Celebrate Meatball Day With Healthier Recipes
By Brandi Goodman
Meatball Day arrives in early March. Even without a special day to celebrate, this common food item is served in many households. Meatballs are added to spaghetti dishes. Meatballs are served as an appetizer at parties. Some people even eat them as their main meal topped with gravy. However you like your meatballs, there's always a healthier recipe to try that will make the food more beneficial for your body.
Turkey Meatballs
Ground beef is usually the meat of choice for meatballs. Beef is a red meat that can come with higher calories and more fat. It also tends to have more sodium. This can lead to heart disease if you're overeating it. Switch out ground beef for ground turkey instead for healthier meatballs. Turkey is a leaner cut of meat with fewer calories and less fat. Ground turkey, zucchini, eggs, onion, oregano, garlic, and pepper can be mixed together to form this healthy version.
Baked Meatballs
Some people opt to cook their meatballs on the stove just as they would when cooking other ground beef or turkey dishes. This can allow for lots of grease and oil to build up on the meat and be left in the dish. A better alternative is to bake the meatballs. It prevents some of the loss of nutrition that comes with frying foods and tends to lessen the calorie count. The meatballs can be removed easily from the juices left in the pan. A temperature of 400 degrees for a time of 15-20 minutes should be all you need to cook your meatballs to perfection.
Healthy Italian Meatball Sandwich
A meatball sub is a popular sub-sandwich choice. Make it healthier by making a few substitutes. Use just half the bread instead to cut down on calories and carbs. Choose whole wheat instead of white. Sprinkle with a low-fat mozzarella cheese and use a reduced-sodium pasta sauce to also help the calorie count. It will keep the sodium content down as well.
Meatballs can be made in many varieties. Plain meatballs can be added to spaghetti. You can add Italian seasoning. Barbecue meatballs are often served at get-togethers. So many sauces and seasonings can be added to the mix for a unique creation. No matter what you like best, try out some healthier alternatives so you can get get a similar taste without having to feel guilty for eating one too many.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.