Thursday, September 11, 2008

Meatless meals for the whole family

Meatless meals. Too often that brings visions of tofu, soybeans or other food that is just too adventurous for some.

But meatless meals don't have to be a scary concept; in fact, there are easy options for even the pickiest eaters. Whether you're trying to reduce the amount of meat you eat because of the impact on the environment or simply on your wallet, there are many family-friendly options out there.

The best part? You're probably already doing it without realizing it.

The most basic meatless meals you're probably already including in your diet at least once in awhile. What kid doesn't enjoy macaroni and cheese? A basic spaghetti marinara is another inexpensive option. It's simple, and it's easy to increase the iron in it simply by using a cast-iron skillet.

Other meatless dinner options include:
  • vegetable fried rice
  • cheese quesadillas
  • black beans and rice
  • grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup
  • "breakfast" such as pancakes or oatmeal
Interested in branching out? Here are some links to get started:

3 comments:

EnviRambo said...

I've tried to implement at least two meatless meals a week in our house. Not only does it benefit the environment, but our bank account, too.

A year ago I started cutting back on the amount of meat used in each meal. Instead of using a whole pound of hamburger, try to cut back to half a pound per meal. Cut that chicken breast up into chunks and incorporate it throughout the dish rather than one breast per family member. Now I serve up larger portions of vegetables and some type of bread. My family didn't even notice the difference and it paved the way for more meatless meals.

lafever said...

I am trying to get the family to one meatless meal too. Where did you get the vegetable fried rice recipe?

Robbie said...

Hi Dan,

We don't have a recipe per se, we've been making it for year!

Fried rice is a great way to use up leftovers. We'll either steam up rice (or make a double batch earlier), and toss in some peanut or canola oil some green or white onions, leftover chicken (if available), peas, mushrooms, etc. We'll add a little soy sauce or teriyaki sauce towards the end. I hope that helps!