MyFoxWGHP

Yikes!

If the meat recall doesn't have you thinking twice about chomping into that burger, the graphic video showing animal abuse at Westland/Hallmark Meat Company might.

This isn't a blog to convince people to give up meat. I think that's an individual's personal decision. With that said, if you want to take a break from eating meat for a day, a week or just cut back your consumption, it's really easy to find meat-free foods to satisfy your appetite and your taste.

People cut back on or stop eating meat for any number of reasons. I've met folks who just don't like the taste anymore. Not me! I love (to my core) cheeseburgers. My mouth waters whenever I smell a cook-out or a pepperoni pizza. I became a vegetarian solely because of the way animals are treated. Unfortunately, I'm not always good at being a vegetarian and sometimes allow myself salmon or tuna. It's rare, but sometimes I just need the protein. Someday I hope to be disciplined enough to eliminate those two foods from my diet.

Choosing a vegetarian way of eating doesn't necessarily mean eating a salad for every meal or learning to tolerate mushy tofu. Heavens, no! These days there are lots of creative and flavorful choices. Not only do vegetarian foods provide ample protein, but some taste so much like meat you probably won't miss a thing.

I'm not kidding! I've shared my vegetarian sloppy joes and chili with avid meat-eaters and they have unanimously said that they were delicious and close enough to the real McCoy that they wouldn't have noticed the difference if I hadn't told them ahead of time.

Some brands you may want to try: Morningstar Farms, Boca, Amy's and Gardenburger. (There are others, but these are the ones that I've tried). These products aren't just about burgers (though they are very yummy), they also provide sausage, corndogs, hot dogs, "ground beef", chick'n patties, chick'n nuggets and bacon. I've tried them all and they are wonderful!

Nuts are staples of a good vegetarian diet. How yummy is that?? You can snack and get healthy fats in your diet. They also provide great long-term energy. Fruits and vegetables will not only provide big nutrition and fiber, but they are often locally grown, so you support your local farmers.

Finding vegetarian choices in restaurants is easier than ever. Sometimes it takes a little extra investigation when ordering in a restaurant. Depending on how strict you are, you may want to ask if the chef uses chicken stock for flavoring (mashed potatoes, marinara sauces, etc.) or gelatin in recipes.

Asian and Middle Eastern foods are also incredibly flavorful and often are meat-free. Try hummus, couscous, falafel, and vegetable spring rolls. If you're cooking a recipe that calls for chicken or beef stock, you can substitute vegetable stock as a delicious alternative.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to "eat a rainbow every day". If you have lots of color on your plate, you're getting some great balance in your diet.

Just to make sure the bases are covered, it's important to consult your physician if you're going to change your diet, simply to make sure that any underlying health issues are addressed.

I can only speak from my own experience. I feel great on this diet but I understand that it's not for everyone. Consider it though if you're even the least bit curious. You may find that you like it!

Byrd's Eye View

Where's the beef??

Emily_Byrd

Inside Fox:
About Us Politics Morning News TV Listings Contact Us

Write your comment below: Email me when a new comment is added to this entry