There has been a lot of compelling research showing that following a vegetarian diet can improve your overall health. I’ve personally tried to go the vegetarian route in the past, but I just cannot seem to give up salmon or burgers (especially while I’m pregnant). The good news for me (and all of my fellow meat lovers) is that it isn’t necessary to go completely vegetarian in order to experience some of the positive effects. All it takes is going meatless just one day a week!
If you’re a diehard carnivore, giving up meat even once a week might sound horrifying to you, but you might be convinced after reading some of the incredible health benefits of doing so, such as:
- Decreased risk of certain types of cancer (especially colon cancer)
- Lower risk of obesity
- Decrease in total mortality
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Lower likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes
You’ll also save a few bucks since buying a can of beans is a lot cheaper than buying a pound of ground beef (which translates to more money to buy shoes in my language).
Thankfully, going without meat (even just for a day) doesn’t have to mean tofu dogs and bean sprouts. Here are some delicious meals to help get you started.
Breakfast options: Whole wheat pancakes, cherry cream French toast with agave-almond butter drizzle, or early morning peanut butter banana oatmeal
Lunch options: Blue cheese, radicchio, & fig sandwiches, creamy avocado salad on a croissant, grilled vegetable wrap, or roasted vegetable chickpea salad
Dinner options: Butternut squash pizza, zesty vegetable lasagna, or pizza quinoa stuffed portabella mushrooms
And of course, salads always make for easy, go-to, vegetarian meals. My personal favorite is an avocado kale salad. It is so creamy and flavorful that you most likely won’t even feel the need to add something like fish or chicken.
Avocado Kale Salad
(Serves 1)
Ingredients
1-2 cups washed and shredded kale
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup sliced cucumber
1/4 cup diced onion
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp soy sauce
1/4 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
Directions: Place the kale in a bowl and toss with the olive oil, lemon juice and soy sauce. Massage the kale with your hands until all ingredients are absorbed. Add the avocado and continue to massage (this will form a dressing). Add the cucumber, onion, and tomatoes.
Enjoy!
