Are you looking to loose some weight? Considering cutting back on the meat you eat. If that sounds impossible, take a look at this article. Here are some ideas of ways you can replace meat within your diet and without losing the protein your body needs. Just be sure to watch the proportion of food you eat. Even the best foods eaten in too large of a quantity can be bad for you.

Add Beans to Your Diet

The first food that comes to mind when I tell you to add beans to your diet is probably baked beans. Sure they taste good but sometimes they contain so much bacon and sugar that the idea of cutting out fat is completely lost. You can integrate chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans and more into your diet without adding sugar and fatty meats too.

Have you ever tried hummus? Mmm, it is a mix of garlic, spinach and chickpeas blended to a nice mush. It may sound gross but if you spread it over some pita bread it makes a wonderful addition to any meal.

Try to think of meals in which you can substitute beans for meat. An ideal would be Mexican food. You can use re-fried beans in your taco and completely cut the meat out. Consider adding the seasoning packet you would put in the meat into the re-fried beans. You can also substitute beans for meat in soups and stews.

Add Soy to Your Diet

Soy is a great source of protein. Tofu is an excellent choice. Although you may not appreciate it plain do a google search for a Chinese stir-fry that contains tofu. Chop it up small and fry it with some veggies and soy sauce. Add some hot peppers and you will have a dish that even the biggest tofu hater can't refuse! You can also use soybeans when cooking or substitute milk with soymilk when baking.

Fish, Olives, and Nuts

Fish, olives, and nuts all contain the protein that your body needs. Fish can make a wonderful entrée. Do be careful that you don't eat it every day though. It contains a high level of mercury. Olives can be added to many dishes to add flavor and color. Throw a few in a Greek salad, slice them onto a sandwich, or just eat them plain.

Nuts make a great snack. Not only can they provide your body with protein, they also have Vitamin E. My parents used to mix peanuts and raisins for a snack when we got hungry. It tastes good and is healthy too! We also did an almond and craisin (dried cranberries) mixture that was absolutely amazing.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1474677/how_to_add_protein_to_y...