Red Meat Alternatives- any ideas?

[healthyannie]

I dont eat red meat and my dh does. He doesn't mind that our kids dont eat it but it is difficult for him not to eat it a few times a week. Does anyone have any red meat alternatives? I have tryed cooking with ground turkey and he likes that but does anyone have any recipes that dont involve red meat or ideas for substitutions? I am getting bored with the turkey burgers.....
Thanks so much!
Annie

[BeagleMommy]

I used to make a good, old fashioned meatloaf with ground turkey. My grandma couldn't tell the difference. Haven't done it in a while. Hubby says bread comes in loaves, not meat.

[Persephone]

When you say red meat, do you mean beef? Or have you tried bison, or lamb and those are a no go too? We had lamb burgers on Labor Day, and they were very good, not a lot of fat, no beefy flavor. Anyway, my mom always used ground turkey for everything that called for ground beef when we were kids, it tasted fine to me, but that's prolly cause I grew up with it... hmm... I have a feeling I"m not being too helpful on this thread, I think I"ll go now.

[AnnC]

How about pork? It's not red meat, but men who like red meat usually like pork!

Ann

[saratc]

Hmm, maybe you could tell us your reasons for avoiding red meat? I have low blood pressure and tend to get a bit anemic during *cough* that time of the month and I find that it's alleviated by making sure I'm getting red meat. Maybe your DH is deficient in something that's provided by the red meat which is why he's craving it? If so, substituting may not help even if it is a good substitute by taste unless you find out what he's needing.

[healthyannie]

Thanks Ladies! He just craves a hamburger or a steak occasionally and I am not opposed to making it- but I will try the turkey meat loaf. I just dont like to use beef. I have not tried lamb or pork as a sub. What kind of toppings would you use for lamb? Thanks for your help I enjoy learning new recipes.

[saratc]

What about buffalo? Are you okay with handling/cooking buffalo? Tastes just like beef.

[momto l&a]

From my experience when I crave red meat white meat wont take care of it.

I wouldn't substitute pork, i would find a good source of grass fed beef. I just don't see pork as healthy.

[Persephone]

I actually think bison/buffalo tastes MORE like beef than beef does.

Lamb goes really well with rosemary and garlic, and traditionally with mint jelly (though by all means isn't the only way to eat it (nor the best, IMO)

[HerthElde]

I'm curious about why you don't eat red meat. Are you unable to obtain grassfed meat? Or do you believe red meat to be unhealthy based on current government "health" recommendations? Or do you just have an aversion to beef? I'm curious about your POV because you're new here and may not be aware of the health benefits of grassfed beef. (see http://www.eatwild.com)

[healthyannie]

I dont eat red meat for personal reasons, I have known several people to become extreemly ill and one person died from consumption-however it could have been because of wild game. If I buy it for my husband it is grass fed and there are some wonderful brands in my area. I have not tried buffalo...Good recommendations though. I went on search for recepies and there are lamb burgers with Greek toppings that sounds interesting....
I haven't had beef in a few years, but I never really craved it, more chicken and fish for me. My children can eat it if they want but they never ask for it.
Thanks for all your help!

[Danelle78]

I second the lamb with rosemary and garlic, just had some. We crockpot it. yumm....

[Panserbjorne]

What cut of lamb do you use in the crockpot?

[healthyannie]

I tried the Lamb burgers with mint mayo and I have to say it went over extreemly well with the DH. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Bestbirths]

can I jump in here with a question? We are avoiding red meat because of juvenile arthritis and inflammation, so in this case do you think that grain fed lamb meat would be considered a white meat? or a red meat? My child doesn't like seafood so this is really hard. I'm a little confused on what is red or white meat...cause I guess I wish that grain fed lamb and goat would be considered white meat because we can get that here locally.

[saratc]

I'm not sure I agree completely with avoiding red meat for inflammation. In fact, inflammation can lead to anemia, in which case red meats will be essential for the iron. What is most important is the that the meat you are getting is pastured, non grainfed meat. Grain fed conventional meats are very disproportioned in terms of the Omega 3 to 6 ratios, and a proper balance of Omegas are important for good health. Many people with inflammation and other illnesses tend to be lacking in Omega 3's due to a diet that is disproportioned. I apologize for going off topic but just wanted to give my 2 cents.

