Forté Recipes: Meatloaf

Here is a twist on the traditional meatloaf recipe and my family actually loves it! It is very moist and much more flavorful than other meatloaf recipes I have tried. One of my favorite parts of this meal is that I use half of the recipe to make meatloaf, and I shape the other half into meatballs for dinner later in the week. I love prepping and cooking once and getting two meals from it.

Meatloaf:

1lb lean ground beef

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

½ c Italian breadcrumbs

2 tbsp. garlic, minced

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

½ cup milk

1 tsp. oregano

2 tsp. parsley

Sides:

Mashed potatoes

Green beans

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Shape mixture and place on a greased foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes or until cooked through.

Beef

I usually use lean ground beef for this recipe, but you can just as easily substitute ground turkey or chicken if you prefer. I don’t eat beef as often and beef has some great nutritional benefits, which is why I choose ground beef. I recommend getting a 93% lean ground beef if you can to decrease some of the saturated fat in the meal.  Beef is a great source of iron, zinc, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and protein. As an added bonus, the iron from the beef will be absorbed even better because it is paired with the vitamin C from the mashed potatoes and green beans. This is especially important if you have been diagnosed with anemia-the most common nutritional deficiency during pregnancy.

Potatoes

Naturally, this meal pairs well with mashed potatoes. Potatoes are overlooked vegetable that many consider too rich a source of carbs. Although it is true that potatoes are high in carbohydrates and have a higher glycemic index, more than 85% of the carbs in potatoes are in the form of starch which is a complex carbohydrate.  When combined with a meal that contains fat and protein the carbohydrates are digested and absorbed more slowly causing a slower increase in blood glucose levels. Potatoes are also a great source of potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.

Green Beans

My green beans have really taken off this year in my garden and I am loving it. Green beans are also one of my son’s favorite foods so we go through a lot of them. Green beans have very little calories and are also a great source of fiber. This not only aids in digestion, but it also increases satiety to help prevent overeating and to manage weight gain. Green beans are also a good source of folate, vitamin C, manganese, and vitamin K.

-Heidi

 
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