HOW MUCH meat do you eat a month? Could you survive a week without it?
These are some of the questions Aussies are being asked to ponder this Meat Free Week, on until September 30.
Meat Free Week challenges participants to give up meat for seven days – with a chance to raise money for good causes at the same time including Bowel Cancer Australia.
Did you know the average Aussie eats almost 28 kilos of pork, and the same amount of beef, every year – more than double the amount eaten in 1975.
So it’s no surprise that when it comes to whipping up a mid-week meal minus the meat factor, many of us are stumped.
But according to Masterchef runner-up and Philips Kitchen Appliances ambassador Callum Hann, preparation is the key.
”Many people want to participate in Meat Free Week, but it can be tricky to think outside of your go-to dinners without your hero ingredient,” said Callum.
“Preparation is the best way to approach any dietary changes, so I have outlined some key tips to help you get the most out of the experience.”
Here Callum shares his five tips to going meat-free:
Try new recipes: Rather than recreating your lamb chop dinner without the lamb chops, find some new vegetarian recipes, which you might enjoy so much they’ll become a new staple.
There is an abundance of blogs, websites, Instagram pages and cookbooks dedicated to delicious vegetarian recipes.
Seasonal produce: The highest quality fruits and vegetables are the ones which are grown and produced locally. To make the most of local produce, find the fruits and vegetables which are in season.
If you’re buying produce which is out of season, it’s likely been flown in from another country and the flavour won’t be as good for any meals you are preparing.
Buy some fresh herb plants: It’s tricky to have your own vegetable garden or fruit trees, but you can buy small herb plants including basil, mint and coriander.
These look great sat in your kitchen, but they’re also perfect for garnishing or flavouring any meals, and if you have children it’s a great way to teach them about how fresh ingredients are grown.
Find the right appliances: There are so many great kitchen appliances to help you create the best meals possible with minimal stress and effort.
As Meat Free Week starts, it’s a great time to find an appliance which will suit your cooking best and make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. I use the Philips Deluxe All-in-One Cooker which allows you to slow cook, pressure cook and multi cook.
Eat the rainbow: When you decide to participate in Meat Free Week, it is easy to forget that you also need to make sure your meals are healthy. Chips, pizza and deep-fried foods can all be vegetarian, however this doesn’t mean they are healthy.
A great way to keep your vegetarian meals as nutritious and healthy as possible is to “eat the rainbow.” This means, filling your plate with vegetables, grains and fruits which range in colour, and it will also give you a few “food-gram” opportunities.
For details on Meat Free Week, plus many meat-free recipes, go to www.meatfreeweek.org