SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Student athletes are learning how to incorporate beef into their diet through the Build Your Base with Beef program. The South Dakota Beef Industry Council and Sanford Sports Science Institute teamed up to offer the program to 27 high school football teams in the state.
Thayne Munce, associate director of the Sanford Sports Science Institute, says the program is in the second year of a three-year pilot and so far, it has been a real success.
"This is working at the individual, the team and really the whole community level to provide education and resources that could help develop healthy athletes, but really healthy communities," he says.
Michael Roussell, consultant for the Build Your Base with Beef program says the student athletes also learn the value of beef as a recovery protein
"So after athletes practice or play games or work out they need to repair their muscle and beef is a key protein source for that," Roussell says.
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He says that is because beef contains key amino acids, which are the building blocks that make up protein. "Your body needs those to help repair and build muscle."
Beyond protein, Roussell says beef is nutrient dense.
"It also contains a lot of other nutrients like vitamins and minerals that are going to help support a healthy mind, a healthy body and a healthy athlete," he says.
The Build Your Base with Beef program additionally provides beef recipes and other resources for athletes and their families "to help educate them on the types of cuts that they're going to choose, ground beef or different types of cuts, what to choose and then how to go prepare that for after the games," Rousell says. The beef recipes are also geared for cooking large quantities and still making it economical.
According to Munce, the goal is increased success on the field.
"Hopefully we see some improvement in terms of their performance and wins and losses," he says. "I think coaches will be able to tell us whether or not they think this program has had that type of an effect."
However, Roussell adds they also hope the program will lead to better adult nutrition and health. "Nutrition is all about healthy habits and if we can instill these healthy habits in kids, showing them, beef is a great recovery protein," he says. "Here's how you have it, here's when to have it. You know these are things that are going to last them for a lifetime."
One of the participating high schools is Sioux Falls Roosevelt. Head football coach Kim Nelson speaks highly of the comprehensive sports nutrition program and how team members are learning how to incorporate lean beef into their training diets. "You hear a lot of people say you have to eat all chicken and that's healthier, but to know and to learn that beef is a healthy alternative, too. Kids love burgers, they love steak," he says.
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Nelson says the Build Your Base with Beef program allows them to reward players with snacks like beef jerky after practice or their training program and the students look forward to it. He says it has also made their pre-game meals much better because they can provide good quality food and a wider variety of healthy options.
"I think beef is a great source of protein," Nelson says. "We lift weights all the time, all year long and protein is a really important factor in growth, muscle growth."
He said he thinks it's great for players to learn that at an early age. "Hopefully they'll take that with them when they're done playing and continue to support South Dakota beef, too."
The Sioux Falls Roosevelt football team is starting its second year of the Build Your Base with Beef program and Nelson says student athletes have already noticed a difference, especially in the weight room. "When a kid gets stronger and because he's stronger he can move better and play harder and hit harder and run faster and all those things, you know there's got to be a reason," he says.
Nelson says athletes need to have a good diet to supplement their hard work in the gym and protein is an area kids often overlook. So the program is helping players make it a priority.
