Healthy Meat Replacements

Many people are increasingly coming to realize that a diet heavy in meats can be less than ideal for one’s health and for one’s waist line.  Not only this, but eating red meat is actually harmful for the environment.  With so many reasons now to reduce meat consumption, finding alternatives for meal planning is essential. 

Figuring out what to cook for your family if you are used to having meat with most suppers can be a bit tricky at first.  Newcomers will however eventually find that reducing meat consumption doesn’t have to be too hard.  In fact, not only can you reduce the amount of time you spend in the kitchen and still give you and your family a healthy, home cooked meal, but you can also reduce grocery bills quite significantly.

For healthy dinner ideas that skip the meat you will want to add a few alternatives to your grocery store list.  Replacing meat with other high protein options will help give you and your family the nutrients you need without the extra calories and harmful cholesterol.  For instance, picking up a few extra cans of beans, some tofu, soy product meat substitutes and some wholesome nuts and seeds will help ensure adequate protein intake without the meat.

If you are used to making your favourite home made chilli with beef, try instead just adding an extra can or two of beans.  Mix it up and try out some garbanzo beans or black beans alongside your standard kidney bean varieties.  A hearty bean chilli need not  be loaded with meat as beans will give you all of the protein you need to keep you satiated.

Next time you feel like a good healthy tomato pasta you can also opt for a meat substitute.  Many people have found that using veggie ground round works wonders.  Veggie ground round is a meat substitute made from soy protein that comes in a variety of flavours.  This can be added in with ease right at the end and will add the familiar texture of meat without the ill effects.  Try substituting this next time and see if your family even notices.  There is a good chance they might not even catch it.

Instead of veggies and chicken or fish you can also try out some different recipes using tofu.  Tofu takes on the flavour of whatever other spices are added so you can make it taste just how you like it.  Tofu can be marinated before hand just as you would your meat and then fried up in a pan or baked.  Try sautéing it with some onions and spices and see how tasty this healthy meat alternative can be.  As a healthy and low fat side, tofu will provide all of the protein your family needs. 

Adding some nuts to your next rice dish or salad, or some cheese will provide you and your family with the nutrients you need without having to opt for expensive meats that can be filled with hormones and chemicals.  Trying to go meat free more often than not will not only save your health and reduce your weight and food costs, but will also help save the earth too.  There is simply no good reason not to try out these alternatives.