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Valerie has been making several meals a night trying to meet her family's different tastes and needs. Though she and her husband eat meat, her three children have decided that meat is not for them. At a young age they all declared they no longer wanted to eat meat since it comes from animals. Valerie and her husband have supported their decision but they want to make sure that the family meals are meeting all their nutritional needs. In the Emeril Green episode Meat Me in the Middle, Emeril introduces Valerie to dietician Katherine Tallmadge who dishes out all the details on vegetarian nutrition.
Choosing a vegetarian diet, or just cutting back on the amount of meat is better for the environment, says Tallmadge. Vegetarian meals use less water and energy to produce. But there's no need to sacrifice nutrition!
Vegetarian Protein Sources
Tallmadge explains that the most important aspect of a vegetarian diet is providing enough protein. In fact protein, says Tallmadge, should be served at every meal. The closest vegetable protein source to meat is soy because it matches all 9 essential amino acids, just like meat. Protein can also be introduced with beans, grains, dairy or eggs.
Providing protein at every meal will ensure that the kids get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy and strong. Now Valerie can be confident that she's giving the kids tasty and nutritional meals!
Check out the
More on Emeril Green
Emeril Episode: Meat Me in the Middle
Mock Meatballs in Marinara Sauce (Video)
Minestrone Soup
Vegetable Pot Pie
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