The meat of the matter: good health

Lamb is one of the most popular meats around the world, enjoyed for its versatility and health benefits. It's central to the Mediterranean diet, often credited for the long life and vitality of the people in that region and their low incidence of cardiovascular disease. A 3-ounce serving of cooked lamb provides about 175 calories, with total fat content about 8 grams.

The meat comes from young sheep less than 1 year old, and the tender red meat has a delicious taste. Grass-fed lamb is quite lean and generally chemical-free.

While lamb contains saturated fat, this represents only 35 percent of the fat content while the rest is healthier types of fat, according to the website Fitday.com.