Lean Pork Weighs in Just in Time for Swimsuit Season New research supports the benefits of eating lean pork when dieting, and the Pork Checkoff is weighing in on the data, with appeared recently in the British Journal of Nutrition. The study revealed that eating a calorie-restricted diet with additional protein at breakfast, including Canadian bacon and eggs, led to increased feelings of fullness throughout the day.
“This supports the ongoing body of research that shows how lean protein, including pork, can help people feel full while dieting,” says Ceci Snyder, assistant vice president of consumer marketing for the Pork Checkoff. “This is important for those watching their weight, because it may lead to eating fewer excess calories later in the day.”
Pork’s positive role in weight management is also supported by a related study published in Obesity. Researchers found a reduced-calorie diet with higher protein intakes – about 30 percent of total calories, including 6 ounces of pork each day – helped overweight women preserve more lean mass while losing weight compared to those eating less protein but the same amount of calories.
“Consumers who focus on what they can include in their diets rather than what they cannot are most likely to succeed in their weight loss efforts,” notes Elizabeth Ward, a nationally-known registered dietitian, USA Today writer and mother who has teamed up with the Pork Checkoff to promote better health. “With so many nutrient-rich lean pork cuts available in the market today, variety in healthy meal options can make weight control less daunting.”
According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture analysis of MyPyramid food group servings, only 44 percent of Americans consume the recommended amount from the meat group. That means Americans are not taking full advantage of the benefits of consuming lean protein and run the risk of under-consuming key nutrients like B vitamins and zinc.
To encourage consumers to add more pork to their diet, the Pork Checkoff is using e-newsletters targeted at the media and the recipe database at TheOtherWhiteMeat.com to promote 21 days of lean recipes, including “Baked Egg with Canadian Bacon, Tomato and Potatoes” to “Egg, Spinach and Ham Cups.”
“The Checkoff-funded study was first published online in the British Journal of Nutrition last fall, but we’ve added a fresh angle with the print publication for spring,” Snyder says. “Tying this in with the upcoming swimsuit season offers a great way to leverage producers’ Checkoff investment and encourage our target female consumer to make pork an important part of a healthy diet.”
"Pork Up" to Slim Down | 
