Protein-packed Breakfast

Easter came and went this past weekend. If you are like me, you got your portion of ham and brisket, then overloaded on the mashed potatoes! Through the hustle and bustle of a busy weekend, I maintained my 30-Day Protein Challenge journal over the weekend.

I found that only a couple of meals had close to, if not more than, 30 grams of protein (my goal). On Friday, I was able to get my protein from a lunch date with my (soon-to-be) sister-in-law, Briann. I should have subbed out the side of fries, but they paired great with my cheeseburger. If you are ever in Ames, I highly recommend Wallaby's! Great food and a great environment. Another source of protein over the weekend was another, no surprise, burger at West Towne Pub in West Ames. (I like beef, can you tell?)

One thing was missing this past weekend - breakfast. I often times struggle making time for breakfast before I go to work, but weekends are typically easier. Well, this weekend wasn't the case. I skipped breakfast and missed out on a huge opportunity to start my day with the recommended amount of protein. Have no fear- I have found the perfect solution!

The most important meal of the day just got beefier! The Beef and Egg Breakfast Mug is loaded with about 21 grams of protein! The staff at the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen's Association enjoyed this quick, easy and nutritious breakfast Monday morning. Here are some photos from our staff breakfast (which, might I add, is a great way to start the week post-holiday).

The assembly line.

A minute is a long time when you're hungry!

The end result... worth it!

Two ICA staff members gives the Beef and Egg Breakfast Mug a thumbs us!

Preparing the meal: I purchased a pound of ground beef and prepared the beef sausage the night before. That would also be helpful to do as part of weekly meal prep. I would suggest preparing the pound of ground beef sausage, then placing it in a container and refrigerate for the week. Having the meat prepped for the week helps to make this a quick and easy breakfast on the go!

Now for the how-to: Crack an egg (or two) into the mug and add one tablespoon of water, mix. Add a spoonful or two (your preference) of the beef sausage mixture along with chopped veggies of your choice (ex: peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc.).Mix together and microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Microwave for one minute. Top with cheese. Let it cool for a couple of minutes- it will be hot. Enjoy!

Take control and join me in the 30-Day Protein Challenge. Visit http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/proteinchallenge.aspx for more information!

Conquering my challenge one meal at a time.

30-Day Protein Challenge

It feels good to be back to blogging (still weird, but good). The last time I blogged, I was finishing up my senior year at UNI. While a lot has changed over time, the biggest change has been my interest in fitness. Now that is weird! I had always believed the best way to get in shape and lose weight is to diet and eat nothing but salad. Wrong. I used to hate running, absolutely hate it. Now, I "crave" to go run for 2-3 miles around town. I hit the gym and lift weights. I eat, and I eat a lot. Results? A happier and healthier me.

While I continue my quest to be happier and healthier, I came across this 30-Day Protein Challenge. The staff in the building at work (Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen's Association) have joined forces to take part in the challenge. Here is some information about the challenge:

It's for anyone! It's a fun, step-by-step way to get an optimal amount of protein throughout the day. Significant research shows that people looking to lose or maintain a healthy weight (ME!), support a healthy metabolism (ME!) and/or age more vibrantly (who wouldn't?) may benefit from consuming a balanced amount of high-quality protein, within calorie goals. It's a great way to take control of your appetite (stop mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacking!).

By participating in this protein challenge, I am working my way up to eating 30 grams of protein at every meal for one month. I compare it to training for a marathon or 5k. You don't get off the couch and jump into running 3 miles. You work your way to that point. That's what this challenge is all about. It provides the stepping stones to work your way to eating 30g of protein 3 times a day.

The first 5 days of the challenge is easy. I journal. I write down everything I eat and drink, and the amount of protein it contains. This is a great way to see where you are lacking protein throughout the day. For me, I lack protein in the morning- the most important meal of the day (oops!).

The start of day 3... I need more protein!

I'm very excited to see what the rest of this challenge brings. Don't worry, you can join me too! Sign up online at www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/proteinchallenge. There are great tools and resources including a calendar, journal and protein snack ideas.

Follow me as I share my journey @brookeyoung23 #proteinchallenge

Challenge accepted!

20 Country Songs to Relate

I hear it more often than I would like. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I understand. However, so something that has had such an impact on my life, I just want people to understand the real meaning behind it. What am I talking about you might ask? Well, country music of course. You want to know what my life is like, all you have to do is take a look at my recently played list on iTunes and that is my life summed up in music.

Life growing up in the country was about hard work, and working until the job was done.

