UnDiet...Week 16

Good Morning UnDieters!


By the time you read this, I will be en route to Kauai and I hope to post some juicy tidbits about the local food scene there. Watch this space!


For this week, I want to introduce you (in case you haven't previously met) to veggie ground round. Many families use ground beef in their meals because it is cost effective, easy to use and versatile. It is also high in artery clogging saturated fat and calories. Beef loses more points from a sustainability perspective: raising cattle uses an enormous amount of resources in terms of grain for feed, water and fossil fuel inputs, not to mention the damaging methane release from high intensity feed lots. 


So for this week, I would like you to experiment with veggie ground round in place of your ground beef in at least one of your meals. Veggie ground round is comparable in price and is made from soy and wheat proteins. It is low in saturated fat and high in protein, with added vitamins to make it nutritionally comparable to beef. It is also a crowd pleaser; while picky eaters may not enjoy tofu or other vegetarian proteins, veggie ground tends to win over even the biggest skeptics. This could be a great way to introduce Meatless Mondays into your family's routine!


Veggie ground round is a great transition food for those who are interested in eating more plant based meals because it is an easy swap you can make without a major overhaul of the type of meals you cook. For those of you who have already adopted a more plant based approach or who are avoiding soy or wheat, you may choose to use a less processed veggie protein such as tofu or beans this week. Want to learn more about veggie ground round ingredients and nutrition? Click here. 


Here are 5 simple family dinners that lend themselves well to a veggie ground swap, in case you need some ideas:


1. Spaghetti with "meat" sauce (whole food option: lentils)
2. Veggie Chili "con Carne" (whole food option: black beans)
3. Taco Salad (whole food option: pinto beans)
4. Cabbage Rolls (whole food option: seitan)
5. "Hamburger" Soup (whole food option: lentils)


Aloha!
Desiree


PS...just in case your faith is wavering, no...Yves Veggie Cuisine did not ask me to post this. I just like veggie ground :)