Meatless Mondays - Choose Your Own Adventure Edition

If you're into things like earth hour then you may want to check out Meatless Mondays. Now readers of my blog know that I hail from Planet Vegan, but this isn't a post to convince anyone to go vegetarian. No, instead I decided to post on ye olde Face Book about the challenge to not eat meat on Mondays. Animal food, even locally raised animals, are a big contributor to environmental damage and so I kind of see Meatless Mondays as a lights out, reduce your carbon imprint concept for those who eat meat.

Several lovely lasses came forward to accept this challenge and so I want to share some various food ideas and strategies for those who want to Plant it Up on Mondays.

I'm going to present three scenarios to you depending on how much time, energy, and money you have to put into this endeavor. (Hehe. I kind of feel like a GM or a Choose Your Own Adventure writer, remember those?). I'm going to include lacto-ovo options in here because that will be far easier to incorporate for most meat eaters since they'll have eggs and cheese on hand.

Choice A: Wait on me Hand and Foot (or Drive Through!)

    It happens. Sometimes we just have to pick up food. If this is the case here are my suggestions:

• Commerical breakfast sandwiches (order without bacon or ham) 
• Subway, Panera and many fast food places have no meat sandwich options!
• Wendy's is a great source for a baked potato and a big salad
• Asian take-out always has a Tofu option (beware fish sauce in Thai food)
• Indian buffets are the BOMB for vegetarians 
• Mexican places. Check out the veg part of the menu. Get some veg fajitas and a margarita!
• Pasta. Order w/o meat and with marinara sauce (watch out some places put meat broth in sauce)
• Pizza! Just get it with veggies or be daring and get it w/o cheese!
• Sushi! Yes veggie sushi is delicious.

Choice B: Low Maintenance Loveliness

    If you buy a few boxes of veggie burger type things then you'll have meals for a month of Mondays. The easiest option is to replace the meat you would be eating with a vegetarian analog. Here are my suggestions:

• Quorn products are great for those who love the flavor of chicken
• Amy's brand chilis, frozen dinners, etc are amazing!
• Tofurky sausages and deli slices.
• Daiya 'cheese'
• Boca makes delicious items
• Morningstar Farms makes a rib that a lot of meat eaters love! 

Choice C: Kitchen Alchemist
         Cooking is an act of magical intent and if you have time mixing together spices, ingredients and adding some flame (or a blade if you're keeping it raw) is a wonderful way to create something. So what recipes do I suggest? In this section I'm not sure what to put because your options are as limitless as your creativity. Instead, I will ask that you post in the comments a particular flavor group, vegetable, or ethnic area and I will share a recipe with you if you like or point you in the right direction.