Country music isn’t about “my dog died, wife cheated on me, I love my truck, I farm.” Okay, maybe it is a little, but that’s beside the point. Country music tells a story. It is a story that people like me, and you, can relate to.

Bonfires were common on the weekends with our friends.

Growing up in the 90’s, I will always be a fan of 90’s country music. In my opinion it is the best out there. Well that and Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, etc. Some of my personal favorites include “The King” George Strait, Reba Mcentire, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert… and many, many more!

So what story does country music tell? Well, it tells many stories. Songs about growing up, love, hurt, working, family, drinking, freedom, and getting even; songs that everyone can relate to. As you can tell, my blog focuses a lot on the impact that agriculture has had on my life. It has made me who I am today, and country music tells my story.

Even at the high school prom, it was all about the trucks!

Fishing on the weekends when the work was done.

One song in particular is “We Rode In Trucks” by Luke Bryan. Some lyrics that I can relate to include “You either lived on a farm or wished you did,” “That’s us with the tailgates down in the parking lot. That’s us with mud on our tires when it rained a lot.” This song takes me back to my high school years. We worked all day Saturday, but when the work was done it was time to meet up with our friends for some fun. Most of our fun included riding around in the guy’s trucks listening to music around the country roads. Take a listen to this song yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eIntnHarCg

Nothing like a nice float down the river on a summer day!

Finally, I don’t think that I need to say much about this song. Brad Paisley says it all in his song, “This is Country Music.” This is his performance of this song at the 2010 ACM Awards. Just take a listen for yourself: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_KxM4rU38Q. 

Here is a list of other great country songs that most people can relate to. If you get a change, go out and listen to these songs. Or even better- go to iTunes and buy their CDs. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed!!

1. How I Got To Be This Way- Justin Moore

2. Way Out Here- Josh Thompson

3. Good Hearted Woman- Waylon Jennings

4. Mama Tried- Merle Haggard

5. Backwoods- Justin Moore

6. Kick It In The Sticks- Brantley Gilbert

7. Take A Backroad- Rodney Atkins

8. The House That Built Me- Miranda Lambert

9. Famous In A Small Town- Miranda Lambert

10. How ‘Bout You- Eric Church

11. Fly Over States- Jason Aldean

12. A Country Boy Can Survive- Hank Williams, Jr.

13. Down on the Farm- Tim McGraw

14. 5 o’clock Somewhere- Alan Jackson ft. Jimmy Buffet

15. Back Where I Come From- Kenny Chesney

16. I Go Back- Kenny Chesney

17. Friends In Low Places- Garth Brooks

18. Heartland- George Strait

19. Where I Come From- Montgomery Gentry

20. Church Pew or Bar Stool- Jason Aldean 

Ag.. It's Whats For Dinner

As I sit here on this cold, spring day, I can’t help but to think what I want for dinner tonight. It is crazy to think that the food we eat each and every day is because of a farmer, somewhere in America, grew it for us. I cannot thank the farmers out there enough for their hard work, time, and dedication for this meal that I eat.

Goodness, my mouth is watering just thinking about what I am going to make tonight, and of course, the possibilities are endless. Pizza? Pasta? Burgers? Whatever the mouth desires, right!? By taking a look at my “Food” board on Pinterest, (http://pinterest.com/brookeyoung08/food/) it is easy to see that I really love food!

I thought I would share with you all one of my favorite recipes, Bubble Pizza. This recipes is so easy to make, and is easy to adjust according to the number of people.

The ingredients: 1 can of biscuits, 4 oz of shredded mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce (I usually use one 15 oz can), and pepperonis or any additional pizza toppings you may desire.
 

Brooke's Bubble Pizza

First, I start out by greasing a 8x8 pan (perfect for myself and a friend). I cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and place them in my dish so it layers the bottom of my pan. I then cover the biscuits in pizza sauce and my favorite pizza toppings, pepperoni, ground beef and mushrooms, of course!

Bake at 400° for 20 minutes. Then, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy!

This recipe is also great for young kids! I love having my niece and nephew help me cook and to give them some experience in the kitchen. They have a lot of fun with the recipe! Believe it or not, their favorite side dish for this meal is green beans!

YUM! Thank you, farmers, for all of these tasty ingredients to help me prepare a delicious meal!

Child Labor Laws & Farm Safety

Child labor laws on the farm are a topic that has been in the news over and over again through the last couple of years. Last April, the government decided to take a step back and discontinue their push for stricter child labor laws on farms. Growing up on a family farm, I began working at a very young age, I think at the age of 4. I know how important it is to educate children about farming, agriculture, and most importantly, safety. Growing up and working on the farm has taught me many life lessons and values that I still use today.

