Beef: A Key Ingredient in Dinner Time Conversations

As a proud partner of Little League® Baseball and Softball, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® on behalf of the Beef Checkoff recognizes that family meals are more than just a time to eat—they're an opportunity for connection and sharing life lessons.

Family dinners are a time where laughter, stories, and important discussions take place. With beef at the center of the plate, families can create meals that not only satisfy appetites but also encourage engagement. From classic cheeseburgers to hearty chili, each dish serves as a backdrop for conversations about life and youth development. This aligns to the core values of Little League: community, fun, inclusion, integrity, and teamwork. These values are not only essential on the field but also in our homes. By integrating these principles into family discussions over dinner, parents can instill lifelong lessons in their children. And we know it’s true: beef is a key ingredient in both delicious meals and meaningful conversations, encouraging families to gather around the dinner table.

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. partnered with busy, active families—The Misener Crew and Life With The Dorts—to hear what dinnertime means for their families and what delicious, protein-packed beef meals they share together.

The Misener Crew’s three boys are the epitome of active, growing youth.

“As Beckett and Jude grow as athletes and young men, we continue to stress the importance of integrity on and off the field in any season. In our home we believe being a solid and encouraging teammate is just as important as an individual stat line. And as parents, we work to be their biggest fans, and let the coaches be the coaches. As growing athletes, they are always hungry. Cooking up a hearty meal, like Meatloaf, and chatting about practice is a perfect way to connect with two boys with big dreams and big appetites.”

“When Liam was little, we knew he would be drawn to the arts. He started dancing as soon as he could walk. That's why we have partnered with Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® and Little League® to advocate for inclusion and support for all kids to have access to the sport or activity that interests them the most, on or off the diamond. His studio, and his team, welcomed him with open arms and became his second family. We loved making these Classic Fajitas together and checking in with Liam's day to day.”

A family of seven, Life with the Dorts is always an adventure.

“Life as a family of 7 is a blast but it also keeps us on our toes! Finding yummy recipes that we all enjoy and can be made quickly is one of my greatest parenthood survival tips! We love using beef a sour protein of choice for multiple reasons. It's so versatile, easy to prepare and can be done on the quick, like these Air Fryer Meatball Taquitos.”

“While all of our experiences in life are different, we know we aren't the only ones that have learned through experience how special it is to share dinner together! Especially in a safe place where we all feel seen, appreciated and supported. As a busy mom that wants us all to be around the table enjoying a meal we love, while still making easy meals that are full of flavor, beef is my go-to protein. These Classic Beef Cheeseburgers were just what we needed!”

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® encourages you to embrace these moments of connection. Join the conversation by tagging @beefitswhatsfordinner and @littleleague on social media and showing us what beef meals bring your families to the table together, making each dinner an opportunity to learn, grow, and bond.

Check out more recipes that you can make together with these One Dish Meals and Kid Friendly Fare.