fetchpriority=”high” decoding=”async” class=”alignleft size-full wp-image-162190″ src=”https://thinktasty1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/vegetarian-dish.jpg” alt=”” width=”400″ height=”400″ srcset=”https://www.thinktasty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/vegetarian-dish.jpg 400w, https://www.thinktasty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/vegetarian-dish-150×150.jpg 150w, https://www.thinktasty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/vegetarian-dish-300×300.jpg 300w, https://www.thinktasty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/vegetarian-dish-170×170.jpg 170w” sizes=”(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px” />I don’t have a degree or certification in cooking, healthy eating, or vegetarianism for that matter, but in the current world of sharing your opinion online I’ve decided to join the masses. With my years of eating experience, I’m glad to explain the benefits I perceive in eating vegetarian meals.

(Please note: as I wrote last week, I am a semi-vegetarian, which means that I still enjoy an assortment of meat-related foods. Also, for those of you that can’t imagine giving up meat for one meal, keep reading anyway.)

Why Eat Vegetarian:

1. It can be a less expensive way to eat. If you don’t need to buy chicken breasts or cuts of beef, your grocery bill will usually be less, and you can also shop on a budget, especially if you use discount codes at VoucherBin. Tofu, legumes, and veggies tend to be cheaper than items from the butcher.
2. It can be a lower caloric way to eat. Of course if you start adding sauces or deep-frying, the calories won’t drop. If you choose to roast and season with herbs, you are likely to see a reduction in calories.
3. It makes you think about flavor. When dinner focuses on a piece of protein, veggies and starches tend to be second thoughts added to the plate. When you remove that protein, you focus on finding the tastiest veggies out there.
4. You’ll feel better after the meal. Carnivores probably will disagree, but after a meat-centric meal, I feel more weighted down. After a vegetarian meal I don’t have that overly full tummy feeling.
5. It mixes things up. I’m semi-vegetarian, and I most definitely enjoy meat-based meals: meatballs, chicken cordon bleu, a good steak, and so much more. But it’s also nice to eat a meatless meal and focus on the other ingredients in my kitchen.

The following are two of the dishes I made early in my years of cooking vegetarian for my husband. Unsure as to how he’d react to a meatless meal, I chose these two for separate, introductory meals. Each was a hit without question as to where the meat was. Give one a try, and see how tasty vegetarian cooking can be!

Cheesy Eggplant Pasta– The cheesiness of this dish should appeal to your diners, as will the pasta. Eggplant adds a nice meaty dimension to the dish in a healthy manner.

Buffalo Tofu Bites– So many people are resistant to tofu. The key is to add lots of flavor, which is done well in this recipe with buffalo sauce. No, you won’t think it’s chicken, but you also won’t miss the poultry. I swear.