Way to go, you made it through another Monday!

After a hot weekend of backyard barbeques, I felt like I had overloaded on meat over the past couple of days. I had a Friday steak night, a charcuterie tasting, and a trip to Hi-Pointe Drive-In for lunch. So I am grateful that I have implemented the Meatless Monday in my own weekly routine. A nice break from meat, and a fun way to enjoy fun vegetables and new plant based recipes.

Yes, I realize that the idea of Meatless Monday may seem like an out of date nutrition idea. The truth is, that we are protein focused society, but we don’t have to get all of our protein from animal sources. Plants such as such as soy, beans, lentils, tofu, and nuts are all excellent sources of complete protein.

Why go meatless on Mondays?

Nutrition related research on some of the top causes of mortality such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes share one principle to reduce risks – plants plants and more plants. A plant-based diet is linked to lower LDL cholesterol levels, BMI, and blood sugars.

Do I have to give up meat completely?

You do not have to become vegetarian or vegan to cut your risks of these health concerns.  Cutting back on meat even just one day per week or decreasing meat portion sizes can help lower your risk factors. You can choose 4oz portions (about the size of a deck of cards) rather than restaurant sized portions for a significant longterm impact. You can blend burgers with some mushrooms or beans to cut the fat and cholesterol.  Some of this may seem funky because it is new, but try to consider it as a way to add new vegetables rather than taking away meat.

Where do I start?

Don’t feel like starting off on your own at home? Restaurants, grocery stores and Executive Dining have made it easier to replace meat by offering new varieties of plant proteins. For example, we are now featuring Beyond Meat Burger. This plant based burger packs the same protein and iron punch as a beef burger without the saturated fat and cholesterol. It is known to be one of the best meat substitutes of 2018, looking and tasting just like a real burger. Don’t believe me? Thanks to the team at Executive Dining, you can order one for lunch and check it out for yourself. Trust me, you won’t regret it.