How to Discover Unique, Healthy Meat Alternatives
Today's vegetarians are fortunate in that they have a wide variety of meat alternatives available to them. While the old standbys of beans and nuts serve as delicious supplements to a vegetarian lifestyle, they are no longer the only means by which a vegetarian can obtain their necessary protein. Instead, there are numerous meat alternatives available to the vegetarian, or any consumer looking to cut back on their meat consumption.
Instructions
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Know that choosing the correct meat substitutes is important because they are frequently the main source for obtaining protein in a vegetarian's diet. Consuming enough protein in your diet helps the body grow and fight disease and is vital for healthy hair, bones and teeth.
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Made from defatted soy flour, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) is one popular meat substitute. Defatted soy flour is a by-product produced from making soybean oil. TVP is typically used in pasta dishes, chili and casseroles.
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Find in practically any grocery store ready made meat alternatives. They're most often found both in the specialty health sections of the store, and the refrigerated section. Ready made alternatives come in lunch meats, sausages and hot dogs.
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Choose legumes for meat alternatives. Legumes are plants that have seed pods that split in half. These include lentils, chick peas, kidney beans, bean sprouts and peanuts.
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Use tempeh in stir-fry and soup. They are meat alternative patties made from cooked and fermented soybean. Though they contain the same nutritional value as tofu, tempeh contains a different texture and a more nutty flavor.
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Consider Seitan and Seitan-made products, as it is frequently proclaimed to be the most "meat like" of all meat alternatives. It is made from removing the starch and bran from pasta dough, then simmering that dough in soy sauce. Seitan is made from wheat gluten, and those who have allergies should avoid any pre-packaged meat substitutes that might contain Seitan.
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Add tofu to your diet for a easy, versatile meat substitute. Tofu is a good source of calcium as well as protein and can be molded into almost any dish, from tofu fish and chips to tofu patties.
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