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Nutrition Tip of the Month: Eat a plant-based meal this week

A big platter of bean and corn salad.It’s Heart Month and our food choices can have a big impact on our heart health.

The Portfolio Diet is a way of eating that has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease. One element of the Portfolio Diet is to eat 50 grams of plant protein every day. Compared to animal proteins, there’s less saturated fat and more fibre in plant-based proteins. If you find it tough to eat plant-based proteins, start by aiming for 25 grams.

Make meals using plant-based ingredients like: beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, edamame beans / soy beans, fortified soy beverage, tempeh, veggie burgers and soy based “meats.” Blend these ingredients with some of your favourite meals. For example, add a cup of canned lentils to a spaghetti sauce, toss a handful of edamame beans into a salad or make a latté with fortified soy beverage.

Here are a few recipes ideas:

Black Bean, Corn and Avocado Salad (pictured)

BBQ Tofu Burger

Lentil Bolognese 

Chickpea Lettuce Wraps

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

BBQ Tofu Burger

 

Shredded tofu burger on a sesame bun.

BBQ Tofu Burger

This is a fantastic recipe whether you're new to tofu or have been enjoying tofu for a while. The tofu is grated and baked. Make sure to use extra-firm tofu for the best texture and results.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 350-400 g block of extra-firm tofu
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil (e.g. canola oil)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp chilli powder
  • 1/2 tsp paprika or smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease or line a large baking tray.
  • Drain off any excess water from the tofu and pat dry. Use the large side of a cheese grater and grate the tofu into shreds.
  • In a large bowl, combine oil, soy sauce, chilli powder, paprika and garlic powder. Add the shredded tofu and gently mix so that the tofu is all coated.
  • Spread the tofu in an even layer on the prepared pan. Bake for 28-33 minutes until the tofu is browned. Stir the tofu half-way through cooking.
  • Heat the BBQ sauce and water. Stir in the baked tofu. Serve hot on a bun and add your favourite toppings. Or enjoy in tacos or a lettuce wrap.
    [Recipe is a slight modification from ItDoesn'tTakeLikeChicken.com]
Keyword BBQ tofu, tofu, tofu burger

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