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Meatless for Summer

Justin Fox Burks

Summer is officially here! By making a few easy switches to your diet, you can have a healthier, lighter summer ahead.

One of the easiest changes is to consider going meatless for a few meals each week.

“Meat can be more difficult to digest so it kinda slows our body down and makes us feel heavier. And summer is the perfect time to feel light. So eating less meat helps your body run more efficiently and feel lighter,” explains Nevada Presley, co-owner and chef of Get Fresh Memphis, a vegan and vegetarian prepared meal service.

As an added bonus to feeling lighter, “Eating less meat can help reduce can help reduce the risk for heart disease and some types of cancer.”

But how do we incorporate more meatless meals into our diet?

“Yea for summer! After you go the Farmers Market take those vegetables home and guess what else your grill is really good for? Vegetables! Put the vegetables on the grill.”

“Vegetables that I love to grill in the summer are eggplant. I love zucchini and summer squash and mushrooms. And Jennifer taught me how to grill okra. It is so good.”

Plan ahead. “Just take a moment in your car before you head into the grocery and do a few minutes of planning. That way you won’t grab the snacks of the shelf. You’ll end up with a more healthful basket.”

Make extras. “If you make a big portion of your meat-free meal then you can have it the next day for lunch or maybe even the next night for dinner. So cook a big portion.”

Make it fun. “Chances are your friends and family want to eat healthier too. So get everybody involved.”

This is Jennifer Chandler with The Weekly Dish. Bon Appetit!

Cajun Grilled Okra

Grilled okra is simply delicious! It is yummy as a quick and easy appetizer right off the grill or served as a side.

  • Vegetable oil, for the grates
  • 1 pound fresh okra
  • Skewers (if using bamboo, soak in water for 30 minutes)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Creole seasoning

Preheat a clean grill to medium-high with the lid closed for 8 to 10 minutes. Lightly brush the grates with oil.
Place the okra on skewers. Drizzle with olive oil until lightly coated. Season to taste with the seasoning blend.

Grill the okra, turning once, until nicely browned and tender, about 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the grilled okra to a platter and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Cooking Tips: No skewers in the house? No worries. The skewers are used to help make the cooking process simple. Instead, just place the okra pods perpendicular to the grill grates to prevent them from falling through.

This recipe only works with fresh okra. Unfortunately, frozen okra is not a good substitute.

Variation: Feel free to use your favorite seasoning blend. For an extra kick, try a Blackening Seasoning Blend. If watching your sodium, try one of salt-free herb blends. Even just plain old salt and pepper gives delish results.

 

Recipe printed with permission from Simply Grilling by Jennifer Chandler.

 

Jennifer Chandler graduated at the top of her class from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She is a full-time mom to two daughters in Memphis, Tennessee, and is a freelance food writer, restaurant consultant, and author of four cookbooks The Southern Pantry Cookbook, Simply Salads, Simply Suppers, and Simply Grilling.