{"id":14773,"date":"2025-04-02T16:05:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T20:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/?p=14773"},"modified":"2025-04-17T11:14:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T15:14:25","slug":"meatless-meals-more-often","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2025\/04\/02\/meatless-meals-more-often\/","title":{"rendered":"Meatless Meals More Often"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ten years ago, our dinner always included some sort of \u201cnormal meat\u201d. \u00a0Pork, beef, poultry, fish or lamb were always considered key to the meal. Plus, I married an Irishman who only needs meat and potatoes to exclaim the meal was a winner. He’s a little wary\u00a0 when I tell him I\u2019m serving a meatless meal. So I just don\u2019t tell him!\"\"<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always wanted to incorporate more meatless meals in our weekly plan. Don\u2019t get me wrong; I love a good burger or shrimp. Bring on a hot dog, roasted chicken or lamb chops and I\u2019m a happy girl! I was raised in a meat-eating family. But as my skills as a cook have developed, I\u2019ve found that there are so many meatless recipes that I enjoy as much as a good pork chop.<\/p>\n

When Covid happened, I leaned in to cooking more at home, planning and even how often I shop. We got better at using our Pantry<\/a> for staples such as beans, lentils and pasta, plus grains such as quinoa and couscous. M<\/span>ore vegetarian meals became our new normal.\u00a0\u00a0My family wasn’t really aware I’d made this shift, they just liked the meals.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll likely never be a full-fledged vegetarian, but I do recognize the many benefits of a plant-forward diet.\"\"<\/p>\n

4 Benefits of Adding Meatless Meals:<\/h2>\n
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  1. Healthier:<\/span><\/strong> Protein can be found in a variety of sources such as dairy, beans, vegetables and nuts, not just meat! Vegetarian diets can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes<\/a>. Better health now means fewer health issues later.<\/li>\n
  2. Cheaper:<\/strong><\/span> Meat can be expensive…Some well-balanced vegetarian options can cost less.<\/li>\n
  3. Nutrient Intake:<\/strong><\/span> Adding more fruits and veggies to my diet contributes fiber to help me with my healthy weight goal, and keeps my body fueled<\/a> with a wonderful variety of vitamins and nutrients.<\/li>\n
  4. Good for the Environment:<\/strong><\/span> Wow, if everyone in the US went vegetarian for one day, the impact would be huge — saving 100 billion gallons of water and 70 million gallons of gas<\/a>! That’s motivating!\"\"<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    How to Add Meatless Recipes to your DinnerTime Meal Plan:<\/h3>\n