Shake up your diet with meatless meals

Published 10:30 am Wednesday, April 13, 2016

With the arrival of spring, many of us have discovered the arrival of an unwelcome couple of pounds, put on during the cold, grey months of wintry comfort food.

“The foods people are traditionally drawn to in the winter also happen to be loaded with meat, cheese, butter, and cream,” said Dr. Mary R. Wendt, author of “Waist Away: How to Joyfully Lose Weight and Supercharge Your Life. “

Switching to a plant-based diet, even for one meal a week, can help you to feel healthier and maybe lose those pounds, Wendt says.

Some of her suggestions to ease that transition include eating what’s in season, replacing meat in traditional dishes with protein-packed, fiber-filled beans, try dairy-free desserts first, and explore exotically flavored ethnic foods.

Wendt also recommends:

Track your food consumption in a diary for one day;

Consider meat as a condiment, not a main dish;

Get over your fear of carbohydrates, because not all of them are “bad” and many complex carbs, like those found in whole-grain breads, help you feel full longer;

Start slowly, cut meat from one meal a day, or one day a week;

Consider how to make old favorites healthier for you with plant-based foods, instead of just denying yourself;

Eating breakfast, oatmeal or smoothies are good choices.

Go meatless with friends, so you can support each other along the journey.