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A (0 - $450)/ Breakfast/ Dinner/ Tips & Tricks/ Vegetarian

3 Delicious Meatless Mains for Cheap

The relationship that Americans have with meat is tight-knit and longer standing than a few generations of Weber grills.

It’s a particular way of eating; a recognizable, familiar, predictable and sought-after shared experience that is not only cultivated but greatly celebrated. From the first buck of hunting season to top-market Spencer steaks, gathering around the grill is not simply a pastime, it’s a quintessential tradition for many.

And I can honestly say, I love to celebrate it too.

There is something to be said for the gathering of people to cultivate good food in the spirit of togetherness. Italians have this down pat. Interestingly, community is one of the key shared factors among centenarians (the oldest living folks) in Italy and other Blue Zones around the world.

Another factor is enjoying a pesca-vegan or pesca-vegetarian lifestyle! Don’t be afraid of the higher fat content in the Mediterranean diet – just aim for healthier plant-based fats and mix in unsaturated fatty acids from wild fish.

Yes – less meat is actually better for living a healthful long life.

You’ve probably heard it called the “Mediterranean” diet, but it really is a whole lifestyle – the diet plus regular activity integrated into daily life, a life-long commitment to investing in community and occasionally some good wine.

For the sake of all of our health and longevity, I’ve created a few easy, delicious, dollar savvy and dare I say – “toddler approved” – meatless mains to get you through at least 2 dinners a week.

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A (0 - $450)/ Breakfast/ Dinner/ Sides/ Tips & Tricks

Keto Breadsticks and Pizza

Are you Keto but avoiding cow’s milk products? SUB goat cheese instead. EASY!

Why y’all LOVE my keto bread recipe…

It’s versatile, super quick n’ easy, yummy, nourishing and CHEAP.

  • Add toppings to make a pizza — a main meal made easy!
  • Remove the olives, spice it up and slice it into long strips for keto breadsticks
  • Keep it simple and serve it as a side to any salad or soup
  • Make it fluffy or flat and use it as “sandwich bread” for a custom easy on-the-go meal
  • Switch up the type of cheese and olives, add your favorite veggies (even pureed works!) for something new
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A (0 - $450)/ B ($450 - $800)/ Dinner/ Sides/ Tips & Tricks/ Vegetarian

7 Easy Ways to Turn an Old Pasta into a New Dish

Chickpea Protein Pasta with Zucchini

three recipes included

Ever run into a “repeat meal rut”? The kind where you just don’t have it in you to give that extra push for something new to create? Well friend, here’s a jet pack outa there.

I’ve even included 3 gluten free vegetarian pasta recipes that, from a cost per Calorie basis, earn an “A grade” … Hello affordable and easy Mediterranean. Read on for a link to our keto breadsticks recipe.

7 easy ways out of the pasta rut…

  1. Make it Fresh: cook the noodles al dente (less time) and then add finely chopped raw veggies. Serve it cold with regular balsamic and you’ve got a fancy salad for the main.
  2. Add Pesto Sauce (a little goes a long way!). Cutting calories but want the flavor? Puree some fresh basil! This is also a yummy swap-out for the cheese on the toasted bread.
  3. Pizza Pasta: add your favorite red sauce and toss with your favorite cheese & “toppings”. (Tomatoes are Not Lectin Free)
  4. Combo: Mix Lentil and Garbanzo noodles together, or experiment with different noodle shapes!
  5. Switch Up your olives and use a different kind of cheese
    • Kalamata Olives + Trader Joe’s Creamy Syrah Toscano // Black Olives + Smoked Gouda // Green Olives + Sharp Cheddar // new olives + new cheese …
  6. Casserole-It: cook your noodles a little longer, mix ingredients together, top with cheese and gluten-free bread crumbs and bake it! 350°F for 25 minutes covered + 5 minutes uncovered. (A life-saver for overcooked noodles!)
  7. Pasta Bar! Separate ingredients into different bowls, maybe include a few extra toppings and “build your own pasta”! If your kids are old enough to grate cheese, pass the cheese grater around the table and take a load off.
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A (0 - $450)/ B ($450 - $800)/ Dinner/ Sides/ Tips & Tricks/ Vegetarian

3 Easy Budget Savvy Salads to Savor

When it comes to budgeting groceries, let’s be honest: veggies are often the first to get the boot.

Why? It’s simple math: they’re expensive and don’t offer a lot of Calories for what you pay. Unfortunately, this means some of the best foods for optimal health and a long life are getting shafted, and other foods are taking their place.

For instance, it’s really easy to grab a bag of potato chips and know you’re getting a lot of calories for only a few bucks, as a side to a sandwich or soup. Similarly, how simple is it to make endless amounts of spaghetti with bread as a side because everyone knows that a side salad won’t contribute nearly the same amount of calories as cheese bread will.

What a lot of people are beginning to practice is either nixing their salad dressing entirely, or putting it on the side. I’d like to suggest that, in keeping a balanced diet and being mindful of total Calories consumed, we can not only keep the dressing but increase the amount of it.

How?

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