Give the Cow Prod to the USDA and Support Meatless Monday!

Have you heard about the USDA retracting its statement referencing "Meatless Monday"?  It seems the Cattlemen's Beef Association flexed its "beefy" bicep when the Ag Dept posted a message to its employees about helping to reduce the environmental impact of eating meat by skipping it one day of the week.

Uh oh, the beef industry might be knocking at my door soon...

But what would the "cow people" association do if more people helped the health of the Earth and their bodies by abstaining from meat for one day?! They can't have that, so I can only imagine their well-paid lobbyists made sure the posting was removed promptly.  And it was......only hours after being posted.

I know I'm on a blogger break (I took only a few pics this weekend!), but I had to just make a quick post about this.  A huge reason America lives in a constantly confused state on what's healthy and what's not is because of the big industries and their money (aka power).

I know very little on the inner-workings of lobbying and getting messages out to the public, but I figure money is the biggest concern; not public health.  When I see/hear any sort of "this is good for you" promotion from the government or any big business, I raise a mental red flag and proceed with caution.

Just ask yourself these 2 questions when you see claims on packages, the television, magazines, billboards, etc:

Who or What will reap the most benefits of this statement? - It says it's healthy, but the 50 ingredients in this pretty package don't seem very good or natural.

How much money was spent so people like me can see this claim? - Only the big industries have great power to push their products for all to see. Small, local companies producing small batch, whole food goods, don't have the funding to really advertise as well.

I like all types of meat and fish, but I eat red meat sparingly and only grass-fed...preferably local too.  The economic cost of producing beef is just not worth it to me.  Just think of all the cheap, junky beef products fast food chains are rolling out to so many people each day; it's crazy! Sure, the $1 menu "deals" seem appealing to those who are ignorant to health and are short on cash; sadly, this is a common correlation.

Costs associated to produce a quarter pound of beef.

But consider other costs; the cost to get the meat wrapped in a paper package and handed to you through the window of a drive-thru...mmm. Producing just a half pound of beef requires 7.40 pounds of CO2, that's equivalent to driving 9.81 miles. Now take into account that in 2009 the U.S. consumed 14 million tons of beef; and 72 million tons for the world.  That's a lot of gas! (Source for this info.)

I will happily choose my meatless meals for Monday and other days of the week to help reduce emissions just a little bit. If more of us did this, our little changes will have a big impact on the health of our economy and bodies. So give the USDA and Beef Industry the finger a carrot, and enjoy a meal like spicy black bean patties along with a green pistachio and carrot smoothie for dessert! Check out wannaveg.com for a list of 10 reasons to go vegetarian one day each week.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! It was hot (not surprising) here in Texas, but I prefer the heat to the cold, so fine with me!

What Can Make Burgers, Brownies, and Bean Dip?

Refried Beans! For the sake of convenience I buy the canned, fat free version, but you can make your own too. Just cook your favorite bean (they don’t have to be pinto) with some spices and mash with a fork or potato masher. Most restaurants serve refried beans made with lard or oil, but beans don’t need fat for flavor. Save the unwanted calories for healthier ingredients and opt for fat free.

You can find canned refried beans in both pinto and black bean varieties in most stores. I usually have one of each in the pantry to just change things up as needed. The convenience of the can is always nice for the working population. Be cautious of the high sodium content in canned foods, though, that’s one bad thing about the cans. Right after opening the can, I will put it under slow-running water and drain as much as possible a few times; every little bit helps! Here are a few of my favorite uses for mashed beans.


Bean Patties

Ingredients


1 (14 - 16oz) Can of Refried beans – Pinto or Black will do
1/2 Cup Rolled Oats or Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs
1 Egg and 2 Egg Whites
Salt, pepper, cayenne, onion powder, cilantro, cumin powder, and garlic powder to taste – I just dash some of each one until it seems like a good amount
1 Jalapeno – seeded and diced (Optional)
Chopped Chives

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined. Spray a non-stick pan with cooking oil and set to medium-high heat. Take a large spoonful of the bean mixture and set on the pan; lightly mash down to and shape to resemble a burger patty. Cook until lightly brown (about 3-4 minutes) and flip over to cook the other side. Once lightly browned on both sides, remove patty and place on a paper towel-lined plate; repeat for remaining mixture.

Use the patty to make a veggie burger (way better than the frozen store varieties) with all the toppings you would put on a beef burger. My favorite way to enjoy is to skip the bread and top with brown mustard, salsa, and a dollop of plain, non-fat yogurt; sometimes I'll add a little guacamole too....YUM! You can also slice and wrap it in a tortilla with your desired toppings for scrumptious bean burrito. Add a little low-fat cheddar or part-skim mozzarella for extra flavor.

Personal Mexican Pizza

Ingredients


1 (14 - 16oz) Can of Refried beans
Corn Tortillas
Low-fat Cheddar or Mozzarella, Shredded
Chopped tomatoes and lettuce
Cayenne, Cumin, and Onion Powder, sprinkle some of each to taste
Cilantro, fresh or dried
Salsa and Non-fat, Plain Yogurt for topping

Depending on how many pizzas you want to make will determine the amount of tortillas and refried beans needed. Pre-heat oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees. Mix the beans with desired amount of cilantro and spices and spread a generous amount over corn tortilla. Sprinkle shredded cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce as desired and place in oven for 8 – 12 minutes. If the tortilla starts to darken around the edges earlier, remove it. Now you have an easy personal pizza, just keep making more as needed. Top with salsa and yogurt.

Refried Bean Brownies

Ingredients


1 (15.5 ounce) can refried black or pinto beans
1 egg and 3 egg whites
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ tsp liquid Stevia or 9 tsp granulated Stevia
1/2 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional)
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8 square baking dish or just line with parchment paper. Combine the all ingredients in a blender or processor and blend until smooth; pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. If using, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture. Bake in the preheated oven until the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes.

These are a great high protein treat you don’t have to feel guilty about eating. Try your own variations with pumpkin puree or yogurt in place of applesauce for new and interesting flavors.

For something really quick that requires no cooking, just open a can of refried beans, empty into a bowl, add your favorite dip ingredients and you have a quick dip in less than 5 minutes. Common add-ins for me include cayenne (go figure), cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cilantro, Dijon mustard, salsa, non-fat plain yogurt (just like sour cream with less calories and more protein), and even mashed avocado. There are many ways to spruce up the plain beans, but I can eat them without anything added as well.

Still looking for other uses? Add some to soups, stews, sauces, or chilis as a tasty and nutritious thickener. Make Mexican lasagna using corn tortillas as the “noodle” layers and beans as the filling. You can even mix with rice and use as a stuffing for bell peppers to treat a delight friends and family.

Beans are a great addition to any diet as supply quality carbohydrates, protein, fiber, little or no fat, and many nutrients. I hope you’ve been inspired to try one or all of these uses for refried beans; your taste buds will thank you. How do you like to enjoy beans? Whether in their whole form, mashed, or pureed, post your favorites to the comments section, I’d love to try something new!