The Radke Report

Summer is here, and for most families, it's a great time for adventure, activities, extracurriculars, swimming and camps!

Yet, despite carefully planning a fun summer for our kids, chances are you'll hear at least once, "Mom, I'm bored..."

Let me help with that!

Introducing Amanda Radke's Summer Reading Program!

Somehow along the way, that truth gets harder to find when the waters are muddied by these exterior forces who seek to strip producers off the land, remove meat, dairy, and eggs off the dinner table and make fake meats the ONLY choice for consumers.

If that sounds a little dramatic, take for example this new Beyond Meat commercial featuring Kim Kardashian. In the advertisement, Kim tells her fans, “This plant-based meat is not only amazingly delicious, but it is also better for you and for the planet. It’s a simple change that makes a big difference.”

So this company can claim the victory without any proof?

Here is what Revelant had to say about beef: “Around six months, when iron stores in breastmilk start to get depleted, your pediatrician may recommend iron supplements or rice cereal, which is usually the first food many parents feed their babies.

“Although rice cereal contains iron, the food is not a natural source of the nutrient. In this form, iron is not as readily absorbed into the body as it is when consumed by eating beef, a study in the journal Clinical Nutrition suggests.

“Beef is also an excellent source of zinc and selenium and is easy to prepare and cook. What's more, studies show that the juices from beef alone are enough for a baby to get iron,” Revelant says.

May is Beef Month, which is a great kickoff to the summer grilling season. It’s a great time for my favorite protein of choice to shine!

It’s hard to beat a cheeseburger, steak kabobs, or ribeye hot off the grill. Beef is often the center of many celebrations — weddings, graduations, job promotions, date nights, and family gatherings.

Beef is protein-rich and packed with 10 essential nutrients, and I know I’m biased as a cattle rancher, but beef tastes pretty darn good, as well.

This summer, I hope you find time to carve out some memorable moments with your people. Life has a way of passing us by while we are busy doing what needs to be done, but be sure to  fill up the scrapbook with photographs of a life well lived along the way, too.

Rest in peace, Grandma Carol. Eternally grateful for having been loved by you, sending all of my love to heaven, your granddaughter, Amanda.