33% of My Meals are Cancer Causing

That's the thought that kept going through my head hearing the news story first on BBC World News and then on the drive home on National Public Radio.  Red meat and processed meat most certainly are carcinogens.  I started doing mental exercises in my head about the food I and my loved ones have been eating, and estimate for the four of us, not counting DD#1 who is a vegetarian, and off setting DH's over 33% consumption to DD#2's under consumption, and estimating DS and me are at about the same red meat to processed meat ratio, and I came up with 1 in three meals eaten fit this scary mess. According to the World Health Organization, just 50 grams a day, which is a couple pieces of bacon or maybe a hot dog, extra can raise chances of getting colon cancer to 18%, and the barbecuing effect such as at a summer picnic or grill restaurant expedites the risk. Processed meats also amplify-that grilled hot dog is getting more menacing with each word I type. You can read or listen here in the UK report or here for the Americanized version. 

Here are some of my families culprits in recent weeks:

• Chipotle steak and  barbacoa tacos and burritos on vacation-twice
• Grilled steak medallions for DH, Hot Hoagie with pepperoni, salami, and ham for me at a family dinner out last night with DH's mother
• Meat lovers pizza-yes, with pepperoni and sausage 
• Steak Fajitas' on the wine club cruise Saturday night
• sausage gravy over biscuits grilled hamburgers-home and on vacation, big fat 1/4 pounders
• Beef stick snack for DD#2 after a race

This is what I can remember.  While I shouldn't be shocked, I thought all things in moderation.  Who would have thought moderation is so little though.  It is time to truly use these meats as the side dish and not the main course.  Here is a perfect motivator to try and engage my family, all of us, in more vegetable based meals. 

 I came across two packages of butternut chipotle ravioli at Aldis's for $1.99 a bag.  It looks like a generous three servings.  I have it bubbling in the oven with a low fat mushroom white sauce.  I have 1/2 a large bag of mixed veg to make with it, and the last of a french bread loaf.  I'm hoping it tastes as good as it sounds. 

I have the ingredients for a black bean, corn, and tomato past salad for supper and or lunches.  I'll mix that up tonight.  We have an abundance of pears and peaches and low fat cottage cheese as well for sides to get a bit more protein with the beans. I haven't gotten beyond tonight and tomorrow with my planning.  something with chicken, and probably something with ground beef-but cut what I might usually use by 1/4 to keep our portion per person to about 2-3 ounces.  I worry though that DH will supplement what he doesn't get for supper with fast food burgers at lunch.  Help me out readers.  What are your go to, no red meat, low red meat, no processed-low processed meals, but on a budget?  Who else hears or reads stories like this goes into part panic-part diet ninja mode?