A Small Change Could Make A Huge Difference

My family and I hardly ever eat ground beef. We made a health change, that really does make a big difference in your overall diet. In my opinion: Ground Turkey is lighter, in most cases even tastes better, less greasy, easier to cook...and healthier. Here are a few of my favorite recipes. Try it for a few weeks, and you may see a difference. Your tastes buds will change themselves, and like me, if you eventually try some ground beef again....it just doesn't taste good!!

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

 

 

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup instant brown rice

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 pound 93%-lean ground turkey

1 large red bell pepper, finely diced

1 8-ounce can water chestnuts, rinsed and chopped

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, (see Note)

1 teaspoon five-spice powder or spices of your choice

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 heads Boston lettuce, leaves separated

1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs, such as cilantro, basil, mint and/or chives

1 large carrot, shredded

 

I also like to switch it up every few recipes and add black beans, instead of rice maybe some Quinoa, corn...etc

 

1. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add rice (or quinoa); reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add turkey and ginger; cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until the turkey is cooked through, about 6 minutes. Stir in the cooked rice, bell pepper, water chestnuts, broth, hoisin sauce, five-spice powder and salt; cook until heated through, about 1 minute.

3. To serve, spoon portions of the turkey mixture into lettuce leaves, top with herbs and carrot and roll into wraps.

Tips:
Notes: Hoisin sauce is a spicy, sweet sauce made from soybeans, chiles, garlic and spices. It will keep in the refrigerator for at least a year.

Often a blend of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns, five-spice powder was originally considered a cure-all miracle blend encompassing the five elements (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, salty). Look for it in the supermarket spice section.

 

Caleries: 285!!

 

 

Greek Turkey Meatballs and Skinny Tzatziki

 

 

Ingredients

1.25 pounds ground turkey (93/7)

2 slices whole wheat bread

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 cup grated zucchini (squeezed dry)

1 large egg

3 tsp minced garlic (or 3 fresh gloves, minced)

2 tsp oregano

1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped)

salt and pepper

 

( I also like to saute spinach with garlic and mix it in too)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Wet the wheat bread, pat dry, and crumble into bits.

Put in a large mixing bowl.

 

Using a 1/4 cup measure, scoop out 1/4 cup meat mixture at a time and form into balls.

Place on a cookie sheet (either sprayed with non-stick spray or use parchment paper).

Bake for about 30 minutes.

 

Skinny Tzatziki (goes perfect with the meatballs!)

8 oz. fat free plain Greek yogurt (strained)

1 cucumber (peeled, seeded, grated and squeezed dry)

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp dill

salt and pepper

 

 

 

Other Ground Turkey Ideas:

 

My Family also replaces ground beef in the following items: Spaghetti, Tacos, Tacos Salads, Burgers, stir fry, etc etc.

 

Benefits of Ground Turkey Vs. Ground Beef

 

For health benefits on Turkey I found this doing a search.

Health benefits


Protein-turkey offers an excellent source of lean protein. A four ounce serving of turkey offers about 65% of your daily recommended protein while providing you with nearly half the saturated fat found in red meat. 3-ounce serving of skinless white meat contains 25 grams of protein, barely 3 grams of fat, and less than 1 gram of saturated fat.

Low in fat-not just for holidays, people are reaching for turkey throughout the entire you as turkey is a healthier alternative to ground beef and can be replaced in familiar recipes (burgers, chili, lasagna, casseroles) for a low-fat option for you and your family.

Vitamin B-a great source of niacin and Vitamin B6, two important vitamins necessary for energy production. Niacin helps to convert fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into usable energy while also assisting in blood sugar regulation.

Selenium rich-an importance trace mineral like selenium can be found in turkey. Selenium has been linked to cancer prevention.

Arginine-an essential amino acid can be found in turkey.


However, if you use ground beef another search brought up this fact:

a hamburger made with 3½ ounces of 95% lean ground beef is much lower in fat than fried fish or a turkey burger made with 90% lean ground turkey.

There are actually some benefits from eating red meat. They tend to be good sources of iron and B vitamins.


I think it depends on how lean the beef is compared to how lean the turkey is.