I've decided to try to eat less meat. This doesn't mean I'm a vegetarian since my goal is to back down to 2-3 meals a week with meat. I'm not even trying to be a semi-vegetarian or "flexitarian" because when I do eat meat I tend to choose beef first. That beef-first approach may contradict the reason for less meat, but I have low iron... and beef really is much more tasty than poultry!
My motives are mostly green-based. The environmental impact of raising animals is not marginal. Many are sensitive to the costs of feed but there is also the effect of the antibacterial drugs fed to these animals. I was shocked when I learned about the quantity of antibacterial drugs used and I must assume that farm animals contribute heavily to the drug-resistant strains we now see cropping up.
How am I doing this? Mostly through selecting vegetarian options at lunch and when eating dinner out combined with taking the initiative to cook a vegetarian dinner at home once a week. Then M and other meals prepared by friends etc can be a meat-filled as they wish and I minimize my impact on other's food preparations.
So what can I cook at home that a husband and 2yr old will eat? That is where I've turned to the Moosewood Cookbooks. M and I use to eat at the Moosewood Restaurant a lot when we were dating so I'm hoping to find a few recipies in there that he will like. Last night I tried a North African recipie for stuffed peppers with a feta cheese sauce. S liked the rice covered in cheese although the flavors were very subtle. I'm not sure it will be part of my standard rotation, but we'll see.
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4 comments:
A great step for the environment and your family's health! My kids always loved rice and there are many great vegetarian rice dishes. I also substitute TVP or frozen veggie crumbles for tacos. My sister always made lentil tacos, but we prefer TVP - depends on your preference. Seitan (wheat meat) is also a good meat substitute. I especially like it in stews. What I have found is that kids don't particularly like spicy things so if serving something spicy you can remove their portion before you add the spices and still have a meal for all.
I work for the Meatless Monday Campaign, a nonprofit public health campaign that encourages people to skip meat one day a week. You can find recipe ideas, health information, and ideas on how to get your kids involved in cooking on their site ( www.meatlessmonday.com), or sign up for their weekly newsletter--it comes out every (guess what?) Monday.
There are some kid friendly recipes on the site I would recommend (definitely not a complete list here). I would suggest Savory Ranch Tacos ( http://www.meatlessmonday.com/recipe_dinner_070430), Mighty Meatless Meatloaf (http://www.meatlessmonday.com/recipe_dinner_071203), Incredibly Easy Wraps (http://www.meatlessmonday.com/recipe_lunch_080225) and Parmesan Pasta Pronto (http://www.meatlessmonday.com/recipe_lunch_080421). In addition there are some great soup recipes, rice recipes and many more.
Check it out! I think it is really about figuring out what works for you and your family and your taste preferences. Kids need repeated exposure before they like things sometimes so just keep offering.
Good luck and have fun cooking.
Have you read The Omnivore's Dilemma? Very enlightening info about our industrial and organic food chains. Although it just makes me want to move to Italy and grow my own food. Anyway, good luck with your less-meat-diet. Our stand-by vegetarian meal is burritos - rice, beans, peppers, whatever else.
Hi W!
Try http://www.101cookbooks.com
It has some great vegetarian recipes.
I also often use: www.allrecipies.com
I've made this Lentil Soup many times and it's always a pleaser:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lentil-Soup/Detail.aspx
Have you looked at free range organic farms and butchers for meat as well?
Since your goals are environmental if you can get free range, sustainable, organic meat you can meet your goals without changing much of your eating habits.
I don't know how it is in Rochester, but luckily in Oz there's a quite a variety of farms that ethically raise meat.
Let me know if you find any good recipes!
Good luck,
-Sam I.
Great post, I especially like to eat local as much as possible. I intern with the Eat Well Guide, and we've teamed up with Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) to issue the Local, Organic Thanksgiving Challenge this year. Will you join us? And share a recipe? Read more on the Green Fork www.blog.eatwellguide.org/2008/11/take-the-local-organic-thanksgiving-challenge
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