5 Reasons to Eat More Meat-Free Meals This Year

Need fuss-free meals on the go?  My new favorite breakfast power bowl and veggie bowls make eating meat-free even easier!

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Healthy Choice.  Thank you for considering shopping with companies who support Running in a Skirt.

Hi guys!

I stopped eating meat in High School when being vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian wasn't that popular or common.  My poor Mom had no idea what to do when I came home from school and announced I wasn't eating meat anymore.  She grew up with Southern food where dinner was always a meat and two sides and the concept of not eating "meat" meant you had chicken.  It was a totally foreign concept for her.

She did what she thought was best and for months she kept putting meat on my plate until I finally convinced her my new diet wasn't going anywhere.  After she agreed to the change it was a struggle to come up with meals for me to eat.  She didn't enjoy cooking and at the time there really weren't many vegetarian convenience foods at the store and as a working Mom, she needed those options.  I remember eating a lot of pasta!  A breakfast power bowl or veggie bowl wasn't really a thing.

It's a whole new world for vegetarians, vegan and meat-free eaters these days.  The grocery store is filled with wonderful options for anyone wanting to eat an alternative diet for whatever reason.  Even if you aren't vegetarian, there are so many delicious and easy ways to add more plants to your diet.

I don't believe in pushing my diet on anyone.  Different people need different types of food to feel good and I never judge people for what they eat.  I happen to be a vegetarian who also eats seafood, which is a little unconventional but it works for me and my family.  I will never get on a soapbox and make anyone feel bad about their food choices because they are personal.  However, I do believe that anyone can easily feel the benefits of eating more meat-free meals regardless of the diet you pick.  Vegetables are always a good idea!

So with the New Year, I thought I'd share a few reasons why you should consider eating a few more meat-free meals in 2019.  I believe even small changes can make you healthier and just adding a few vegetarian or vegan meals to your week can change your outlook on food.  Even a couple of meals a week can make a big difference!

5 Reasons to Eat More Meat-Free Meals This Year

Plants Are Nutrient Dense

Plants are packed with nutrients!  Each one is filled with vitamins and has different health benefits.  They make it easy to eat the rainbow and eating the rainbow is the best way to fill your diet with antioxidants.

For example, kale is well-rounded and filled with protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and omega-3 fatty acid.

It's Easy

As I mentioned above it's never been easier to eat a vegetarian meal.  I wish I had these kind of options when I was a teenager eating pasta for the third time that week because my Mom didn't know what else to make.  Healthy Choice is now offering Morning and Vegetarian & Vegan Power Bowls which are nutrient-dense meals with quick, flavorful and well-balanced ingredients including proteins, grain, and leafy greens.  They are perfect for those of us who are busy (isn't that everyone these days???) but still want a nutrient-dense meal.

Healthy Choice sent me these delicous bowls to try.  I loved them because ALL of them are filled with whole grains like red quinoa, whole grain barley AND leafy greens like kale, chard, and spinach.  Holy YUM!

The Vegetarian Bowls are a veggie bowl filled with bold and exotic flavors.  They are all vegetarian OR vegan and have 10-16 grams of protein and 7-16 grams of fiber.  The flavors are White Bean and Feta Salad, Mango Edamame, Falafel & Tahini, and Cauliflower Curry!  My current fav is Falafel & Tahini.  It has falafel with red onions, tomatoes, chard, kale, and spinach on top of brown and red rice, red quinoa and black barley.  It even has its own sesame tahini dressing.

You seriously can't go wrong with any of the picks though!

Healthy Choice also now has these really delicious morning bowls.  They all have leafy greens, proteins and steel-cut oats!

Two of the bowls are vegetarian.  The Roasted Red Pepper & Egg White Shakshuka and Pesto & Egg White Scramble are perfect picks in the frozen aisle.  The Roasted Red Pepper & Egg White Shakshuka has egg whites with red bell peppers, onions, chard, kale and spinach served on top of steel cut oats, farro, buckwheat and red quinoa with a spicy tomato and red pepper sauce.  That's all topped with feta cheese!

The Healthy Choice Morning Bowls deliver nutritious benefits like 10-15 grams or protein and 3.5 grams of fiber.   Even the bowl itself is recyclable!  They are made of an eco-friendly plant-based fiber.

These picks in your frozen food aisle make eating more vegetarian and meat-free meals a breeze!

Health

Studies show the higher your fruit and vegetable intake, the lower your chance for developing cardiovascular disease.   There is also evidence that a meat-free diet can help lower blood pressure and even help with diabetes.  Adding more plants to your diet can help your overall health!

It's Cheaper

Meat is generally more expensive than vegetarian meals and protein.  Adding legumes, beans, grains and even tofu to your meals is lighter on your wallet.

Carbon Footprint

Meat is a major producer of greenhouse gasses compared to plant production.  Even eating a few plant-based meals a week can reduce your impact.

Healthy Choice Morning & Vegetarian Power Bowls

Make sure to check out Healthy Choice Morning & Vegetarian Power Bowls the next time you are in the frozen food aisle.  They are delicious and a great pick for a fast meal on the go!

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Your turn!

Do you eat meat-free meals?

If you are already vegetarian or vegan when did you make the switch?