When you want to add more healthy foods to your diet, it's hard to beat the benefits of mushrooms. These versatile fungi can be eaten on their own or added to other dishes, but they do much more than add texture and flavor to your food. Eating mushrooms can lead to a lower risk of breast cancer, a stronger immune system, and healthy digestive function. If you want to increase your mushroom intake, here are a few delicious ideas to try.

How to Add Mushrooms to Your Diet

1. Replace Meat With Mushrooms 

Some mushrooms, like portobella, have long been a popular meat subsitute for vegetarians. Grilled portobellas have a meaty flavor that makes for a delicious "burger" on their own, but chopped mushrooms can also be used to substitute some of the ground meat in a turkey or beef burger. In the case of a turkey burger, replacing some of the meat with sauteed, chopped mushrooms adds some delicious flavor to what might otherwise be a bland dish.

2. Include Mushrooms for Breakfast 

Eating healthy food for breakfast can be a challenge, especially on a busy morning. Keeping some mushrooms on hand can give your morning meal some extra nutrition, and help you stay satisfied until lunch. Toss some chopped veggies and mushroom into an omelet, or add some sauteed mushrooms to a breakfast wrap or sandwich. Adding chopped mushrooms to scrambled eggs can encourage even the most reluctant kids to give them a try.

3. Enhance Your Favorite Dishes 

Many dishes can be enhanced with mushrooms. Try some different types of mushrooms in a garden salad or add them to your pasta sauce. For example, you can add some cremini or shiitake mushrooms to fettucine, or use some button mushrooms to add texture to a red sauce. Mushrooms are also perfect for stir-fries, as a pizza topping, or added to quesadillas, all of which are especially popular with kids. 

4. Serve as a Side Dish

Mushrooms are a healthy food to add to other dishes, but they can also be delicious on their own. Sautee some mushrooms with garlic and butter or wine to accompany steak or chicken, or serve them on a bed of greens as a delicious side dish. Or simply add some whole or quartered mushrooms to a veggie tray with hummus or dip for a simple side or healthy food snack that kids will love. 

Explore a selection of fresh mushrooms and other healthy food your family will love at Lori’s Natural Foods Center in Rochester, NY. Since 1981, this family-owned natural food store has provided area families with locally grown fruits and veggies, non-GMO products, and more. Their knowledgeable staff can help you select the perfect foods for your tastes and needs. If you have questions, call (585) 424-2323 or visit the website to shop online.