So, what do you eat anyway?

Surprisingly, I get this question a lot. I understand that for a lot of people, it's really hard to imagine their lives without meat and heaven forbid that you lighten up a little on the dairy. Fortunately, there are LOTS of really great meat substitutes out there! While we dont eat them very often, we do have our favorites that we keep in the house so I thought I'd share what we consider to be the 'best' meat and dairy substitutes out there.

When I first though of giving up meat, honestly one of the hardest things for me was bacon. I have NO IDEA why, really its pretty gross when you think about it, but dang it sure can be tasty when used in the right dish. I was THRILLED when I found Morninstar Farms Veggie Bacon Strips- they smell just like traditional bacon, are excellent inside of a grilled cheese and at only 60 calories per serving infinitely healthier than the real thing.

If bacon's not your thing Morninstar also makes an excellent veggie sausage pattie. I like the traditional, but Jason likes the maple. When J (Jasons little brother) was over for breakfast one day he didnt even believe me that these were veggie based- I actually had to show him the box to get him to believe they were not meat. If you're looking for a great transition piece, we highly recommend this one!

For lunch or dinner, the most flexible source of protein has got to be tofu. It soaks up any marinade you might throw at it, is quick and cheap! I use tofu in our recipes often, and find that I prefer the extra firm texture the best. Dont get disheartened if the first few times you venture into tofu land you lose your way a little- once you find the perfect cooking method for you it becomes much easier! Tofu can now be found in most grocery and big box stores and can be either conventional or organic. If you dont use the whole block, it's easy to store in a sealable container with fresh water and will keep for 5-7 days.

For nights that we're craving convenience or burgers, our go to is the Gardenburger. I prefer garden burgers because they are vegetable based, but if that's not your thing Bocas are soy based and Morningstar has a black bean based. Veggie burgers can be highly subjective, and it's entirely normal to love some and hate others. I recommend that you grab a few boxes next time you grill out and make 1 of each to sample :0)

The last thing I want to share is a dairy alternative. I am vegetarian- which means that I do eat eggs and dairy on occasion, but I've been making a conscious effort to limit my dairy to only baking or food prep. I'm not a huge fan of soy milk, or rice milk however I LOVE almond milk. Several brands carry an almond option, including Almond Breeze and Silk. I use unsweetened for most baking, and the sweetened vanilla for oatmeal or chai tea. Yum!

I hope this has been helpful- especially for those of you joining us for Meatless Mondays! With so many healthy and tasty options out there, it's easy to eat green!