwheels

Holiday pork recipes: 
- Baked brie and bacon dip
- Brown sugar bacon-wrapped pineapple bites
- Holiday pork crostini
- Easy spiral-cut ham
- Bacon cheese log
 - Cranberry-stuffed pork lion


Meat brings nutrition to the holiday table

With a typical holiday buffet of cookies, pies and decadent side dishes, meat is often the healthiest choice on your plate.

Meat, poultry and dairy are the best natural sources of high quality, complete protein, according to nutrition experts. They provide essential amino acids that often aren’t available in plants.

For example, a 3- to 4-ounce serving of beef (about the size of a hockey puck) delivers 25 grams of protein and only 175 calories.

“It’s a nutrient-dense food,” Good says. “You’re getting 10 essential nutrients without a lot of calories. It’s a good bang for your buck.”

Meat and poultry are natural sources of Vitamin B12, which promotes brain health, boosts your energy and mood, and helps your nervous system function.

And zinc helps support a healthy immune system. Red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in Americans’ diets.


Celebrate the holidays from the farm to your table

Iowa farmers take pride in raising high-quality, nutritious meat for your family’s holiday meals. And they will be enjoying their farm-raised Prime rib and ham this Christmas, just like you.

“We’re always focused on providing quality care for our animals, caring about them and giving them the individual attention that they need every single day,” says Aaron Hinkeldey, a Cherokee County Farm Bureau member and fifth-generation farmer from Aurelia. “I take a lot of pride in providing quality pork for the community, and in knowing my family has been doing this for more than 100 years.”

When you buy real meat, you can feel confident that you’re choosing a safe, nutritious and responsibly raised food for your family.

To learn more, visit RealFarmersRealFoodRealMeat.com.