family friendly, non-meat centered meals?

We just don't eat a lot of meat and I feel like I'm failing my family.


Any suggestions that work for you?

TIA


ETA: we do eat meat, just not much - a few times a month

Message edited 4/20/2011 2:31:16 PM.

Re: family friendly, non-meat centered meals?

Why do you feel like your failing your family??

DH is meat obsessed and I am a vegetarian. I have to make lots of meat meals for him and I wish we could just have nice vegetarian meals.

Here are my favorites:

-Eggplant Parm
-Penne Alla Vodka
-Cheese Ravioli and Garlic Bread
-Vegetable Pot Pies
-Spanish Style Rice and Beans
-Asian Vegetable Stir-fry over Rice
-Pasta in a Sun-dried Tomato Sauce
-Cheese and Mushroom Pies
-Nacho Salad
-Peppers, Onions and Mushroom Fajitas with Salsa and Guacamole
-Vegetable-Noodle Soup
-Bean Chili
-Squashes (butternut, acorn, spaghetti) with vegetables cut up and tossed in
-Caesar Salad
-Spinach and Cheese Lasagna

Re: family friendly, non-meat centered meals?

veggie lasagna
baked ziti
stuffed shells
homemade pizza
mac n cheese with broccoli

for me if it doesn't involve meat it includes cheese!!

Re: family friendly, non-meat centered meals?

My go-to non-meat meals (may be repeats of what others already listed):

tacos (beans for the the main filling, sides of cheese, lettuce, tomato, salsa, avocado). If fish doesn't count as "meat" for you, you can also make fish tacos using any white fish.

veggie chili (three types of beans, you can add in peppers etc if you family likes that)

tuna noodle casserole (I don't know if tuna counts as "meat" for you)

pasta casseroles with mixes of any of the following - cheese, broccoli, corn, pasta sauce, other type of sauce like a vodka sauce, etc. I sometimes like to use two different types of cheese (mozzarella and parm) to make it interesting.

Waffle night - make a batch of waffles, and put out syrup and a a few different types of cut-up fruit (strawberries, mango, blueberries, etc.) You can do the same thing with pancake night.

Other breakfast for dinner things work too - like omelets with veggies and homefries.

Eggplant parm.

Made-at-home pizza. You can buy pre-made crusts, and then all you need is some sauce, cheese and whatever else you want to put on top. This is always a great idea for leftover cheese and veggies.

Other mexican dishes, like enchiladas - just make then with only cheese and beans (will you do tofu?). Sides of rice and veggies too.

Re: family friendly, non-meat centered meals?

We eat a lot of lentils (soup, over pasta), rice and beans at least one time each week, chickpea curry, homemade pizzas with veggies on them, veggie stirfry, pasta with marinara or a veggie primavera.

Re: family friendly, non-meat centered meals?

thanks everyone...

we do make tacos, breakfast for dinner, homemade pizzas.

I feel like I have failed b/c one of my DC is so picky it makes it hard. I feel very guilty that he doesn't eat well.

we do eat meat. We aren't vegetarians, but I just really don't like it much (a little from the taste and a little from the animal perspective). we are more likely to do it in small amounts - like ground beef in tacos (although I'll fill it with guac) or pork in fried rice, etc. We don't eat fish.

Thanks again for the suggestions

Re: family friendly, non-meat centered meals?

When I make chop meat for meat sauce - sometimes I add some sliced mushrooms and black beans.

If you made a steak salad,you can stretch the meat a little more.

You could make a mexican lassagna with chop meat on one layer and black beans on the 2nd... still meat but not as much

As far as fish goes - I wanted fish one night. I made fried scallops - told DS they were fish nuggets. He thought they were really good and now he asks for them. Yesterday, I made cod that he picked out.