Have you ever noticed how your parenting priorities change over time? When I was a new mom I was so focused on my babies’ nutrition and sleep. I knew that both were critical for healthy development, and it was easy to keep that top-of-mind when I was in the pediatrician’s office every month or so having their growth trajectory analyzed.
Fast-forward a decade and a half and while I wouldn’t necessarily admit those things are less important than they were back then, in practice they’re not exactly on the front burner. A focus on physical growth and development has given way to prioritizing academic achievement, character development, and spiritual growth.
{And also getting them to clean their rooms, though I’ve accepted the fact at this point that I can’t win ‘em all.}
But here’s what I’m learning: Just because physical growth and development aren’t as obvious as they are during those early months doesn’t mean they’re any less important. In fact, teens and tweens gain 15-20% of their adult height, 40-50% of their adult weight, and increase their bone mass by up to 40% during the adolescent years. If you’ve ever marveled at the change in your child’s appearance when you go to replace their school portrait every year, you’ve noticed the growth.
This post is sponsored by the Washington State Beef Commission.
It’s just not top-of-mind because the doctor isn’t measuring them every month.
Unfortunately, poor nutrient intake during childhood and adolescence can lead to significant growth and learning challenges such as delayed physical development, poor academic performance, and depressed immune function. To set children up for success it’s important to make sure they eat a balanced diet that provides the nutrients needed to fuel play, empower learning, and optimize growth. I’ll be the first to admit that this isn’t always easy – especially when I just need to get calories into my student-athlete and food into my picky school-ager while managing a busy weeknight schedule.
One food that provides a lot of the nutrients my kids need during these years of rapid growth is beef. Here’s a snapshot of how beef fuels your adolescent’s body and brain with its essential nutrients:
Graph courtesy of Washington State Beef Commission
Plus, the amino acids in beef help my student-athlete during exercise recovery, and the protein helps keep hunger at bay for the whole family.
The good news is, beef is so versatile that there are lots of ways to serve it no matter your schedule. Things like beef jerky or trail mix are ready to grab-and-go. Roast beef from the deli makes an easy meal on the fly. Slow-cooker meals or pressure-cooker meals are mostly hands-off and can hold for long periods to accommodate families that eat in shifts or whose schedule goes unexpectedly awry. There are so many ways to get nutrient-dense beef into your family to support their body and brain development during this critical growth period.
Here’s one of my newest go-to beef recipes for busy weeknights. There are only 4 ingredients, no prep work, and it’s a hit with the fam every time:
Instant Pot Beef Meatballs and Gravy:
PC: Kristina Slaney
● 1 package frozen all-beef homestyle meatballs (28oz – 36oz)
● 1 can beef broth (14 oz.)
● 1 can condensed French onion soup
● 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
Combine all ingredients in your pressure cooker. Set to pressure cook for 10 minutes, followed by a quick release. Serve over egg noodles or mashed potatoes with a side salad. Makes great leftovers, too! Even your kids can take leftovers to school in their thermos, setting them up for a well-fueled day!
Here’s to beef fueling our families in alllllll the ways they need!
More Meatball Recipes with Yummy Sauces:
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Read more of Kristina’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
