Have you ever thought about reducing the amount of meat you eat on a regular basis?

You may have heard about the benefits to eating less meat or going entirely meatless. Plant proteins like soy, beans, legumes, and nuts are often cheaper than animal products. Plus, eating excessive amounts of animal protein, especially red meat, is linked to an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

If you’re like many people, though, putting a plant-based diet into practice can be difficult. For starters, you might feel that plant foods will be less satisfying than meat. You may also be accustomed to cooking meat and not have any reliable vegetarian recipes at hand.

The good news is that with a little research and practice, you can make satisfying, filling plant-based meals. Read on for simple, meatless recipes from Anne Brock, RDN, LD, a specialist in weight loss and diabetic education at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell, Idaho.