Go, Veggie!

My daughter went vegetarian about four months ago. I was vegetarian for a few years in my teens and twenties, so I'm familiar enough with the requirements that it was not a huge adjustment. Our family has meatless meals about twice a week, anyway, which again makes the adjustment easier. She's lacto-ovo, which increases your options, too.

It's easier than you might think: tonight's dinner is tuna casserole? Put some of the noodles into a small casserole dish, and instead of tuna, mix in tofu or mashed cooked pigeon peas. You use the same white sauce,you toss in the same chopping celery and asparagus bits, you top it in the same cheese. It adds about two minutes to your prep. time.

Rebekah and I also cook together once a week, making one or two items that we then freeze in single-serving portions. On a night when the family eats pork chops, rice, and broccoli, she reaches for one of these, and can have veggie chili, rice, and broccoli. Or navy-bean-and-squash-curried-soup, or bean polenta, or farmer's omelette, or Mexican bean bake, or nut loaf, or pasta with homemade sundried tomato pesto on it... Hmmm...

And after watching all of this totally yummy food enter my daughter's mouth, while I munch on chicken, I got to thinking. I used to be vegetarian, and it suits my likes and disliked well. I stopped because, back in my twenties and with an unsupportive spouse, it was "too much trouble". (Funny how, with a gazillion kids and a much more chaotic household, it's no longer "too much trouble". What a difference self-confidence - and a supportive spouse! - make!!)

So, as of four days ago, I've 'gone veggie', too. Not only do I like the health aspect (and the totally delicious food), but it's a real point of bonding with my daughter.

It's good all round!