Are You A Flexitarian?

How is that for a title to grab your attention! Had I not seen this article title in Bon Appetit February 2011 magazine I would have thought maybe it was a new yoga position!

Perhaps this is a new word for you. I learned from the article that a flexitarian diet focuses mostly on plant based foods, but includes meat and poultry and fish in small amounts. A flexitarian diet is the perfect one for all those people out there including me, who know they should eat more veggies but don't want to give up meat completely. I also learned from the article that hospitals have been quick to get into the act of backing meat-free Mondays movement. Meatless Mondays is a non-profit initiative in association with John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It provides information and recipes you can use to start each week with healthy choices that are meat free. The goal of this initiative is to reduce each person's meat consumption by 15%. Check out

http://www.meatlessmonday.com/ for more information.

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Asparagus and Wild Rice Salad

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of water
• 1 cup raw wild rice
• 1 cup mushrooms sliced
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 cup green onions
• 1-1/2 cup vegetable broth (Swanson)
• 1 LB. asparagus
• 1- 1/2 TB Balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 3/4 cup cashews
• 1 small package of dried cranberries

Directions:

• Cook rice in 3 cups of water covered about 40 minutes-drain
• In skillet saute mushrooms, celery and onions- add 3/4 cup broth and cook several minutes more
• Add asparagus pieces and rest of the broth and cook till al dente
• Drain
• Add rice, mushroom mixture and asparagus together
• Add cranberries and toss with prepared vinaigrette dressing or a mixture of Balsamic vinegar,olive oil and lemon juice
• Cover and refrigerate till chilled
• Add cashews at end and serve on Bibb lettuce