Beef > candy this Valentine’s Day

Maybe it’s because I’ve never really loved the holiday (I’m a lot more sarcastic than romantic, likely one of the reasons my husband and I are a match). Or maybe it’s because it was my only child’s first year in a daycare setting and about 25 years since I last participated in a school Valentines exchange.

While all the other kids in Lauren’s class of two-year-olds brought bags full of candy, popcorn and toys for each of their friends, I sent her with only cards. Sure, they were adorable cards with cattle (which she loves!) on them, but there was nothing edible or enjoyable about them. Oops.

This year, I knew I had to make up for it.

I thought back on a friend’s Facebook post from Halloween. She’d passed out beef jerky to trick-or-treaters, including a beef fact on a decorative tag. The kids got a high-protein treat, additional beef was sold, advocacy was accomplished. I knew what I had to do.

So, I went online and ordered 10 Certified Angus Beef® brand traditional steak strips from Gary West Meats.

Then, since I’m way more of an Amazon Prime mom than a Pinterest mom, Lauren and I got on Etsy to pick out some cute tags. She’s my little tomboy and really into trucks and all things construction right now (along with her love for horses and cattle), so she chose tags with excavators on them that say “I dig you.”

Once everything arrived, I printed a sheet of beef facts to cut out and tape to the back of the steak strips. I tied the tags on, and — voila! — the preschool Valentine’s Day extravaganza is handled.

What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day treat?

-Katrina

Katrina Huffstutler is a freelance writer based in Electra, Texas. She’s a frequent contributor to the Black Ink team and lover of functional cattle and quality beef.

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