Cutting down on the amount of meat you and your family consume is wise, both economically and nutritionally. By reducing the amount of meat you use in everyday recipes you can lower fat and cholesterol levels, while also saving a considerable amount in the grocery aisle. Following these simple steps can help get you off to a healthy, and a flavorful start.
Instructions
Prepare Tasty Low-Meat Entrees
1. Reduce the meat and improve flavor in most pasta recipes by adding a variety of vegetables. Use fresh produce such as strips of red and green peppers, diced onion or chives, whole or chopped mushrooms, and finely sliced carrots. Add chopped or diced vine ripened tomatoes for improved vitamin content and flavor. You can also substitute tofu, vegetarian sausage or vegetarian meat crumbles for the meat in your pasta recipes, to go vegetarian all the way.
2. For soups, stocks and chili use any 100% vegetable juice, thickened with a bit of corn starch or flour, in place of meat stock. It adds nutritional value, while reducing salt, fat and cholesterol content. Substitute most or all of the meat in your soup and chili recipes with whole fresh vegetables, beans, and whole grain pastas, creating a dish that will be both hearty, and healthy.
3. Most casserole dishes can benefit from the addition of whole grain pasta, or rice. Both are cost effective ways to stretch meat, and improve nutritional value. You can also reduce the meat content by supplementing your dish with vitamin rich ingredients such as carrots, celery, broccoli, spinach etc... Saute vegetables in a small amount of olive oil, rather than cooking them with meats. Use fresh herbs and seasonings to boost flavor, as well as to provide a wide range of added health benefits.
4. Boost the amount of beans you use in your cooking. Beans are a great source of protein, but do not contain the fat that you get from using meat. Many dishes can be adapted to include the use of beans. Try adding kidney beans to pasta, and rice dishes. Use both kidney beans and pinto beans in most Mexican dishes. Reduce meat and increase the amount and variety of beans that you currently use in chili and soups.
5. Tofu and meat substitutes can either replace or stretch the meat you currently use. Even if you aren't willing to go 100% vegetarian, you can use these products to replace about 1/2 of the meat you would normally use, without any major changes to the flavor or texture of your favorite dishes.
Tags: meat your, amount meat, , meat improve, , pasta recipes