Want to cut back on the amount of meat you eat but not give it up entirely? Consider becoming an occasional vegetarian!
I’ve always felt a bit uncomfortable about eating meat. I was vegetarian for a few years in my early twenties, however never eating meat just didn’t work for me long term. So I decided to reduce the occasions on which I ate meat as well as make a concerted effort to choose vegetarian options where possible. In short, I became an occasional vegetarian.
To be fair, this wasn’t a huge leap for me, because I have always loved vegetables. One of my favourite summer dinners as a kid was a plate of steamed asparagus with a couple poached eggs on top. My husband enjoys vegetables too, so it never occurred to our son not to like them. From broccoli ‘trees’ to his favourite Brussels sprouts, our son has always loved veggies.
A Kinder and More Environmentally Friendly Way of Eating
I do struggle with the ethics of eating meat, so I feel very strongly that animals raised for meat must be ethically and humanely raised.
Battery eggs or for industrially reared meat have no place in our food chain. The idea that a chicken can legally be reared from chick to full grown in a matter of weeks, crushed into a barn with no space to move, and never feel the sun on its back, absolutely incenses me. Intensive farming is unkind to animals. Due to the pressure it creates on the environment and the antibiotics often given to the animals, it is very bad for humans too.
Do you feel something like this as well? Then consider joining my family and I as an occasional vegetarian. It’s delicious, good for you, and benefits your health and the family budget. Plus, it’s actually much easier than you might think.
Being An Occasional Vegetarian Can Benefit Your Health
There are many health benefits to a plant based diet, and every little step you take towards eating more vegetarian meals can help. Eating more vegetarian meals may help lower your blood pressure and benefit your heart health. It may also improve your cholesterol and help reduce the risk of some diseases. (Always consult your doctor before making major dietary changes.)
Recipe Inspiration for Occasional Vegetarians
From breakfast to dinner, there’s something for everyone!
Baked Overnight Oatmeal with Rhubarb and Almonds
Easy Vegetable Tagine – Vegan with a Gluten Free Option
Vegetable and Cashew Stir Fry – Vegan and Gluten Free options
Pasta alla Norma – Vegan and Gluten Free options
Vegan Pad Thai – Gluten Free option
Easy Provencal Vegetable Gratin
Tips to Help You Become an Occasional Vegetarian
Check out The Meatless Monday or Meat Free Monday movements. Both offer easy ways to gently introduce your family to meat free meals. The Vegetarian Society also offers fantastic recipes and advice.
Take it one meal at a time. If a whole day meat free is too much to start with, just try one meal. Every step forward helps.
Try serving vegetables drizzled with a bit of butter or olive oil to encourage reluctant vegetable eaters. A bit of healthy fat never hurt anyone and it really does enhance their flavour. A pinch of salt can also make vegetables taste delicious, but always add salt after cooking.
Explore vegetarian options in your favourite restaurants. There are some really creative and delicious dishes available these days.
Being “Occasional Vegetarians” really works as a lifestyle for my family and I. We feel good about how our choice impacts on the environment and helps to reduce our carbon footprint. It’s also a delicious way to eat more healthily and save money. I encourage you to give it a try too!
More Vegetarian Recipe Inspiration
Vegetarian Dinner Ideas For Back To School
Meatless Monday Recipes That Will Become Family Favourites
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I adore anything featuring rice, pasta and cheese, so I am blissfully happy with mushroom risotto or veggie lasagne… and all of the dishes you list above sound great, too. Like you, though, I’m not ready to give up meat entirely. Plus, hubbie is much happier when there’s an animal component in most of his meals (men, bless’em!). In terms of health, I’m not sure that pigging out on cheese and carbs gives me many benefits, but nonetheless I’m delighted to be an occasional vegetarian.
Great post! For us, it started with one meatless day a week; now we have perhaps two or three meat/poultry meals per week. In the beginning, cheese was out undoing, but we’ve got that habit under control. The more totally vegan meals the better.
I’m an occasional vegetarian or, as Alea from Premeditated Leftovers once described it, an economic vegetarian. We eat vegetarian and least two or three days each week. It’s a healthy choice and is helps to stretch our grocery budget a lot further.
