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Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano

 
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Meat 

Looking for reasons to trim some meat from your diet? Here are two. 

1. Eating less meat is likely healthier. A plant-based diet—heavy in veggies, fruits, legumes and nuts—is packed with nutrients.  While meat also contains nutrients, many meats are high in fat. And red meat and processed meats such as bacon and sandwich meats are linked with some types of cancer.  

2. Eating less meat may save you money. Meat often makes up a hefty part of a grocery bill, and substitutes such as eggs, low-fat dairy and tofu cost less. 

Linda Halbrook, M.D., a family medicine specialist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, offers these three tips for cutting down on meat without feeling like you’re making a sacrifice: 

1. Choose smaller portions. Treat meat as a side dish and give your veggies the star treatment. 

2. Fool your eye. A three-ounce piece of meat is recommended, and a thin piece of meat covering a lot of your plate will appear to be bigger than a thick piece of meat, even if they weigh the same.   

3. Look for easy ways to make a change:

  • Make or purchase veggie-based soups. Most soups are light in meat anyway, so you won’t miss it.
  • Stuff a sandwich with veggies, a bit of cheese and a smear of hummus.
  • Try black beans or vegetarian refried beans in place of ground beef or chicken in tacos and burritos.
  • Have pasta for a meatless dinner. It’s easy to switch to spaghetti with a rich tomato sauce, or spinach lasagna, instead of their meat-laden alternatives.
  • Add beans and legumes to salads for a protein and fiber boost.
  • Skip the meat in stir-fry. Instead add nuts or tofu.  

Click here for more tips on healthy eating from Baylor Plano or to schedule an appointment with a dietitian, talk with your physician about requesting an order. For a referral to a physician on the Baylor Plano medical staff, click here.