Health benefits of mushrooms as part of a varied and balanced diet

By EDS on 20 October, 2016

Mushrooms are available all year round and in most supermarkets. They provide an inexpensive but nutritious addition to our diet. Substituting meat for mushrooms occasionally could help reduce your calorie intake and also save you money! Want to know more?

Mushrooms are low in fat and calories.

Substituting mushrooms for a higher calorie food like meat occasionally can be the perfect way to keep your calorie intake at the recommended daily levels, without sacrificing flavour

Mushrooms are great for pregnant women.

One of the B vitamins contained in mushrooms, folate, is an aid to pregnant women as folate contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy

Mushrooms can help to reduce tiredness.

Mushrooms are a natural source of vitamins B2, B3 and B5, which help reduce tiredness and fatigue

Mushrooms count towards your 5 a day.

Although they are technically a fungi, eating around 4 medium sized mushrooms (approx 80g) counts as one portion of your recommended 5 a day.

Mushrooms are great for maintaining body function.

Riboflavin (Vit B2) in mushrooms helps maintain systems in our body for normal energy release, as well as helping to maintain normal functioning of our blood and nervous system, and skin and vision.

Mushrooms are an ideal ingredient to include as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. See below for some great mushroom based recipes

Aubergine and mushroom stacks

This is such a tasty dish. So choose some large Portobello or flat mushrooms – and make a meal of them!

Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Serves 4

Fired-up mushroom, chorizo and potato Hash

Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Serves 4

Mushroom, spinach, kale and sweet potato pie recipe

Packed full of energy and goodness, this guilt-free yet indulgent pie is a super-fast and super-flavourful veggie dish.

Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Serves 4

Mushroom and roasted chicken risotto recipe

Autumn calls for big, warming family dishes like this risotto. Get the fire going, and gather round this pot of goodness that’s guaranteed to stave off winter chills at least for an evening.

Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Serves 4

Mushroom, spinach and egg breakfast bake

Great days begin with great breakfasts – and this simple veggie breakfast bake packs a punch for an energising brekkie that will keep hunger at bay and feed the whole family.

Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Serves 4

Creamy two potato and mushroom gratin

Craving indulgence this weekend? This gratin delivers on home comfort, simplicity and deliciousness. It’s also great for budget-busting with no meat on the menu and favouring readily-available veggies.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
Serves 4-6

Creamy mushroom stroganoff

This smooth and indulgent dish is flooded with flavour and creaminess, perfect for a chilly autumn evening meal. The tagliatelle is a good source of complex carbohydrate which provides slow release energy, replacing that lost after a busy day. A rich carbohydrate meal is also thought to promote the production of the brain chemical serotonin, helping to make you feel relaxed and aid a restful night’s sleep. The use of the half fat crème fraiche keeps the fat content of the dish down without affecting the creamy texture. A little effort goes a long way – have this stroganoff from pan to plate in under half an hour!

Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Serves 4

Please visit the Just Add Mushrooms campaign website for more recipes and information.

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