Guest post from Kraft Foods (I am a member of their Delicious Bytes blogger community)
It seems like everywhere you turn these days, there's a news story about the virtues of eating less meat. For example, Meatless Monday has become an interesting movement to empower people to reduce their meat consumption without sacrificing taste.
When trying to go the meatless route in your own home, sometimes the easiest step is just removing the meat from your favorite pasta dish and, voila, it's vegetarian.
Other times, why not be a little more adventurous?
Grains are a great alternative to white rice and pasta, though it sometimes seem daunting to know how best to prepare them.
Quinoa, for example, is healthful, satisfying and versatile, and a good source of fiber and protein without the added fat. Learn how to cook quinoa and you'll find it's a great option to include in your weekly meal plan.
And if those die-hard carnivores in your life just can't imagine a vegetarian dinnertime dish that's satisfying, they might just change their tune once you've served up one of these great veggie main courses:
What You Need:
- 4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
- 1-1/4 cups KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 6 lasagna noodles, cooked, drained
- 2 cups spaghetti sauce
Make It:
- HEAT oven to 375ºF. Mix cream cheese, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella and Parmesan until well blended; spread onto noodles. Roll up tightly.
- PLACE, seam-sides down, in 9-inch sq. baking dish; top with sauce and remaining cheeses.
- BAKE 30 min. or until heated through.
Kraft Kitchens Tips:
- Substitute: Save 30 calories, 3 grams of fat and 3 grams of saturated fat per serving by preparing with PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese and KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese.
- Special Extra: Stir chopped fresh basil and/or sliced mushrooms into sauce before using as directed.
You may want to try these meatless main courses, as well:
Speaking of spring produce, they're not only at their flavorful best right now; they're also often sold at their most cost-effective prices.
So veggie dishes may be not only better for your well-being, but also for your wallet! But don't worry if you can't always get to the market for fresh veggies—most flash-frozen vegetables retain all their nutrient value.
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Disclosure: No payment, product, or any other consideration, besides a chance to share stuff I think families (like mine) would like, was received for this blog post.
