Get the new year off to a healthy start for your family by incorporating meatless dinners into your weekly meal plan. We all know that there are many benefits to vegetarian diets: lower grocery bills, lower ecological impact, positive health impact, and less ingestion of hormones and antibiotics fed to factory-farm animals. Having a consistent theme of “Meatless Monday” (or any day of the week) can also help you feed your family in a number of ways:
- Easier Planning. Using the idea of a theme night can help make menu choices easier each week.
- Balanced Meal Plans. Focusing on vegetarian options helps create a more balanced meal plan.
- Establish a Routine. We can all do better at feeding our families more vegetarian meals (unless you are already vegetarian!), so having one day set aside for that helps get you in the routine and will surely inspire you to find other dishes you want to cook as well.
It may seem easier to eat meatless in warmer months when there is a plethora of ripe produce for salads and fresh fruit, but there are many hearty and warm foods that can stand in for meat with satisfying results.
Pack your pantry and refrigerator with these Meatless Monday staples:
- Beans
- Eggs
- Grains
- Cheese
- Tofu
- Meat Substitutes (veggie burgers)
- Mushrooms (Portabella are especially “meaty”)
- Nuts
Meatless Monday Meals — with recipes!
- Lentil Soup
- Baked Potatoes
- Vegetable Chili
- Tofu Fried Rice
- Frittata
- Pasta with Marinara or Pesto Sauce
- Salads with nuts, dried fruit, cheeses and vegetables (pictured above)
Try vegetarian for at least one night a week — and Bon Appetit!
