NEW YORK – The official back-to-school season has come and gone and kids, families and teachers have settled in for the school year ahead. To help combat the lunch box and hot meal monotony that comes this time each year, the National Pork Board developed easy, nutritious and creative ham sandwich ideas that bring exciting new flavors and variety to the lunch hour. Recently, registered dietitian, Pat Baird, teamed with the National Pork Board and YourUpdateTV to share these exciting new variations.
A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/1j8E3s0_fRA
According to a recent National Pork Board survey of 10,000 consumers, 64 percent of respondents said they love or enjoy eating ham, but 31 percent said they are unsatisfied with ham because they do not know how to properly prepare it at home.
To teach parents and students how to diversify lunchtime using a meat they already know and love, the National Pork Board developed six unique sandwich recipes using deli ham, all of which were tested and approved by a select panel of grade-school children:
- The Luau Ham Sandwich – Pairs the smoky flavors of barbeque sauce and deli ham with the sweetness of pineapple and Hawaiian bread.
- The Fiesta Ham Roll-Up – Combines zesty guacamole, deli ham and your choice of string cheese, all rolled up in a tortilla.
- The Ham Jam Sandwich – The perfect salty and sweet combo, this kicks up the traditional ham and cheese sandwich with the addition of raspberry jam.
- Ham Pinwheels – Bite-size and pop able, these pinwheels bring the unexpected element of cream cheese to the table.
- The Harvest Ham Sandwich – Apple slices and apple butter make this a festive fall lunch option.
- The Ham Pocket Sandwich – A Mediterranean take on the ham sandwich, this features hummus, veggies and a pita pocket.
In addition to offering a unique flavor profile, deli ham is also a nutrient-packed source of protein.
"Deli ham is a wholesome choice for perking up sandwiches,” said registered dietitian, Pat Baird. "It’s a lean, complete protein that’s packed with vitamins and minerals, and has flavor that combines well with any sandwich topping.”
A two-ounce serving of deli ham provides 10 grams of protein, one to two grams of fat, 60 calories and beneficial nutrients, vitamins and minerals like iron, vitamin B12 and B6, potassium and zinc, among others.
For complete recipes and more information on the benefits of ham, please visit pork.to/deli-ham and check out our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
About Pat Baird
Pat Baird is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, media spokesperson, adjunct professor, award-winning author, and owner of Confident Health. Her specialty is creating evidence-based nutrition communications targeted to a variety of audiences, including consumers, healthcare professionals, and the media.
In between doing live TV segments for local stations across the country, Pat is a professor of nutrition at University of Connecticut-Stamford and Norwalk Community College. She is President of the Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, an also serves as an Advisory Board member to several organizations.
Pat holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from New York University, and has earned certificates in Adult Weight Management (from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and Advanced Nutrition Counseling (from the American Heart Association).
About National Pork Board
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. Importers of pork products contribute a like amount, based on a formula. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, science and technology, swine health, pork safety and sustainability and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675 or check the Internet at http://www.pork.org.
About YourUpdateTV:
YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content, produced by award-winning video communications firm, D S Simon Media (http://www.dssimon.com). It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology.
Source: National Pork Board