I'm afraid both lamb and goat would be considered red meats. Almost all poultry are considered white meats. Some consider pork a white meat, but I would avoid pork meat for inflammation although I would not avoid pork fat. Eggs are also a great high quality source of protein if your DC likes eggs.

[Bestbirths]

DC loves eggs. We are trying to be as balanced as we can be with the diet. Dh thinks our previous diet contributed to the arthritis, and so does Lori at the great plains lab. She said that lots of kids get pain if they are sensitive to oxalates, because our diet was high in nuts which are high in oxalates, that could be the issue. We're trying to eliminate high oxalate foods and red meat while we are at it.

Tonite the family ate the reciepe from the last mothering magazine; caribbean salmon with the quinoa and cucumber relish. Everyone ate it except the oldest who self restricts his diet so much we just give him fistfulls of vitamins and call it dinner. The dc who doesn't like seafood ate the salmon reciepe!!

Earlier today I went to get goat milk from a farm and got some lamb riblets. Maybe if it's grain fed the omega 3's will outweigh the redness of the meat if only used only occasionally.

I looked lamb up today in "healing with whole foods" and it said that lamb is warming. If inflammation is a hot condition, I think the reason lamb is not allowed is because it increases heat.

quinoa is higher in protein than wheat, and high in iron too, so we will use it as often as we can.

DC is taking 2 tsp flaxseed oil a day, 2 coromegas a day, and 2 tsp of cod liver oil a day, for omega 3's & 6's.

I would avoid pork meat for inflammation although I would not avoid pork fat.

YAY!!! Good, because besides olive oil, and grapeseed oil, we are short on oils to use if we get rid of saturated fats. We had been using a lot of coconut oil lately before the arthritis got really bad. Since it is a saturated fat, we were going to find something else to do with the TWO GALLONS of coconut oil we just bought...argh.

DD loves her eggs cooked in bacon grease, sunny side up...

[Gale Force]

If the lamb is grain fed, it's not likely to have any Omega-3 fatty acid.

Why is red meat recommended against for inflammation? What property?

[Bestbirths]

Originally Posted by Gale Force

Why is red meat recommended against for inflammation? What property?

To quote "Healing with Whole foods"

All of these conditions are marked by mineral imbalances in the affected tissues, with calcium status being a good indicator of mineralization in general. Thus, in every form of these diseases, avoid calcium inhibitors: excess meat or protein from any source; intoxicants; refined sugar and too many sweets; and excess salt. Also restrict foods high in oxalic acid....

It refers to a calcium chapter I haven't read yet.

It says to avoid nightshades.

It says to restrict consumption of all nuts.

Then it goes on to say

We also know that dairy products, because of their high fat content, are sometimes the cause of, not the cure for, calcic disorders.

Then I was told that The cheeses and red meats create “arachidonic acid” as a by-product of their digestion…and in cases of disease, this leads immediately to inflammation.


To quote, Healing with whole foods, Paul Pitchford 1993 edition.

Animal fats are the primary sources of arachidonic acid, which through various metabolic pathways in the body initiates the production of pain inducing, inflammatory prostaglandins (PGE2) as well as leukotrienes. Leukotreines are the most powerful sources of inflammation yet discovered in the body, and their production can be inhibited by ingestion of omega-3 and GLA fatty acids, recommended as a part of regeneration diets.

It refers to a whole chapter on oils and fats that I haven't read yet too.

This copy of the book I have was bought at an auction, and it has been probably in a house that was on fire, reading it gives me a headache because it smells smokey

[Gale Force]

So in general, her mineral status is likely to be low and you need to increase Omega-3 fatty acids and would like to avoid red meat because of some possible negative properties? Is that about right? What I don't know is how the grass fed/grain fed issue addresses some of the concerns you brought up. But if you need to increase her mineral and Omega-3 levels, you've come to the right board.

edit: so if that's the case, what does she usually eat?