The Plants & Meat Issue

Photography By | Last Updated June 06, 2019
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Eating Plants Eating Meat cover
Two sides to our diet coin: eating plants and eating meat.

"Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food."
– Michael Pollan

These days, the Standard American Diet seems anything but that, given the multitude of food choices and thoughts on what our bodies need. Do you adhere to a Paleo or keto diet? Are you a vegan or vegetarian? Perhaps you align more with the flexitarians, those who occasionally eat sustainably caught seafood, grass-fed beef or free-range chicken. Or maybe the pegan philosophy suits your dietary desires. Introduced in 2015, this plan combines elements of both Paleo and vegan diets, and recommends that approximately 75% of your food intake should come from plant foods (vegetables and fruits) and animal-based proteins can provide the other 25%.

While there are a variety of approaches to how we eat, for the most part the foods we choose come from either the plant or animal worlds. (Though when you start to examine packaging labels, it may not be clear what the ingredients are in many processed foods.) With an eye toward that duality in our diets, this issue actually has two themes: Plants and Meat. Flip the magazine halfway through and you’ll see the shift in focus as we explore how plants and animals impact our local culinary culture.

Are you considering a plant-based diet but worry about what to eat when dining out? Read how vegetables are moving to the center of the plate at area restaurants not typically known for vegan cuisine. Wondering whether there is a more environmentally friendly way to raise livestock for meat? Learn about regenerative agriculture, an approach that considers healthy soil as a critical first step toward sustainable farming. If you’re interested in reducing your animal protein intake, find out how to make some easy plant-based substitutions in your diet. Curious about meat in a cocktail? Local mixologists have some suggestions on how to shake up your libations. And for the less squeamish readers, maybe it’s time to consider the nutritious practice of entomophagy (if you can get past the ick factor of eating insects).

What’s on your plate these days? Be sure to tag us on social media @edibleneflorida. We love to see the latest in local cuisine, whether it’s animals, vegetables or somewhere in between.

Lauren TitusEditor

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STORIES & RECIPES FROM THE PLANTS & MEAT ISSUE

Vegan Eats in Unexpected Places

Five places you might not ever expect to find vegan eats on the menu.

10 Must-Have Ingredients for a Plant-Based Diet

ingredients for a vegan diet
Vegan options can be used as substitutes for many animal-based ingredients.

Should We Call Plant-Based Products "Meat"?

fake meat
Would sausage by any other name taste the same? Perhaps it's time to rethink what we call "meat".

Hunting Wild Hogs

hunting wild hogs
With such an abundance of these nuisance animals, why not consider eating wild hogs as a way to deal with the overpopulation?

A Case for Eating Insects

plate of insects
With over 1,900 edible species, bugs may be a way to address the need to feed the planet's growing population.

A New Breed of Veggie Burgers: 6 Things You Should Know

veggie burger
A new breed of plant-based burgers is making its way to plates across the nation. How much do you know about how they're made?

Alfredo Zoodles with Cherry Tomato Tapenade

alfredo zoodles with cherry tomato tapenade
This raw veggie-forward dish is packed with fresh seasonal flavors and is easy to make for weeknight dinners.

Rosemary Kohlrabi Fries

rosemary kohlrabi fries
Whether raw or cooked, the leaves, stem and bulb/root of kohlrabi are all edible. This annual vegetable is a cultivar of cabbage and is also related to broccoli, cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts...

Moroccan Skirt Steak

Moroccan Skirt Steak
The longer the skirt steak marinates, the more flavorful and tender the meat becomes.

Mezcal a la Chorizo

mezcal a la chorizo
The chorizo fat-washed mezcal has a smoky flavor that balances well with the sweet and spicy poblano liqueur.

Italian Breakfast Old Fashioned

Italian breakfast old fashioned
Want to make use of leftover fat from cooking pancetta? Infuse it in your favorite spirits. Here it is used in bourbon that is also infused with smoked maple wood chips. Make sure the wood chips have...

Facts about Beef (and Burgers)

beef burger
Ever wonder what kind of resources are required to make that ubiquitous beef on a bun? We will tell you.
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