Healthy versions of traditional 'meaty' dishes?!
Healthy versions of traditional 'meaty' dishes?
Hi- just moved in with a meat addict boyf. As a result I'm cooking more traditional meals such as shepherd's pie, moussaka, liver and bacon etc'. I used to eat mostly fish and chicken.
My anemia's cleared up, but I've put on a bit of weight, because I cook these meaty meals as my gran taught me and she definitely WASN'T the size 0 generation.
I don't like the philosophy of 'diets'- I'd rather eat regular food.
Has anyone got any 'healthier' versions of traditional meat-and-two-veg meals which are still tasty and filling enough for a big bloke? BTW, it goes without saying that I do serve veg with the food!
Fatty faves include: pie, creamy sauces for lasagne/moussaka, roast spuds/veg and mince/gravy based things.
4 days ago
We don't eat meat everyday, and certainly not for 90% for our food. It look like someone read more into what was said than was there. I also thought the 'it goes without saying' comment would have made that clear.
BTW neither of us is 'overweight'.
4 days ago
Also- I don't buy prepackaged mixes. I cook from scratch using milk not cream.
4 days ago
Sigh ... can we stop the assuming that I eat only steak, plus the insulting my boyfriend/suggesting I leave him. It isn't helpful; emotional as well as real health is important and losing relationships over food demonstrates an over-the-top relationship with food.
As someone who has suffered anemia in the past, I've spoken to real (ie not CELEB BOOK) doctors about red meat. The 5 year thing is a myth.
Answers:
4 days ago
We don't eat meat everyday, and certainly not for 90% for our food. It look like someone read more into what was said than was there. I also thought the 'it goes without saying' comment would have made that clear.
BTW neither of us is 'overweight'.
4 days ago
Also- I don't buy prepackaged mixes. I cook from scratch using milk not cream.
4 days ago
Sigh ... can we stop the assuming that I eat only steak, plus the insulting my boyfriend/suggesting I leave him. It isn't helpful; emotional as well as real health is important and losing relationships over food demonstrates an over-the-top relationship with food.
As someone who has suffered anemia in the past, I've spoken to real (ie not CELEB BOOK) doctors about red meat. The 5 year thing is a myth.
I dont eat red meat and my BF is a meat fiend too. I make Lasagna and Spag Bol in exactly the same way, except with turkey mince instead. He actually told me the other day he prefers turkey mince lasagna to the mince meat one!
You might also want to try buying some different sized plates - sound weird but I found I was piling on the pounds just because I was eating the same amount as him eventually! I serve his food onto a larger plate than mine now and it seems to make a difference!!
Anything can be healthier if you drain the fat away using special equipment
Its okay and healthy to eat meat. But why cant you simply cut back? Eat a vegetarian dish once in a while. No one needs 90% meat for each of three meals a day. A healthier proportion would be 5-10% meat in your diet
Use lean meat especially lean mince.
Don't add too much butter and cheese to the mash potatoes.
Roast the potatoes in Extra Virgin Olive Oil - not lard / fat.
With your portion - have more veg and less meat / potatoes.
Make your own creamy sauce with milk, mustard and cornflour instead of cream.
Mince in a tomato based sauce with rice is nice, add chili / garlic to spice it up.
Although I have never tried it - you could try low fat cheese for the lasagna?
well you cant deprive ur bf of his lovely meat jus cuz u wanna cut it out but you can try substituting chop meat with ground turkey and see if he notices, turkey bacon isnt the same but mayb cook some on the side jus for u and the real stuff for him. you always have the option of cooking your favorite stuff on the side for yourself, i do that. but your fatty faves jus made me hungry mmmm now i see why its hard not to be tempted
For things like shepherd's pie, you could substitute ground turkey for the ground beef, or even soy protein if you can do it without your bf seeing you! Things like that, like meatloaf, etc., are easier to hide soy protein in. Moussaka isn't bad, since lamb is very lean and you make it with olive oil, which is very good for you. For your cream sauces, there are low fat substitutes like canola oil that can make the gravies a little healthier. Same with the butter you usually put on roast veggies. In some cases, olive oil will give you a lot more flavor than regular oil. And there are a lot of butter substitutes nowadays that are quite tasty. Although I agree with the answerer who suggests some meatless meals, I know from experience how difficult this is when you have a meat and potatoes man in your house! LOL
GO BACK to your mostly chicken & fish! Don't become unhealthy because of your boyfriend! We're only supposed to eat red meat 2x per week, or 3 and not even that much. Even if low fatty meat.... it's still meat and contains fat within the meat that cannot be removed and meat in excess is NOT healthy. Meat also stays in your digestive system too long and rots and decays in your body until expelled. Read Dr. Oz who will confirm that and any other smart doctor. Teach your boyfriend this and tell him you want to keep him alive... SCARE him if you have to, and that YOU aren't going to go downnhill WITH him, nor do you want to cook 2 separate meals, unless HE wants to cook his own while you continue to eat healthily. Or...... get rid of him and get a smarter boyfriend. lol And I'm saying all this as someone who ALSO loves meat but I've cut down, our health is much more important! Good luck, hun.
My boyfriend is a chef and he uses a lot of chicken(slow cooked in the crock pot) alot. Also ground turkey is an option, but is somewhat on the bland side so you may have to spice it up a little. What about pork? Pork loins, pork chops? Also, try bacon wrapped aspargus, you get your meat and veggie and its filling. Chicken and noodles, turkey and noodles, chicken/turkey potpies are all options that combine your veggies with your meat. Also, another suggestion, if you can broil your meats. This way the fat drains off the meat. Hope this helps
Some things that I do, -
Shepherd's pie and other ground beef recipes - I buy the extra lean ground sirloin. Its more expensive, but If its just for the 2 of you its not bad. I even made hamburgers with it once, and everyone loved them and asked what my secret was. Even my Mother in law who insists that you need regular hamburg to make good burgers, because the fat gives the flavour.
Another thing I do is mix ground chicken with ground beef. start with 1/3 chicken 2/3 beef and see how you like it.
I also flavour with chicken broth instead of butter where I can. Try cooking potatoes in it - you'll need less butter to give them flavour.
I was dieting for awhile, and I practically cut out red meat - then I became anemic.
Substitute chicken breast as often as possible. Cut out the sauces which is hard to do because I myself suffer from the same fave. (Sauce equals Kryptonite :*) ).
Traditional Chinese cooking uses meat as the accent in a dish instead of it being the heart of the dish and usually doesn't require as much meat. The combination of vegetables and possibly rice is sure to satisfy. However, traditional Chinese Food will often make a person feel hungry shortly thereafter due to the lower amount of protein in the meal. Try to use some low sodium soy sauce when making it.
Hope that helps. Anemia is a real drag. It can sap you of your energy real fast. Best Wishes.