I wouldn’t consider myself an occasional vegetarian as that almost sounds like a conscious decision. For me, a meal doesn’t have to have meat in and it’s quite normal for me to serve meatless meals. I just don’t think of them as meatless.
That’s a great philosophy, Corina. A meal definitely doesn’t have to have meat in it 🙂
Well said April.
We typically find ourselves not eating meat but only a day or two a week. We may go a week or two and we don’t really think about it. For me, it’s about health. I love meat. For my wife, she’s about the animals and the planet. If we can, we try to source meat from animals that have been treated properly (not always easy in my town)! But you gotta do your part and every tiny action has a big impact.
A couple of days a week is good, Jaxx. And I agree, we all have to do our part. Sourcing meat from traditionally and humanely raised animals makes a big difference.
I LOVE your vegetarian recipes April! They always help inspire me to serve new meat-free dishes to my family…thank you!
Thank you so much, Linda 🙂
A delicious collection of vegetarian recipes. I often split my recipe and leave out a small portion for myself, and continue on with adding the meat for the rest of the family. Thanks so much for sharing this, I’m now going to consider myself ‘an occasional vegetarian’, it’s so me!
I’m so glad you like it, Joanne, and that the post – and the theme – resonated with you 🙂 Thank you!
I like the idea of saying I am an “occasional vegetarian”. I don’t eat red meat and eat very little chicken and pork, but I do eat it. Whenever I tell someone that I don’t eat meat, they ask me if I am a vegetarian. I do love vegetables but don’t think I could live just on them! Your recipes sound wonderful. I want some asparagus with poached eggs now!
Thank you, Ann Marie! I’m so glad this post resonated with you. I’m trying to cut back on the amount of red meat I eat actually, as when I do eat meat it is often my choice. I’m choosing chicken and pork much more often now when I do eat meat.
I think we may have been sisters from another lifetime, April! Even though I grew up eating duck and such, as an adult, meat of any kind is a hard sell. The husband and I always buy free range organic eggs =) As for veggies, in Japan, the frozen kind were unheard of…so, yes I love my veggies, too. Love your assortment of vegetarian dishes. When I have a little extra time, I’ll have to try out each one!
I agree, Kim, we seem to have so much in common! I’m glad the recipes all appeal, and please do let me know what you think of them 🙂
I`m not a big meat fan, so these all look super delicious to me! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you, Cristina! Please let me know what you think if you try the recipes 🙂
I totally understand what you mean April, I was fine eating the eggs of my own chickens as I knew they were loved and well cared for but it opened my eyes to what lovely creatures they are so we have more Quorn instead of chicken when we can or I have to buy free range and no they had a good life. There is now a lot of Vegetarian dishes in my meal plans
I can definitely understand not wanting to eat chicken if you keep chickens for eggs – I wouldn’t be able to either. I do like Quorn – and it is very good for you too. I’m so glad the post resonated with you, Amber 🙂
I am with you on this one. The ethics of the big industrial farming practices are disgusting. I guess I am an occasional vegetarian as well because I don’t like meat all that much. I had never thought of it as being kinder to animals because sometimes I eat it. Great point though.
Thank you, Leanna 🙂 I figure that every time I choose not to eat meat, I’m making a bit of a difference. I hope that every little bit helps 🙂
April, this year, I am determined to find more tasty healthy meatless meals and I’m starting with your yummy collection!
I hope you enjoy them, Linda 🙂 Happy New Year!
Some lovely recipes here April. I love poached eggs and avocado. One of my favourite recipes 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays. Hope you can join us tomorrow.
Thank you so much, Claire 🙂
When my kids were growing up, we decided to go meatless a couple of nights a week. It just made sense for the health of our kids, ourselves and our budget (7kids lol). My husband and I still got 2 or 3 nights a week without meat. Great post and info, April.
Thank you so much, Donna. Eating less meat can definitely help your healthy and your budget that is for sure! It’s wonderful you and your husband stuck to it too. It’s definitely something I want to continue.