MEATLESS ANY DAY

Today, March 20th, thousands of caring people across the globe will be celebrating Meatout, the world's largest and oldest grassroots diet education campaign! 


Fight Prostate Cancer With Meatless Monday or Any Day. Journey with Prostate Cancer Founder Gabe Canales who encourages all men to be proactive about their health by cutting out meat once a week.


Small changes in life can make a big difference. Meatless Any Day is a step toward developing better habits. You can do it -- and you should feel better. Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.


Concerned about lack of protein? No worries. There are many alternatives like tempeh, tofu, quinoa, lentils, egg whites, almond butter, nuts, soy, seeds and beans, including small red beans, red kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, navy beans and black-eyed peas.

Small changes in life can make a big difference. I want you and your loved ones to do everything you can to avoid getting cancer and other chronic health conditions like heart disease.

Meatless Monday or Any Day is a step toward developing better habits. You can do it -- and you should feel better.

And you're never too young to start Meatless Monday. "The younger that people can start to adopt healthier lifestyles, the better the long-term health benefits. In fact, it is much easier to make the changes at a younger age than after decades of living with a bad habit," says Dr. Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D, Director of Integrative Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. 

Weekly Meatless Recipe: 

Sicilian Cauliflower Pasta

Recipe adapted from "The Meat Free Monday Cookbook" (Kyle Books)

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

Pinch of saffron threads (about 1/8 teaspoon)1 medium head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into small florets (about 4 cups)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup golden raisins
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
14 ounces whole-wheat mafalda corta pasta or similar short pasta (such as fusilli or gemelli)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 heaping tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

START TO FINISH: 1 HOUR

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, soak the saffron threads in 2 tablespoons of boiling water and set aside.2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cauliflower to a colander set over a large bowl to drain. Set aside and return the cooking water to a boil.
3. In a large skillet, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute longer. Add the pine nuts and raisins and continue to cook until the pine nuts are lightly toasted, about 2 minutes.
4. Add the cauliflower, steeped saffron, tomato paste and bay leaf to the skillet with 1/2 cup of the cauliflower cooking water. Season with salt and pepper and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, lightly mashing the cauliflower with the back of a wooden spoon to make a chunky sauce; add more water if the sauce starts to look dry. Discard the bay leaf.
5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in the cauliflower water according to the package instructions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the water, and transfer the pasta to the skillet with the cauliflower sauce.
6. Add the lemon juice and parsley and stir to combine. Thin the sauce with some of the reserved water if needed. Season to taste and serve with the Parmesan.

Enjoy!

Weekly Health Tip:

Bite for the Better: Sure calories are an important part of maintaining or losing weight, but so are nutritious, healthy foods. Eating unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains increases your energy, lowers your risk of health problems, helps you maintain a healthy weight and sets a good example for friends and family! This week focus on making healthy food swaps at every meal. Replace your lunchtime serving of chips with crunchy carrot sticks, or start your morning with oatmeal and fruit instead of a bagel and cream cheese. You'll soon discover how delicious nutritious foods can be!    

"It is hard to keep that which has not been obtained through personal development." -- Jim Rohn

What are you doing to make yourself better today than yesterday?   

Let me know what you have done for yourself and send me your favorite meatless recipes!

Have a great healthy week and take care of yourself!

Lisa

LQ WELLNESS

lisaquinnwc@embarqmail.com

973-383-0955