Some of the jobs that I had while working on the farm at a young age included picking up rocks, weeding the garden, picking the vegetables, raking the yard, painting the sheds, feeding the chickens, and bottle feeding the calves. As I got older, some other jobs included mowing the yard (with our riding mower or push mower), and clearing brush.

To start off, one important lesson that my parents taught me was safety. My parents had always warned me of the dangers of the equipment on the farm. Many chores were labor intensive, and some required the use of equipment. It is always heartbreaking to hear of farm accidents in the news, especially those that result in serious injury or death. My dad always gave an important example of what happened to one of our neighbors who almost lost his life. It was an auger accident that resulted in a severely injured leg and a glass eye. Safety wasn't only important around farm equipment, but was also important around animals both big and small.

I believe that it is very important to learn about the dangers of the work and to be educated on how important farm safety is. I could go on and on about the importance of safety of the farm. Basically, one thing is important, SAFETY FIRST!!!! (click this link for more farm safety information from Farm Safety For Just Kids)

Although working on a farm can be very dangerous, I was also taught many life lessons and values growing up. One is being work ethic. When I am told to do something, I do it and I do it to the best of my ability. I don't quite until the job is done.

 

Responsibility was also another lesson gained. Getting my chores and work done was my responsibility. Often times, I was rewards with an allowance for getting my assigned tasks done. While feeding chickens and cows, I realized that their life and health was in my hands. It was my responsibility to get the chores done and to make sure that the animals were happy.

All in all, when child labor laws on farms and farm safety it brought it, it is important to note that yes, farming in dangerous, but education is the most important. With the education of farm safety, accidents and injuries can be avoided. Working on a family farm at a young age doesn't only help the farm, but also teaches many young farmers important life lessons that they will carry on with them as they get older.

Connect with me on Twitter if you would like to share your story or experiences on your family farm- @BYoungAg

City Girl Goes Rural

This week I am in San Diego for Pi Sigma Epsilon, PSE, National Convention. As I left Cedar Falls, I went to my parents house so they could drop me off at the airport. I brought a couple of friends with me to ride along. As we got to the farm, one of my friends, Kaylin, mentioned that she hadn’t seen a farm animal since she was 12. Um, WHAT?! I knew that this needed to change, and needed to change ASAP. Kaylin is from a town outside of Chicago, Illinois.

I took her up to our pasture so she could see our cows. It was like taking a kid to a candy store; she was so excited! She loved watching the calves running around playing with each other and was amazed by how big and mean the bull looked.

Abby and Kaylin visit the cows.

I am happy that I was able to impact someone’s life with something that is routine for me. Cows are part of my everyday life, especially living on our family farm in Iowa. It is crazy how city living can be so different than country living. 

Every Inch Counts

The use of precision agriculture is on the rise in rural Iowa. As this new technology is growing, farmers are maximizing their resources to their advantage. As farmers in Iowa prepare to get in the fields this spring, precision agriculture is a topic that is on most farmers' minds. 

What is precision agriculture? It is a form of technology that is used today to help farmers in a variety of ways on their farm. It can be used for planting, harvesting, tillage, spraying, and fertilizer application.

There are many benefits to using this technology in farming operations today. The first is that is saves money. By using precision agriculture, input costs are reduced and as a result, a higher return on investment can be attained. Input costs can be reduced in a variety of ways.

First, seed overlap is reduced during planting and seed placement is more accurate to maximize yield. An increased yield is obtained by getting more plants in the right spot during planting and the chemicals are also getting applied directly onto the seeds and plants in the right spot. Fuel costs are reduced by making fewer passes through the field. As you can see, costs savings include chemical application costs, fertilizer costs, and reduced seed costs.

An ergonomic benefit to using this technology is that more hours can be worked in the field with less fatigue.

Another facet of precision ag is yield monitoring. With yield monitoring a farmer can see the areas of high and low yield which can help them to make an informed (hopefully cost effective) management decisions whether it is getting an idea where to place tile or putting down a different rate of fertilizer.

Precision agriculture also helps keep track of farm records. These accurate farm records provide valuable information on yield and sales. It also helps to provide information for future management decisions. 

Lastly, precision agriculture is sustainable. Pollution is reduced through a reduction in the wasted use of chemicals.

We are still trying to adopt precision ag on our family farm. It is a large investment and takes a lot of consideration. However, knowing the benefits compared to the costs, I think that this will be a purchase for us in the near future. 

A great resource with more information about precision agriculture can be found at putyourfarmonthemap.com