Whether there really is or will be a meat shortage in the United States, now is still a great time to think about eating more plant-based meals. Not only is it more economical, and generally more healthy, but it will keep you from feeling lost if your grocery store meat shelves are ever more bare than you anticipate.
Meatless meals don't have to feel like punishment, or taste gross or subpar in any way. I cook mostly meatlessly, and that reflects here in my recipe list for sure. But to save you the work of looking for good meatless meals, I've rounded up several for you to include in your meal plan for the upcoming weeks!
In the sides section, I've included plenty of options that can be a whole meal in a bowl if you want. I often make meals out of one or two things that most people would consider "sides". Sometimes In include a salad with it to get in extra vegetables, sometimes not. Do what works best for your own eating situation right now!
Salads
Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Preserved Lemon Tabbouleh with Bulgur
Sides (or Entrees if you eat bigger portions)
Cuban Black Beans and Coconut Rice
Instant Pot Charleston Red Rice
Okra and Tomatoes with Riced Cauliflower
Tomatoes and Spinach Over Pearl Barley
Meat Substitutes and Tofu
Cajun kebabs with Beyond Meat sausage
Ginger Garlic Tofu and Broccoli
Harissa Falafel and Yogurt Tahini Sauce
Mapo tofu with Beyond Meat crumbles
Rice, Vegetables & Tofu with Green Curry Simmer Sauce
South Carolina Barbecue Jackfruit in Egg Rolls
Are Meat Substitutes Like Beyond Meat Safe?
Safe is a subjective word these days. I've tried several varieties of Beyond Meat and Impossible Meat since they have come out, and it hasn't killed me. I also don't eat it every day, or even every week. Beyond Meat (we don't have Impossible Meat available in retail stores in South Carolina currently) is not a cheap buy, at $10+ for a package of the ground beef style, or the sausages. So it's not something I want to purchase frequently for the cost alone.
But these faux meats offer a sense of adventure and interest for those who like that in their food. It gives meat eaters a sense of meat, and non-meat eaters a sense of it as well.
All I can advise is for each reader to look at the nutritional information on any meat substitutes they are considering and comparing it to actual meat to see if they feel like it is right for their specific circumstances. As a fairly healthy 30something, I feel fine and have felt no adverse affects in enjoying it occasionally.
Some of my favorite meat substitutes are Celebration Roasts (pictured at the top), Gardein Chick'n Scallopini, Beyond Meat Ground Beef, Morningstar Farms Grillers, and Tofurky hickory smoked deli slices, to name a few. As you can tell, I've tried a lot of faux meats in my time and have some favorites that hearken back to the days when Morningstar Farms was one of the few in the game, to some of the newcomers like Beyond Meat.