When I mention I'm a vegetarian, living with a family of meat eaters, one of the first questions people ask me is, what do you eat?
I usually reply, I eat everything normal people eat, just without the meat.
As a vegetarian for over seven years now, I honestly don't even think twice about what I'm eating. I just eat food I love, and it's not always necessarily healthy either.
Here are seven of my favorite vegetarian meals that even meat eaters can appreciate.
1. Vegetarian Burrito
Mexican restaurants tend to have a separate category of entrees suitable for vegetarians, but that doesn't mean you have to be a vegetarian to try them. My personal favorite Mexican dish is the burrito, packed with rice, beans, cheese, peppers and onions and topped with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream.
Vegetarian burritos will leave you feeling full and satisfied. For a vegan burrito, ditch the cheese and sour cream.
2. Pizza
For vegans, this might be a touchy subject. But for vegetarians who eat cheese, pizza gives us endless options of different toppings, ranging from broccoli to pineapple.
3. Red Robin's Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap (Without the Chicken)
Red Robin will allow you to substitute any of their meat dishes with their Gardenburger or a BOCA Original Vegan patty, giving you way more options than a veggie burger. This Whiskey River BBQ wrap contains a Gardenburger patty on a spinach tortilla wrap with Whiskey River BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tortilla strips and ranch dressing.
4. Falafel Gyro
No, those aren't meatballs! A gyro is a Greek dish made on a pita that typically contains sliced meat with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and tzatziki, a yogurt-based cucumber sauce. This vegetarian gyro contains falafel, which is made from ground chickpeas and spices, rather than sliced meat.
5. Burger King's Hash Brown Burrito (WITHOUT the Sausage)
Featuring scrambled eggs, American cheese, hash browns and a creamy spicy sauce, this wrap is a hearty option for fast-food breakfast! If you're a vegetarian, simply order the wrap without the sausage. If you're a vegan, this one probably isn't for you.
6. Vegetarian Pad Thai
Pad Thai , a stir-friend noodle dish that originates from Thailand, typically contains vegetables and chopped peanuts. It comes in several variations, many of which are already vegetarian.
7. Eggplant Parmesan with Linguine
Before I became a vegetarian, one of my favorite dinners was chicken parmesan. What's not to love about fried food coated with tomato sauce and cheese, complemented with a side of linguine?
Eating vegetarian doesn't mean you have to eat salads every time you go out. Most times, you don't need to limit your options to the menu. Many entrees can be easily modified to suite your vegetarian needs, so don't be afraid to ask!
Do you have any vegetarian meals to add to the list? Leave a comment or start a discussion below.