If you’re like most people, you have a busy lifestyle, and you may even have a family that depends on you for regular meals, especially at dinnertime. And now that the holidays are behind us, it’s time to get back to eating regular healthy meals packed with nutrition and protein. One of the best sources of protein is meat, and so it makes sense to include it in your meal plans on a regular basis. Moreover, as you include animal protein into your diet this year, you might want to consider getting the best cuts of meat at a butcher shop. In general, the selection is considerably better than at the grocery shop, and choosing higher quality meats is bound to make a difference in ensuring that your family will want to make it a priority to be home for family dinners.
When choosing the best kinds of meals to prepare for your family every week, there are all sorts of considerations, but I tend to think that most families want a meal that is both easy to make and healthy to eat. Meat is able to provide both of these as long as you spend a little bit of time considering your family’s likes and dislikes as well as any potential food allergy concerns. Very often, meat is your easiest option to prepare on a weeknight because of the variety of possibilities it provides to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
If there are those in your household who have made a resolution to lose weight this year, there are also decisions for you to make that will both satisfy the needs of those who want to shed those extra pounds as well as those who may be discriminating eaters. There is something comforting and tantalizing about adding quality meat to dishes you serve your family and knowing that the heart-healthy protein you have added–whether it’s lean beef, pork, chicken, or any other low-fat meat–and more than likely, your kids (and/or your husband) won’t even know they are eating healthily!
Some of my favorite meals include simple marinades on steaks, chicken, and pork, and there could be nothing easier than throwing quality cuts of these preferred meats in a plastic bag with some marinade and then grilling or baking it for a featured entree. When you pair it with some roasted or steamed vegetables, a piece of whole wheat bread or a baked potato (sweet or otherwise), there could be nothing better than savoring a meal like this together as a family. This is not only comfort food at its finest, but as long as you don’t add too much butter, oil, and creamy sauces, you will have a healthy meal that satisfies every member of your household!
I know that the current craze amongst so many people is to espouse a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, and while many make that choice, I am so glad that I don’t have to completely give up my love of meat in order to be healthy. I don’t recommend breading this meat or frying it in butter and/or oil on a consistent basis for best results in the health area. But eating prime cuts of meat cooked the right way can be just what the family requested for a wonderful everyday night meal.
