Herbivore vs. Carnivore: What to do when your house is divided?
I think it is becoming increasingly common for people to be vegetarians these days. Not only is it a "trend" but it is people who are becoming aware of what is healthy, the need to stay away from chemicals in meat, and of course the age-old reason of the inhumane treatment of animals. I fully respect all reasons (except for the trend one…if you’re only a vegetarian because it’s "cool", get over it.).
As such, I’ve met quite a few families who have the struggle of making meals for both the herbivores and carnivores in the family! Life is busy, and it can be a challenge to make special meals for one or the other each night. So how can you strike a balance?
We don’t have this particular issue in our home, but we do have friends who come over for dinner and we do our best to prepare meals that everyone can enjoy. I thought that I would share some of those options to you as you consider how to feed everyone!
Option #1: Middle Eastern Food
Middle Eastern food has a ton of different dishes that incorporate both meat and vegetables. Middle Eastern food makes for a great meal for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. I made a meal a couple of weeks ago that consisted of channa masala (a chickpea based dish), masoor daal (a lentil based dish), beef keftas (meat), naan bread, couscous, and fresh veggies. This satisfied the need for starch, protein and vegetables, and gave both vegetarians and non-vegetarians food they could enjoy.
Option #2: Mexican Food
Mexican food is also a great option for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. One of the simplest meals to incorporate this is burritos. In separate bowls lay out shredded cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, salsa and sour cream. And then do up a bowl of rice, a bowl of Mexican-flavoured ground beef, and Mexican-flavoured black beans. I did up both the beef and black beans with the same spice mix and some onions and garlic. Everyone got tortillas and could pile on what they wanted! It was easy and it pleased everyone’s dietary needs. You could also do the same thing with taco shells.
Option #3: Pasta
Everyone loves spaghetti or other types of pasta. It’s a pretty safe option when you have company coming and you’re rushed, or when you need to whip something up for your family at night. However, it can be an issue if you’re used to ground-beef based spaghetti sauce! An easy solution for this is to cook your pasta like regular, and then cook two pots of the same sauce. In one pot, add ground beef like usual, and in the other pot add a cup of lentils (or more, depending on the amount of people). Lentils add protein and will give vegetarians the same nourishment as those eating the sauce with the ground beef. Serve the pasta on the table and the two separate sauces so people can choose. Add a side of salad, and garlic bread, and everyone can enjoy this meal!
Option #4: Pizza
Pizza is always a classic for parties, gatherings, and busy nights! I make up a batch of pizza dough every so often and since there’s only the two of us I divide it in half and freeze one. You could easily either split one pizza to have half vegetarian, and half with meat. Or, if there’s more than two of you, you could have one vegetarian pizza and one meat pizza. Of course the toppings can be endless, and it can suit your tastes! Easy solution, and always a hit!
Do you have any tips?
