Freelance Writing Jobs | Today's Articles | Sign In

Basic Meat Alternatives for Low Fat Cooking

Begin Eating Healthier with Vegetarian Meals

Nov 17, 2009 Chrissy Dolezal

Lower calories and feel great with vegetarian cooking by using these great meat alternatives. Use these vegetarian foods in the family favorite and try new recipes too.

A great and easy way to lower calories in everyday meals is to limit the amount of meat. There are many meat alternatives that will provide great taste and a large amount of protein to the diet while still being low in calories. Plus, some meat alternatives are very budget friendly. These products are easy to use and require basic cooking skills. Preparation will usually take the same amount of time as meat or less.

Using Beans as an Alternative for Meat

Any type of bean is a great alternative to meat in many meals, especially Mexican dishes. If chicken or hamburger meat is called for in a recipe, using a type of bean such as black, pinto or refried, will taste great and is an equal substitute. Beans are also very inexpensive, by eating more beans on a regular basis can lower the household grocery bill.

Cooking beans can be a long process that requires several hours for soaking and cooking. If that is not possible or not desired, then using a can bean will work just as well. Make sure to rinse the canned beans with cold water before using.

Soy Products for a Vegetarian Diet

Many companies that produce soy products offer specialty foods like veggie burgers, soy hot dogs and cold cuts. If cutting out meat completely, these products provide a convenient alternative to many everyday foods. The taste is very similar and has the same texture and appearance.

Tofu which is soybean curd is naturally bland but has the ability to absorb whatever seasoning or marinade it is cooked with. It can replace meat in stir fry recipes and in recipes that call for breaded meat, like chicken parmesan.

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) is made with textured soy flour and can look similar to ground beef. It can also be used like grown beef which makes it perfect for tacos, chili, and sloppy Joes.

Other Meat Alternatives

Other options for meat can be vegetables. By increasing the amount of vegetables in a meal will make it heartier and more filling. Plus, a majority of people do not consume enough vegetables making this a very healthy alternative.

In a lot of pasta dishes the meat can just simply be left out; spaghetti with no meatballs, lasagna with no ground beef and chicken alfredo with no chicken. These meals are simple, inexpensive and still very delicious.

Going meatless may seem like a sacrifice at first, but being able to adapt old favorites will help.

The copyright of the article Basic Meat Alternatives for Low Fat Cooking in Vegetarian Cuisine is owned by Chrissy Dolezal. Permission to republish Basic Meat Alternatives for Low Fat Cooking in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.