Weight Loss Foods – Two Tips to Stretch Ground Turkey

Okay, so I know that is a weird title, but it just came into my mind as I was preparing some dishes to freeze for the coming week. I often will buy a package of ground turkey or beef to prepare spaghetti or chili but I've learned that I can use one 1-pound package to fix both dishes instead of two. Here's how: I brown the meat, drain the fat, rinse the meat with hot water and drain it again. Then I split the meat in half. For the spaghetti, I will use one half of the meat in the sauce, but I will also add a can or small jar of mushrooms for additional texture. I will also sometimes add extra onions, peppers, or can of tomatoes to bulk up the sauce. I have even been known to grate carrots very finely and add those too. It just adds a bit of sweetness to the sauce without tasting carrot-y. For chili, I will use the other half of the meat mixture, but in that case, I will add either add a can a black beans to the chili or a small can of corn. Extra onions, peppers, or can of diced tomatoes work here too. The principle is the same; instead of having to purchase two packages of meat, I only purchase one and use vegetables or beans to make up for the extra meat I normally would have put in the dish. So I end up not only saving money, but also saving on calories since the vegetables or beans would lower the calories and increase fiber in the dish. Pretty sweet if I do say so myself!