1. Load Your Plate the Right Way
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Chances are, you get more than enough meat, but not enough vegetables or fruit every day. Fill your plate halfway with fruit or vegetables at every meal. Split the remaining half of your plate into two. In one section, place a starch. In the other section, place your meat. This is a good way to watch your portion control and eat less meat while still getting the nutrients that you need.
2. Make a Gradual Move Away from Red Meat
Try cutting red meat out of your diet, while still eating poultry and seafood. This decision is a healthy one that might save you some money along the way. You can substitute chicken or turkey for almost any beef dish. Ground turkey is a delicious alternative to ground beef, working well in burgers, spaghetti sauce and meat loafs. You can purchase chicken sausage to use in your favorite recipes. Shrimp or scallops are a great addition to salads and pasta dishes. Most restaurants and burger joints offer a chicken sandwich as an option. Just be aware of fried foods that are high in cholesterol, which will do you more harm than good.
3. Dig Into New Recipes
Discover Indian and Asian recipes. Indian recipes call for a lot of beans, lentils and other protein-rich foods. Meat may be included, but more as a flavoring in very small amounts. Asian food is similar, with the emphasis on lots of vegetables. Use brown rice when you serve Asian food with rice, for the benefit of the whole grains. Watch the oil content if you're stir-frying your vegetables. Cut the meat ingredients in half and add more vegetables to any dish. If you find a vegetarian dish that sounds good, you can always add a small amount of meat to the recipe for the added protein benefit.
4. Magic Beans
Add beans to your diet if they're not already there. Beans are high in fiber and protein, which help to fill you up and keep you feeling full longer. They are very versatile and can be used almost anywhere meat would be used. There is a great variety of beans with different flavors and textures, providing you with many choices when adding them to a meal. Add an extra serving of black beans to your tortilla soup. Toss some garbanzo beans onto a salad. Cobb salads are just as good without bacon. Beans on their own are great as a side dish, too. Top with fresh chopped herbs or some grated Parmesan cheese.
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