My family is pretty much “meatless” every day of the week, with the exception of pizza night for my husband and older son(they always have pepperoni, but it’s uncured so there are no nitrates or nitrites) and I usually try to prepare fish once a week, which my husband doesn’t like so he gets a special steak from a local farmer. My younger son and I are both vegetarian and have been for over a year. I asked him just yesterday if he ever misses meat and he gave a speedy response of “no.” That makes me really proud because I have to say I am surprised he has done it this long. He is the one who asked me initially to become vegetarian and I thought this was such a great idea so we did it together! I often get the attitude(especially from family), that I have somehow forced this on him. Just not true!
Poor older child and Dad. They don’t get much meat anymore, but what they do get is high quality and ideally local. I have also always told my younger son who is a vegetarian that he can change his mind at any time and I will start preparing meat for him, but for now he is happy and I am, too.
So, here we are with the Twitter “trend” of Meatless Monday and I know it is a tough challenge for many and by the time you read this, you may have already eaten meat, but I wanted to give some easy ideas for meals and snacks without meat.
Breakfast: oatmeal, scrambled eggs, whole grain toast, waffles with real maple syrup and fruit, bowl of fruit(you get the point..breakfast is EASY to make meatless)
Lunch: big green salad, egg salad, cheese and “greens” sandwich, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, vegetable soup(I am making some today)
Dinner: mac and cheese(as in a good organic boxed one or homemade, which is super easy)with a side of veggies, cheese tortellini with pesto-my family LOVES this one! Bean and cheese quesadillas, veggie stir fry with brown rice, veggie burgers(yes, there are some that are really delicious!)
Snacks: popcorn, popcorn, popcorn(can you tell I love popcorn? and, apparently parentheses in this post) We sprinkle nutritional yeast on ours with dried dill. So yummy and with a health kick, too. Oh, right….more snacks without meat. yogurt, cheese chunks, fruit, and oh, my son’s new favorite is celery slices with peanut butter and raisins on top.
Okay, I don’t expect to convert you to becoming a vegetarian(at least not over night), but these are just a few ideas for Monday to get you started! What are your favorite meals or snacks that don’t include meat? Tell me, tell me!
Great ideas for Meatless Monday!