Red meat free meals for family with young dcs

[HummusAndCarrotSticks]

I know this shouldn't be difficult, but trying to get rid of red meat in our diets for a number of reasons and looking for inspiration really!

I do a roasted veg lasagne with mascarpone topping. Don’t miss the meat at all.

Macaroni cheese.

I assume you still eat chicken, Turkey, fish, cheese, pulses?

@Reachersloveinterest

I assume you still eat chicken, Turkey, fish, cheese, pulses?

Yep! Just planning to get rid of red meat for now.

Ps: @Reachersloveinterest, is that Jack Reacher? I've just finished one of those books!

What are the sorts of meals that you are wanting to phase out?

We are veggie so we use a lot of veggie meat substitutes. Things we make include:

• Bolognaise/pasta etc with veggie meatballs or veggie mince
• Jacket potatoes with cheese and beans
• Omelettes
• Fajitas/tacos/enchiladas with veggie mince or veggie chicken style pieces
• Veggie burgers with chips and veg
• 'Kebabs' using veggie shawarma
• Veggie sausage casseroles/ chickpea/butter bean etc casseroles
• Cheese and tomato pasta/spaghetti/gnocchi bakes
• Curries with veggie chicken style pieces or chickpeas or paneer
• Veggie soups

We use dried Soya mince to make all minced beef type meals. It’s cheaper healthier and faster.

You could replace minced beef with minced chicken or turkey in things like spag bol, lasagna, cottage pie etc.

Chicken breasts cooked in a slow cooked and then shredded like you would with pulled pork can then be added to casseroles or pasta bakes.

Chilli made with turkey or pork mince or mixed bean chillis.

Chicken enchiladas
Tuna burgers
Fish finger fajitas/tacos
Halloumi burgers
Chicken sesame noodles www.myfussyeater.com/sesame-honey-chicken-noodles/
Chicken traybake realfood.tesco.com/recipes/chicken-and-sweet-potato-traybake.html
Egg fried rice www.gousto.co.uk/cookbook/chicken-recipes/chicken-egg-fried-rice
Tuna pasta bake
Pesto pasta
Butter bean and veg crumble www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/vegetable-and-butter-bean-crumble/
Risotto www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/quick-tomato-risotto
Cheese and tomato bread pudding recipes.sainsburys.co.uk/recipes/leftovers/cheese-and-tomato-bread-and-butter-pudding

Quiche with vegetables such as broccoli or asparagus, and a favourite here is leek.
Risotto with mushrooms, chicken, peas, broad beans, etc.
Greek cheese or cheese and spinach pie.

Pasta Alfredo or Primavera, or Sicilian style with tomatoes and aubergines.

Fish soups or stews eg Cullen Skink, or fish pie.

Are you looking to replace the red meat or for some fish/veggie ideas? What kind of meals does the family eat currently and (other than red meat) are there any diet restrictions, hated ingredients or general fussiness?

Just replace beef mince with turkey - so cottage pie, burgers, lasagne, meatloaf.

Stewed beef for casseroles can just have chicken and or veg instead.

You can get good chicken sausages and veggie ones too.

I can't think of anything else I use red meat for.

@OldRailer

What are the sorts of meals that you are wanting to phase out?

The main issues might be things like bolognese, sausage and mash, a thing I make with bacon, lentils, leeks and creme fraiche, slow cooker beef bourgignon.

But, as I say, it isn't as if it's a huge dilemma or problem. I grew up *veggie and was vegan for years in my teens and early twenties, but I really wanted to see as many ideas as possible, as my dcs and DH are fussy and don't eat what I would have eaten as a veggie child. For example none of them really eat cheese, unless it's on pizza. One dc likes eggs, but the other dc and DH hate them! So started the thread to get some ideas really, which I'm getting, so thank you everyone!

*actually, maybe that's the problem!

@HummusAndCarrotSticks

Ps: *@Reachersloveinterest*, is that Jack Reacher? I've just finished one of those books!

Yes indeed :-)

Well, you can pretty much eat anything then!

From the last weeks meals in this house where we have two kids:

Turkey bolognaise
Vegetarian lasagne
Fish and chips
Leek and potato soup
Cheese and bacon quiche
Chicken and chickpea curry

I've found my meat loving kid had really enjoyed lentil "Bolognese": we like it best with the tiny dark green lentils, done with lots of mushroom and I use Vecon which I think had a good strong flavour for stock.

The other place that don't miss meat is in Mexican style bean stuff like tacos or burritos. I think again putting loads of mushroom in helps and I also prefer using mixed beans rather than anything authentic!😅

we try not to eat red meat more than a couple of times a week but still eat plenty of fish and chicken and some vegetarian meals. A few of our favourites:

Fish cakes
Chicken tray bakes or just a roast chicken with new potatoes/veg
Roasted veg (or just roasted tomatoes) with spaghetti/couscous and feta or goats cheese
Roasted cauliflower with pilaf. Sometimes I roast carrots alongside.
Salmon parcels with noodles and greens
Vegetable/chicken thai-style curry/soup
Fajitas (usually just with peppers and onions and lots of cheese/avo/sour cream on top)