MEAT PERSPECTIVES GOOD NEWS from the grill Barbecue can be part of a healthy diet thanks to more choices for cuts and seasonings BY KERRI GEHRING and JEFFREY SAVELL | meatpoult r y@sosland.com H Roughly half of the fatty acids found in beef are monounsaturated with the most common being oleic. Oleic is the same fatty acid found in olive oil. ealthful eating and barbecue are two words that seem to be at odds. Barbecue typically triggers visions of beef and pork slathered with sugary sauces and served in abundance, which do not portray an image most think about when it comes to " watching what you eat. " However, barbecue can still have a place in healthy diets, even for those concerned about making the right diet choices to maintain or improve their health. Today's options offer more choices to those who love the great taste of barbecue. Of all the diet/health concerns with barbecue, fat is usually at the top. Some of 28 MEAT+POULTRY | 06.22 | www.meatpoultry.com this comes from barbecue's origins of taking the tougher and often fattier cuts of meat and slow cooking them to make them more tender and to render out some of the fat. For almost 50 years, animal fats have been blamed for multiple health problems, including the thought that the saturated fatty acids in meats were destined to clog arteries. This was focused on red meat, especially beef. But what is the real story about saturated fats and beef? SAVVY ABOUT FATS The good news about the type of fats found in beef is that about half of the fatty acids are Andrey - stock.adobe.comhttp://www.meatpoultry.com