Fewer calories, more protein is a winning combo for weight loss and healthy aging

(Family Features) Do you pay attention to how much protein you eat at each meal? A new study suggests that when it comes to weight loss and healthy aging, getting enough protein at mealtimes is important.

Duke University researchers found obese women who ate adequate or high amounts of protein, including nutrient-rich lean pork, as part of a six month weight-loss diet not only lost weight, they improved their ability to get around, too.

“There’s no magic bullet when it comes to weight loss,” said Connie Bales, PhD, professor in medicine at Duke University. “But our research suggests a higher-protein, lower-calorie diet, including lean pork, could be a viable solution – especially for older women who are most at risk.”

While most Americans eat the majority of their protein at dinner, researchers suggest there could be benefits to spreading protein throughout the day. In this study, women ate 30 grams of protein at each meal with two of the meals including lean pork. Choices like tenderloin, low-sodium ham, chops and lean ground pork are among the seven cuts of pork that meet the USDA guidelines for “lean” by containing less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat and 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 100 grams of meat. In fact, pork tenderloin has the same amount of fat as a skinless chicken breast.

The next time you fire up your grill, try these lemon-basil pork chops. Serve up 30 grams of tasty protein for dinner, while tapping into the flavors of summer.

Visit porkbeinspired.com and Smithfield.com for more pork-inspired recipes, intriguing flavors and nutritional information.

Grilled Lemon-Basil Pork Chops with Lemon-Basil Orzo

Serves: 4

• 4 bone-in ribeye (rib) pork chops, about 3/4-inch thick
• 3 small lemons
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 8 ounces orzo
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

1. Zest and juice lemons. In small bowl, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and basil. Set aside 3 tablespoons of mixture. Transfer remaining mixture to large resealable bag and add pork. Set aside for 30 minutes, turning occasionally.
2. Meanwhile, prepare orzo according to package directions. Drain and return orzo to pot. Stir in reserved lemon-basil mixture and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
3. Prepare a grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil grate. Remove pork from marinade; discard marinade. Season pork with salt and pepper and grill until internal temperature reaches 145 F, about 4 minutes per side. Remove chops from grill and let rest 3 minutes.
4. Serve chops with orzo.

Nutritional information per serving: 440 calories; 30 g fat; 3 g saturated fat; 70 mg cholesterol; 30 g protein; 47 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 60 mg sodium.

Source: National Pork Board

(Family Features) Explore new flavors and cuisines and take a tasty trip around the world with pork - all from the comfort of your own home. Pork's versatility and savory taste make it the perfect pairing with global ingredients and dishes, giving you a passport to delicious mealtimes you will want to share with family and friends.

Need some inspiration? Create a Pork Bucket List and fill it with ideas for global-tasting meals with pork. Try:

Making your own marinade using a new ingredient from a far-off place, like chiles.
Visiting a new ethnic restaurant that serves dishes like dim sum or Korean barbecue and then find recipes at PorkBeinspired.com to replicate your favorites at home.
Discovering pork dishes from all seven continents, starting with Asia and these Thai Ribeye Pork Chops.

For Thai Ribeye Pork Chops, mix up a slightly tangy Asian-inspired marinade before grilling. And remember, for juicy, tender results that you, your family and friends will love, grill your pork chops to an internal temperature between 145°F (medium rare) and 160°F (medium), followed by a three-minute rest.

Serve these chops on top of a bed of noodles for a Thai pork noodle bowl, or alongside an herb salad of fresh basil, mint, scallions and cilantro for a meal packed with a world of flavor.

Keep your grilling and cooking fresh and exciting with more global recipes. Visit www.PorkBeinspired.com and www.Pinterest.com/PorkBeinspired for recipes, ideas, tips and more.

Thai Ribeye Pork Chops

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped OR 1 tablespoon dried cilantro
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed (about 3 tablespoons)
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 lime, juiced
• 4 boneless ribeye pork chops, about 3/4- to 1-inch thick

Preparation

1. Whisk together soy sauce, cilantro, garlic, brown sugar, vegetable oil and lime juice in bowl.
2. In large baking dish, arrange ribeye pork chops in even layer. Pour marinade over pork chops, reserving about 1/4 cup of marinade in refrigerator for later use.
3. Marinate pork chops for 20-30 minutes.
4. Heat indoor grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Remove pork chops from marinade, discarding excess marinade. Place pork chops on hot grill for 4 minutes on each side, flipping once until internal temperature of pork measures between 145°F (medium rare) and 160°F (medium) on meat thermometer.
5. Transfer grilled pork chops to cutting board and let rest for 3 minutes before slicing against grain.
6. Pour reserved marinade over sliced pork before serving.

Serves

4 servings

SOURCE: National Pork Board