{"id":7183,"date":"2020-06-03T16:35:20","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T20:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/content\/?p=7183"},"modified":"2023-06-16T10:06:12","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T14:06:12","slug":"meatless-more-often","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2020\/06\/03\/meatless-more-often\/","title":{"rendered":"Meatless More Often!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Ten years ago, our dinner always included some sort of \u201cnormal meat.\u201d\u00a0 Pork, 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

So far so good, my hubby’s loved every meatless recipe I\u2019ve ever made!<\/p>\n

Like many folks, Covid-19 has me rethinking my habits around cooking, meal planning and even how often I shop. We\u2019ve been using our Pantry<\/a> for staples such as beans, lentils and pasta, plus grains such as quinoa and couscous. When the news broke that there would be a meat shortage, I immediately thought this is a good thing for us<\/em>. It was no longer about how to add one meatless meal a week, but how to add more meatless meals regularly<\/em>. Incorporating more vegetarian meals became our new normal.\u00a0\u00a0My family isn\u2019t really aware I\u2019ve made this shift, they just like the meals.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never be a full vegetarian, but I recognize the benefits of the vegetarian 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, vegetables and nuts. Diets higher in whole grains, fruits and vegetables are best to 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 and with Covid-19, a shortage of meat has driven prices even higher<\/a>. This study<\/a> shows that a vegetarian meal plan can save you big bucks!<\/li>\n
  3. Nutrient Intake:<\/strong><\/span> Adding more fruits and veggies to my diet helps 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