White Orchid Melody

I wrote last week on the hows and whys of being vegetarian.  I thought I’d follow up with some helpful hints on how to incorporate some vegetarian meals into your regular menu.  Many people hear “vegetarian” and immediately think “ew, tofu!”  I have to say, I’m not one to chow down on a chunk of tofu either.  Here are some clever ways to trick your tastebuds into eating vegetarian. 

Instead of Hamburgers, try Soy Burgers. 
I recommend the Morningstar Grillers variety over the Boca Brand burgers because they have a more convincing texture.  I will also tell you they are best marinated with a bit of soy sauce and some spices and then grilled.  Load it up with all your favorite toppings on a yummy whole grain bun and enjoy!  I am adamant about not eating ground meat.  I’ve seen too many exposes on what is really in the meat!  Yikes!  So, even though the soy burgers are still processed food, they are better for you than ground beef.

Instead of Chili con Carne, try Chili con Soy.
It may not sound as good, but I guarantee if you don’t tell, no one will know!  I use Morningstar Meal Starters Burger Crumbles.  You can also use dried Textured Vegetable Protein from a health food store.  Most regular grocery stores carry the Boca or Morningstar crumbles though.  Saute the crumbles with onion, garlic and spices, just like you would ground meat.  This works for chili, spaghetti with meat sauce, or even sloppy joes.  Mexican meals are also great with soy crumbles.  Try cooking them up with your favorite taco seasoning to make tacos, taco salad, burritos, nachos, etc.  The key is to use the crumbles in dishes that are seasoned/flavored with other things.  If you try to eat it “straight”, you will be very disappointed.  But season it up, and it’s hard to tell the difference.  Here is a yummy chili recipe from Zen Habits.

Try a Family Favorite.
Serve up a big dish of homemade macaroni and cheese with a side of broccoli.  This is always a crowd pleaser, especially with the little ones. 

Start a Weekly Soup Night.
Every week I make a big pot of soup, which serves as dinner one night and lunches for the week.  Vegetarian soups include chili (see above), black bean soup, lentil vegetable, vegetable and wild rice, cream of broccoli, and pasta e fagioli.  These are just some of my favorites.  Peruse any cookbook for more ideas.  Even if you aren’t quite ready to go vegetarian, soups are a great way to simply eat less meat.  If you boil up a chicken, you can just pull some of the meat for the soup, filling in with vegetables and noodles.  Then save the rest of the meat for other dishes (such as casseroles) where the meat is more of a condiment than the main attraction.  Your waistline will thank you.

Explore Ethnic Foods.
You may not be brave enough to try these at home, but dining out is a great opportunity to try new foods.  Indian restaurants are my favorite for hearty vegetarian dishes.  Many are legume based, so a great source of protein.  Don’t be turned off if you don’t like spicy foods, most places will make a mild version for you.  We recently tried a lebanese restaurant which also had really good vegetarian choices (lots of garlic!).  Many places offer a vegetarian sampler platter, which is a good option if you don’t know what to choose!  If you find something you like, hunt down a recipe and try making it at home. 

These are just a few easy ways to incorporate vegetarian meals into your normal diet.  If you’d like to see any dishes from above featured for recipe thursday, leave a comment!