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Vegetarian Dishes

Go Green for Earth Day!

By Kristin Kessler, Registered Dietitian

Home to more than seven billion people, three trillion trees, and more animals than many of us can count (the ant population alone is 10,000 trillion!), Mother Earth is a pretty populated place. And since we only have just one planet, it’s extra important to take care of it. Earth Day—celebrated every year on April 22—began 46 years ago to increase conversation on environmental issues, like fossil fuels, renewable resources and overall sustainability. This Friday, in addition to conserving electricity and recycling, take your Earth Day celebrations into the kitchen with our simple tips for sustainable eating!

Embrace the “All Produce is Beautiful” movement

Every year, six billion pounds of fruits and veggies in the U.S. go unharvested or unsold—not because they’re spoiled, but because they’re considered “ugly.” Deformed, wonky, crooked, or long-necked, just because this food doesn’t look like your typical produce doesn’t mean it’s not as tasty and nutritious! Honor homely veggies by combining them with Libby’s products in big casserole or soup dishes, like this recipe for Minestrone Soup. No one will ever know you chose the “ugly” produce over the “pretty” produce!

They’re called leftovers, not trash!

 

Food waste is no throwaway topic. Every year, approximately 2.9 trillion pounds of food—about one third of all food produced worldwide—gets tossed. Learn to love (and actually use) your leftovers in creative ways by incorporating them into salads, sandwiches and wraps. Extra helpings from last night’s roasted chicken can be tomorrow’s lunch with these Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps.

Skip the meat (for a day)

Take a tip from the meatless Monday playbook and go vegetarian on this Earth Day. Going meatless can help reduce water usage, greenhouse gases and fuel dependence. To put it into perspective, approximately 1,850 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef, while a mere 39 gallons of water are needed to produce a pound of vegetables. Choose vegetarian sources of protein (think: lentils and beans) to improve both your health and the health of the planet. The next time you’re hankering for a burger, try this vegetarian recipe for Mexican Salsa Veggie Burgers instead. It’s filled with beans and spice and everything nice.

Vegging Out

More and more of us are realizing the benefits of a vegetarian diet, even if it’s just eliminating meat on Mondays!  Creating satisfying, balanced meatless meals that please the whole family might sound impossible, but here are some tips and recipes to ensure your vegetarian night still packs a protein punch and burst of flavor.

Skip the Beef, Not the Burger

Beans are a staple protein for vegetarians, and they are a smart substitute for beef in burgers.  To avoid bland veggie burgers, add flavorful ingredients into the burger mixture and top with zesty condiments. Check out these hearty Mexican-style Veggie Burgers made with Libby’s® Organic Pinto Beans and Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn and garnished with a fresh salsa with a kick. Your carnivores won’t even miss the meat!

Fill Up on Soup & Salad

Hearty soups and crisp salads are a mainstay in vegetarian diets. Plus it’s a quick, easy dinner to prepare that provides a satisfying balance of warmth and freshness. And the combinations are endless, so get creative pairing various soups with salads. We like how the sweet hint in this Carrot Coconut Soup complements the zing in this Summer Garbanzo Bean Salad.

Breakfast for Dinner

Eggs and potatoes are a perfect substitute for the protein and heartiness that we get from eating meat.  Besides, what’s more fun than breakfast for dinner!  Libby’s® Sweet Peas and Sliced White Potatoes are the heroes in this Frittata that can be whipped up in about 20-25 minutes beginning to end!

What do you serve on Meatless Mondays? Leave a comment on our Facebook page to let us know!