4 Ways to Use Meat in a High Fiber Diet

Beans are a perfect meat substitute. Unlike meat which has no fiber, beans are one of the best fiber foods around. If you want to enjoy meat and a high fiber diet, try meals and dishes that combine the two.

A bowl of chili. (Image: bhofack2/iStock/Getty Images)

One way to do this is to choose classic recipes with both meat and beans and do some rearranging. Reduce the amount of meat called for in the recipe and add beans or lentils to make up the difference. Or, simply add more beans than stated. With this approach, you reduce the amount of higher-fat meat and boost the fiber content in each serving.

For example, if a chili recipe calls for roughly two pounds of beef, two pounds tomatoes and two cans of beans, substitute one lb. of beef with one more can of beans. Each serving will jump from about seven to 10g of fiber.

Other dishes to try include ham and bean soup, minestrone soup with meat, and sausage and bean stew. For even more beans per serving, add highly flavored meat like bacon and sausage in very small amounts to a pot of beans. Mexican dishes also work well. Order tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos with extra beans and less meat.

Beans are a perfect meat substitute. Unlike meat which has no fiber, beans are one of the best fiber foods around. If you want to enjoy meat and a high fiber diet, try meals and dishes that combine the two.

One way to do this is to choose classic recipes with both meat and beans and do some rearranging. Reduce the amount of meat called for in the recipe and add beans or lentils to make up the difference. Or, simply add more beans than stated. With this approach, you reduce the amount of higher-fat meat and boost the fiber content in each serving.

For example, if a chili recipe calls for roughly two pounds of beef, two pounds tomatoes and two cans of beans, substitute one lb. of beef with one more can of beans. Each serving will jump from about seven to 10g of fiber.

Other dishes to try include ham and bean soup, minestrone soup with meat, and sausage and bean stew. For even more beans per serving, add highly flavored meat like bacon and sausage in very small amounts to a pot of beans. Mexican dishes also work well. Order tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos with extra beans and less meat.