When it comes to meat substitutes there are two main categories: processed and unprocessed. In this blog I will address benefits and downsides of both and give you some quick and eAZy recipe ideas. Processed Meat Substitutes: Generally they are exactly what they sound like - plant-based options made with other ingredients to look and taste like meat. While some can be GMO and mostly junk, there are some that I personally recommend and enjoy a few times a week. Here is how I look at it - if you are going to eat conventionally raised meat that has antibiotics, hormones and steroids and has a horrible imprint on the environment as well as your body, then plantbased options will always be superior, no matter how processed they are. However, we want to raise the steaks (haha!) here and with that I mostly eat Beyond Meat products when I crave animal protein. Their products are non-gmo, soy-free, gluten-free, loaded with protein and taste fantastic. My favorites is their ground "beef" that can be used in burgers, tacos, pastas, lasagna and other things you would use ground meat for. If you are short on time, you can always get already seasoned bratwursts or their meatballs. Heat them up and mix up with your favorite pasta or veggies for a quick dinner. Z-TIP: If you don't feel like eating Beyond Meat too often and want to get more whole foods, mix it up with walnuts and chopped mushrooms, then season as you'd like. You will get more volume and excellent flavor and it will be only 1/3 processed. My latest creation and obsession recipe is this Truffle Pasta:
1 package of ground Beyond Meat 1 package of gluten free fresh pasta by Taste Republic (or try Mung Bean pasta by 365 Brand for extra protein) 1 bag of mushroom medley from Trader Joes Follow Your Heart Provolone dairy-free cheese Follow Your Heart Parmesan dairy-free cheese Extra Virgin Olive Oil Sabatino Truffle Zest Saute ground Beyond Meat beef in a pan while cooking the pasta (this fresh kind only takes 2-3 mins), then add mushrooms and let them defrost and heat up in a pan. Cover with Provolone, then add cooked pasta and truffle zest. Mix all together. Serve in a bowl sprinkled with parmesan and olive oil. It is soooo good! If you want to try other brands, just check out your local grocery store frozen section and read the labels. Make sure you are getting non-gmo products, organic is best. Unprocessed Meat Substitutes: The best unprocessed meat substitutes are:
NOTE: I suggest pairing beans, lentils, nuts and seeds with rice or quinoa to get complete protein. You can find many recipes to make using these, including veggie burgers, meat loafs, tacos (I love making them out of anything!) The challenge with them is that they take longer time to make. However, if you are in a pinch, here is one of my favorite eAZy meals: 1 Pack of Frozen bag of Protein Blends French Style (French lentils and beans) by Whole Foods Brand 1 Pack of frozen quinoa Fresh baby spinach Fresh tomatoes Pine nuts Extra Virgin Olive Oil Balsamic Vinegar Heat up the lentil mix and quinoa in a pan and serve with the rest of ingredients! Done. Another option is you don't want to get anything but ONE item, try this - Butternut Squash Lentil Coconut Dal! Just heat up and serve. Gluten-free, dairy-free, organic meal in a pouch is my top Fast Food. (See if your local Costco carries them for extra savings). And last but not least, here is my 2 favorite video recipes- 3-Minute Chili in a Sweet Potato Video and Lasagna. They are a mix of processed and unprocessed, and come out sooo yummy! They are super simple and even a person with zero cooking skills can make. Let me know how you like these and if you have any questions for future posts! Love, Alina
2 Comments
1/22/2021 08:44:51 am
These look delicious! Thanks for the super useful AZ Tips, as always!!
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Ali Z
1/23/2021 03:04:51 pm
So happy you liked the post!
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ASK ALINAWhy ask me?- After many challenges and different crazy life experiences I am living my dream life and since my friends say I am pretty wisdomous and I think I am a little bit funny too, I want to share my life approach with you so you can live the life you love as well. Here is a little bit about me: - I am a creator of #1 Best Diet as selected by Harpers Baazar Magazine - I started my career in the corporate world and didn't even know how to peel a shallot - I have been a chef for celebrities for over 10 years - I have a realistic approach to food and life - I have a great relationship with food and can even let chocolate go bad because I simply forget I have it at home (something I wasn't able to do 10 years ago) - I eat carbs whenever I feel like it without any guilt - I used to hate to cook and now absolutely love being a private chef and a food relationship coach - I wear whatever clothes I desire no matter what everyone is wearing or thinking - I am in good shape and my body’s biological age is 13 years younger than the one in my passport - I have experience being super poor, super wealthy and in between - I’ve worked in corporate world and am now an entrepreneur - I was married and divorced - I used to cry going to work because I was so miserable with my boss - I’ve had an emotional eating disorder - I moved from Russia to USA alone at the age of 15 - I’ve lived in Russia, Europe and on both coasts of USA - I have been super skinny and overweight - I have been insecure and unhappy with reasons and secure and happy for no reason - I used to wear glasses and healed my eyes with the power of thought and exercises - I created "Couture Nutrition®" so you can have tailor-made solutions for your body and soul - My brain usually comes up with jokes to soften stressful situations - I think color coordination, sparkles and rainbows are underused ![]() |