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When Vegetarians and Meat Eaters Live Together
from: Karlie BestlerCooking for vegetarians and meat eaters living in the same household can be a real challenge. When one person in the household stops eating meat or when people following different diets move in together, sharing a meal can become complicated. To live together in harmony, vegetarians and non vegetarians must accept each other's eating habits.
Accommodating everyone's tastes does not have to be difficult or time consuming. Following a few simple suggestions will satisfy both vegetarians and meat eaters.
1. Stick with vegetarian foods that are familiar to meat eaters, especially at first. Not everyone likes tofu or tempeh, not even all vegetarians. Non-vegetarians will likely enjoy these easy main dishes even when they are meatless:
*Mushroom, spinach or cheese ravioli
*Tomato, lentil, or vegetable soup with grilled cheese sandwiches
*Vegetable lasagna
*Baked macaroni and cheese
*Breakfast foods such as omelets, French toast and pancakes
Many vegetarian cooking recipes are available on the internet. The Food Network has almost 4,000 meatless vegetarian cooking recipes. Another good resource is the Vegetarian Times. Both of these sites have vegan and vegetarian cooking recipes.
2. Cooking two meals, one with meat and one without, is too much work for the average busy cook. Eating only vegetable side dishes is not satisfying or healthy for a vegetarian. Meat eaters will not want to eat vegetarian meals every day. Two options are to substitute another protein for the meat in a vegetarian portion or cooking meat separately for the meat eater. Here are some easy ways meat eaters and vegetarians can share one meal.
*Spaghetti sauce can be divided in two pans, one with meat and one without. Beans, tofu, or a crumbled veggie burger can be added to the meatless sauce for extra protein.
*Tacos and burritos can easily be made with meat for the meat eater and beans for the vegetarians.
*Pizza can be topped with meat on one half and vegetables on the other.
*A meat analogue, also called a meat substitute, mock meat, faux meat, or imitation meat, can stand in for a steak or hamburger on a vegetarian's plate.
*Stir fry and Pad Thai are dishes for which meat and tofu can easily be cooked and added separately.
*Grilled kabobs are easy to customize. Portabella mushrooms or eggplant can easily be put on a vegetarian kabob.
*Involving everyone in meal planning and grocery shopping is a good way to ensure everyone will be satisfied with the meals. Planning the menu and grocery shopping can be fun activities to do together. Grocery shopping is also a good time to discover new foods to try.
3. Compromise is the key when eating out. The best choices for finding both meat and vegetarian entrees on the menu are often ethnic cuisines. Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Ethiopian, and Mexican restaurants often have several vegetarian or vegan choices.
Look at a menu or call the restaurant to make sure before you go. Most non-vegetarian restaurants offer at least one or two meatless options, and there are restaurants that are entirely vegetarian. Taking turns choosing restaurants when eating out together is one way to avoid conflict between vegetarians and meat eaters.
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