This One’s For The Carnivores – How to cut back on your meat consumption
Treat meat as a condiment
Let beans, veggies and grains be the main focus for your meal and use meat to flavour the dish instead of having it as the main attraction. It could be as easy to doubling up on the vegetables in your chili, or topping your salad with a couple strips of chicken or bacon. Meat would be a side dish not the main focus. 1 steak used to feed a family of 4.
Meat alternatives
Extra-firm tofu is easy to cook and soaks up the flavor of whatever you cook it with. This is true for many meat alternatives like seitan, and tempeh as well. These items will keep you fuller, longer and will satisfy that meaty craving. Try making two days a week meat free and see what happens!
Get familiar with Umami
Umami, or the “fifth flavor,” is the meaty flavor you get from certain foods that aren’t meat. An example of this is sautéed mushrooms or roasted tomatoes. These types of full flavour foods add the texture and bold taste that carnivores usually crave from meats. Try using caramelized onions or eggplant, and miso in recipes to add a heartiness and kick.
Take a cooking class
Trying a new way of eating, or a lifestyle change can be scary. This is why I always recommend taking some sort of class! A vegan, vegetarian or raw food class will open your mind to new, creative and fun ideas when it come to making magic in the kitchen. Ideas you never may have dreamed of, and introducing you to foods and dishes that you never knew existed.
Go vegetarian during the day
Food writer Mark Bittman came up with the the idea of “vegan til six” in his book, Food Matters. If this is too extreme for you try vegetarian till 6 instead! This will reduce the amount of meat you are eating in the long term, making it friendly on your wallet and the environment.
Get your friends & family on board
A support system is necessary for any drastic changes you are making in your life. Having that person to push you through the day, or scold you as almost give into a craving is a great way to keep yourself, and them, on track. Get a group of friends together and try being vegetarian till 6 for a week and see what happens!
Breakfast Burrito
What is better than a good hearty breakfast burrito? The only thing that comes to mind is breakfast for dinner. Just because you are vegan or raw does not mean you have to miss out on the magic that is a burrito. I would eat a burrito everyday if I could… well technically I could, and maybe I will from now on…
Collard Greens
Tomato, sliced
Avocado, sliced
Red and Green Pepper, chopped
Sweet Potato, cut into small wedges
Hot sauce or Salsa (optional)
- Toss sweet potato with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Roast at 425 degrees until soft (about 20 mins).
- Wash collard greens and spin in a salad spinner until dry.
- Top greens with remaining ingredients and roll into a burrito.
Crispy Nuggets
- 1/2 cup flaked nutritional yeast
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 tbsp garlic powder
pinch of Celtic sea salt
1/4 tsp paprika
- 1 package extra firm GMO free tofu (or tofu steaks)
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2 eggs worth of egg replacer (mixed)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix nutritional yeast, wheat germ, garlic powder, salt and paprika in a bowl or plastic bag.
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Slice tofu into strips, about 1/2 inch thick.
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Dip in egg replacer.
Cover with the mix you created earlier so that the tofu is 100% covered. Arrange on a baking tray and cook for 20-25 minutes turning once. The tofu should be lightly browned and crispy. Use in a stir fry or with your favorite dip!
*I like to make homemade honey mustard to dip these guys.*
