If you’re trying to eat a little more healthily, then you might have read that going meatless, even for one day a week, can be a great way to ensure that you’re not getting too much fat in your diet, amongst other things. While this is true, this isn’t the only way to be more mindful of your meat consumption.
Here, we’re going to look at some of the ways that those true carnivores out there can still enjoy their meals, but without all of the health consequences that can come with eating too much meat. Take a look at these tips on how to make your meat-eating habits a little healthier.
Stop Eating Processed Meat
Yes, processed meat and meals can be a lot more convenient and easier to prepare than cooking meals from homegrown ingredients. However, fresh cuts of meat have been found to be a lot less harmful than processed foods. When meals are processed, the methods of storage and transportation can take a lot of the nutritional value out of them, while also adding preservatives and other ingredients that might not be as good for you as you would like to think. This even goes for processed meals that are labeled low in fat or otherwise use diet-friendly slogans.
Be Picky in How You Cook Your Meat
If you cook your meat by frying them or using other wet and juicy ways to cook them, they’re going to keep more of its fat content. As such, instead, you might want to look at alternatives such as roasting or baking your meats. While baking is more traditionally used for white meats, such as fish, roasting your meat with a good roasting pan is great for beef and pork, as well.
Use Lean Meats More Often in Your Recipes
Even if you’re going for red meats, in particular, such as beef, which has been demonized in some circles, you can make sure that you’re eating them in the healthier possible ways by using leaner cuts. For instance, this recipe for homemade Salisbury steaks with gravy might sound all kinds of sumptuous, but it uses lean minced beef as its primary ingredient, which uses less of the fat and gristle than you might find in other cuts. You can still make delicious meals using the healthier cuts of your meats.
Don’t Work With “Well Done”
When it comes to cooking with raw cuts of meat, there’s a lot of room for preference, especially when it comes to steaks and the like. High-heat cooking has come under fire (pun not intended) recently for the fact that it tends to release some unhealthier compounds in the meat. Red meats have been associated with a higher risk of cancers, and a lot of this risk comes from these compounds. So, if you’re planning to eat a steak, it might be a good idea to consider cooking it medium rare next time.
Go Lighter with Your Seasoning
How you season your foods is going to do a lot for your experience of eating them. For one, seasoning can be great for making more flavorful use of your lean meats, as shown by this ground beef stir fry with garlic recipe. Aside from using more seasoning with your lighter meats, you should also consider using healthier seasoning. Chili has great fat burning properties, for example, but even if you want to use butter, you can season that butter with garlic or herbs to use less of it while still getting the max flavor out of it.
Just Try a Replacement
It’s something that a lot of meat eaters are terribly hesitant to do, even to the point of being stubborn and perhaps even a little overly sensitive about it. However, there are plenty of meat replacements that have been around on the market for years and work great. If you’re not certain about it, a good way to try them in a nice, sauce-heavy meal where the meat is more for texture than taste, such as cooking pasta with minced meat (or meat replacement in this case) with a tomato gravy. Give yourself the opportunity of trying a meat replacement with an open mind. You might be surprised how easy it can slot into your diet.
If you eat less fatty red meat, then you are going to be at less risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and the like. The tips above can help you start moving towards a more mindful meat diet without having to deprive yourself, so they are worth considering.
