Cook's Tips

Making Healthy Meat Choices And Adding Them To Your Diet

Not everyone likes to eat meat, but those that do should know that not all meat choices are unhealthy. Shopping for meat that is good for you doesn’t even need to be difficult. And, some of the best meats out there can be used in many different meals.

Meat offers you many great things that help your body run properly, more than just protein. Red meat is rich in iron, which is great for your blood. Even turkey offers you great benefits for brain health and more.

Chicken

Lemon Chicken
Photo by Mark DeYoung on Unsplash

Your best bet when it comes to shopping for chicken is to go organic. It can be easier to cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but sometimes the non-organic choices come with chemicals that may not be all that great for you.

As well as high protein content, chicken also offers tryptophan, just like turkey meat, which is a natural antidepressant. It does this by increasing serotonin levels. Chicken soup is definitely good for the soul, and the mind and its anti-inflammatory properties make it great when you’re feeling under the weather.

Chicken soup isn’t the only way to get your fix of chicken. Try chicken tacos, chicken Caesar salad, or even grilled chicken with some steamed vegetables. The options are endless.

Turkey

Just like with chicken, organic is one of the best choices when it comes to picking the right turkey. Turkey, like its cousin, is good for your mind and energy level. Don’t just have turkey once a year when Thanksgiving comes around, you can do so much with it all year round.

Turkey comes with both light and dark meat, like chicken. Turkey makes a great meat alternative to soups. Try turkey tacos, turkey sandwiches, or just enjoy some turkey with rice and veggies.

Pork

Pork is another choice white meat, although there are some pork choices that are better for you than others. Things like breakfast sausage and bacon aren’t the best choices. Bacon is very salty and both are full of fat that is not heart healthy.

A nice healthy lean pork chop, or even a pork roast, can make great meal options and are great with whatever vegetables you prefer.

Lean Beef

Lean, grass-fed beef should be the only thing you’re shopping for, unless you like wild game. Venison is actually the most healthy red meat in existence. If you don’t hunt, you can still get some great benefits from picking the right steaks or burger.

Grass-fed beef is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, it also contains vitamin E, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and beta-carotene. Just make sure you opt for 100 percent organic to get the best of these benefits.

Try burgers made with fresh herbs, like garlic and basil. Steaks or roast with little fat make great choices, and taste great with fresh vegetables or even a nice crisp salad.