Meatless Monday – Going Meatless for your Health

So why go meatless? Last week we talked about the environmental benefits, this week it’s all about you! I’m sure you’ve heard it’s good for your health, but just how good? Here are some quick facts!

Going meatless even once a week can lower your risk of:

• Heart disease – vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and other food rich in poly unsaturated fats can reduce your risk by 19%!

• Some cancers, such as colon cancer

• Diabetes

• High blood pressure – many meatless meals have more potassium which helps lower BP

• High LDL cholesterol – cholesterol is found only in animal products, so that’s a huge plus (and plant sterols help to reduce LDL cholesterol levels)

(source: meatlessmonday.com)

It also prevents that after meal slump some can feel after a meaty meal.

This week we are featuring Avocados. Avocados are a tasty heart smart food. They contain healthy monounsaturated fats (what olives are also known for), which can lower the risk of heart disease. They are a good source of potassium – in fact, did you know that on a 100g basis, avocados have more potassium than bananas?? They are also a good source of fibre, B vitamins and carotenoids, for your eyes.

This week’s recipe is a yummy dressing I can’t get enough of, goes good on any bed of greens and vegetables and keeps for a few days in the fridge. Easiest to make in a mini food processor, but halve the recipe to prevent some major spillage issues while processing.

Yummy Avocado Dressing

Ingredients:

1 garlic clove

2 small avocados

7 – 8 tbsp water

5 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for less tang, use less)

3 – 4 tbsp lemon juice

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

½ cup fresh basil leaves

½ cup fresh parsley

½ cup green onion

1 tsp salt

Sugar or other sweetener to taste

Preparation:

Process garlic in food processor until finely chopped. Add water, oil, avocado, basil, parsley and onion. Process until smooth. Add lemon juice. Add apple cider vinegar slowly, tasting it after each addition till it reaches the tanginess you prefer. Add salt and sweetener. Pour over favorite salad base and enjoy! (Soooo yummy!)

- CF (guest blogger)