Tasty Alternatives to Red Meat

Red Meat Alternatives

Red meat has been linked to many different health problems, including some cancers, heart disease and obesity. But it’s so tasty! Fortunately, ditching red meat doesn’t mean you have to opt for protein sources that taste like cardboard. ​satisfied without raising your risk of an early death.

Here are a few tasty alternatives to red meat that will keep you satisfied without raising your risk of an early death.

Cooked Chicken

Chicken is the most popular meat in the United States, and it’s not hard to see why. The simple bird may not be much to look at, but it produces meat that’s lean and tasty. There are so many ways to enjoy chicken. You can stir-fry it with vegetables, pan-fry the choicest cuts, bake it to the perfect, moist consistency, or grill it to get those beautiful charcoal lines.

Grilled Chicken

The fact is, cooked chicken is much better for your cardiovascular health than red meat. It also contains protein, which is one of the building blocks of healthy muscle. If you’re looking for ways to cut back on red meat, simply replace it with chicken. You won’t feel deprived at all.

Veggie Burgers

Yes, we’re going to talk about veggie burgers. Before you flip off your screen in disgust, hear me out. If you use the right seasonings, veggie burgers can be just as delicious as thick, juicy hamburgers. Don’t believe me? Well, you are welcome to try to prove me wrong.

The key to making a great veggie burger is to actually make it grillable. Most veggie burgers have very fragile textures and tend to fall apart when grilled. However, there are recipes for veggie burgers that hold together quite well.

Veggie Burger

These recipes usually include a variety of wet mashed ingredients (including black beans and barbecue sauce) as well as rice and seasonings. Adding bread crumbs to your recipe can also help hold all the ingredients together.

When done right, a veggie burger can be so flavorful and satisfying that you’ll forget it’s not made from beef. And the health benefits of veggie burgers are undeniable. You’ll receive plenty of fiber, vitamins and minerals. You’ll also avoid the high levels of fats found in traditional hamburgers.

Baked Fish

Fish can be a great alternative to red meat. But did you know the way you cook your fish affects how healthy it is? When fish is boiled or baked, it’s associated with more heart-healthy benefits than dried, fried or salted fish.

Baked Fish

Many nutritionists recommend eating fish at least twice each week. It’s best to choose an oily variety, including herring, salmon and tuna. This will give you the maximum benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids have been linked to decreased risk of heart disease.
If you’re used to having a meal that includes beef multiple times per week, switch to healthy fish instead. Your heart will thank you.

Eggs

Eggs may be small, but they’re highly satisfying and packed with protein. They also contain vitamin D, choline and other nutrients your body needs. Eggs make a great replacement for red meat. Instead of topping your favorite salad with beef slices, top it with slices of hard-boiled eggs.

Eggs

You can also swap out your beef-and-potato hashes with egg-and-potato alternatives. Eggs taste good in many different dishes, so feel free to experiment until you find a combination you love.

Legumes

Did you know one, ½ cup serving of cooked legumes provides as much protein as 1 ounce of meat? Legumes are also full of fiber, which keeps you satiated longer. In contrast, animal protein doesn’t’ have any fiber at all. If you’re looking for healthy alternatives to red meat, add more legumes and beans to your diet.

Legumes

How To Create Cheap and Healthy Meals for Your Family

How To Create Cheap and Healthy Meals for Your Family

Many people think that “healthy” is synonymous with “expensive,” but I love proving them wrong. With a little forethought, you can save money each month while still providing your family with nutritious and delicious meals every night (or as often as you want to cook).

Here’s how to create cheap and healthy meals you can proudly feed to your family.

Set a Budget

Listen up. Eating healthy isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg unless you don’t set a budget for your groceries. The very first step you should take when creating a healthy meal schedule is to figure out how much you can spend on groceries.

Once you have a number, you can look for recipes that fit within your budget. This will take you a little bit of time, but it’s absolutely worth it.

“Healthify” Your Favorite Meals

You don’t have to completely change your palate to enjoy healthy foods. Instead, take recipes you already know you like and make a few tweaks here and there to “healthify” them.

Healthify

Here are some of the top ways to make the most delectable unhealthy recipes a lot healthier.

  • Make one or more healthy substitutions. Use fat-free milk instead of whole milk, trade enriched pasta with whole-wheat pasta, or cut the meat content in half and add more vegetables.
  • Reduce the amount of salt, fat and sugar. Too much salt, fat and sugar aren’t good for your health (not to mention your waistline!) Here are some easy ways to limit the amounts of these ingredients in your meals.
  • Salt - To cut back on salt, try using other seasonings to flavor your food. Thyme, cayenne, allspice and oregano can all add great flavor to your food and can reduce your need to use salt.
  • Fat - To make sure your baked goods are still deliciously soft while cutting back on fat from butter, just use half the butter. You can replace the other half of the butter with mashed banana, unsweetened applesauce or prune puree.
  • Sugar - To limit your sugar intake, add up to ½ less sugar than what’s called for in your favorite recipes. You can make up the difference by adding other sweet ingredients, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice or cloves. Flavorings such as almond or vanilla extract can also add the most delightful hint of sweetness.
  • Make your portion sizes smaller. One of the easiest ways to cut back on calories is to simply make portion sizes smaller. This will not only help you save money, but it may save your waistline, as well!

Figure Out What Ingredients Your Kids Will Eat

A little experimentation with healthy foods can help you figure out what your kids love, hate and tolerate. Remember to be creative. Your kids may think they hate carrots, but might change their minds if you puree some cooked carrots with a bit of olive oil, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Kids Meals

Once you figure out what healthy components your kids like, you can rotate them into your meals regularly.

Take It a Week at a Time

Making nutritious meals can get overwhelming if you think too far ahead. While some people thrive on creating month-long dinner schedules, most people do best when they take it a week at a time.

Every weekend, take a few minutes to figure out your meal and grocery needs for the next week. Pick up all your groceries in a single trip, if possible. This will save you precious time and stress.

Healthy Breakfast