If you are attempting to cut down on meat and animal protein, you will discover a whole new world of meatless options in front of you. The tide across the world is flowing in the direction of a nonmeat lifestyle. Just a glance round you will reveal a host of bestselling books that claim the many advantages of a plant-based protein diet. And given the numerous campaigns around a pro plant diet, the awareness and participation of vegan proponents is rapidly climbing around the world, especially in the last five years.
Disclosure: Please talk to your doctor or health care professional before going on a meatless diet.
According to a research conducted by the Vegetarian Resource Group, it is seen that Americans no longer consider vegetarian meals a fringe idea, on the contrary out of the entire population of participants who polled in the survey, it was seen that over 40% of Americans claimed to eat at least one vegetarian meal every week while over one in five people reported that he or she has reduced the consumption of meat or is actively trying to eat as less as possible. As recommended by the recent update of the Dietary Guidelines Report, Americans can improve their quality of health by cutting back on meat. This update is wholeheartedly supported by top nutrition advisory committees across the country.
However, merely eating less animal protein is not a healthy plan in itself. What an individual decides to consume instead of meat is proportionally, if not more, crucial. If eating less meat is translated into consuming greater quantities of pizza or Mac and cheese, more harm is being done to the body than good. Unfortunately, even those individuals who are committed to eating healthy vegetarian options are unable to strike the right balance. Most materials turn to dairy products, especially cheese, as the main source of protein that can actually make for a delicious meal filled with nutrients. However, if dairy products are the only main option for protein, you could be missing out on some critical elements, while at the same time, you are consuming far more unhealthy quantities of fat than you realize. It is important to note that a triangular piece of cheddar cheese the size of an adult thumb has more than double the amount of saturated fat than 3 ounces of lean steak.
In order to go without meat and still consume a healthy amount of protein during the day, it is extremely significant to supplement your meal with more plant protein such as those found in whole grains, lentils, nuts, seeds, peas and beans. Getting a wide variety of plant protein throughout the day from a number of plant-based sources cannot only help in covering the entire spectrum of essential amino acids, it can also provide you with essential zinc, iron and B6 vitamins. In addition, plant-based proteins contain healthy fats, fibre and a wide range of helpful and defensive antioxidants. For instance, scatter a small can of chickpeas on your salad or toss chilled shelled green soybeans beans or almonds over brown rice as a wholesome stir-fry or you can build a peanut butter sandwich as a protein snack or prepare lentil soup to supplement protein in your daily diet.
Today, there are more plant protein options in a variety of restaurants and eating joints, thanks to the trend of going meatless, across the nation. Healthy food options such as bean burritos and sandwich toppings consisting of sunflower seeds and quinoa are becoming increasingly popular among people who are trying to reduce meat in their daily diet.
Whatever plant protein you opt for, choose wisely and concentrate on the quality and variety of the protein that you are filling your plate with, rather than the quantity of the food.
Photo Credit: Flickr
