Here at Dietitian Jenn, I strive to teach vegetarians how to eat healthfully. We discuss popular topics in social media, the health benefits of vegetarianism, and the potential pitfalls as well.
But it’s so much more than that. Vegetarians make up somewhere between 3 and 7 percent of the American population.
So statistically, if you are a vegetarian, there is a high likelihood that the people you live with or frequently eat with are not vegetarian.
So how does a multivore family co-exist at mealtimes? Does everyone cook for themselves? Does the omnivore cook and leave you with the sides? Do you cook and force them to eat vegetarian in your home?
Just like in the rest of your lives, you have to come to a compromise when it comes to your meals. I’m here to help you find that compromise, strike that balance between cooking 2-3 meals every night and seriously irritating each other.
Where should you go first?
The first place to really start to find areas of compromise is my post, How to Integrate Vegetarians and Omnivores.
This article relates my ideas to dig in and discover ideas that can work for your multivore family. In my house, we kind of switch around based on what our week looks like and what we’re tired of.
For example, I’m not a fan of the “mock meats” but my husband and son like them if they’re eating vegetarian for the night.
So when I’m just over them, I’ll make a dish that is vegetarian and healthy on its own, and my husband will cook a chicken breast or salmon fillet to go along with it.
Those nights, we tend to have more leftovers, so I’ll utilize them a bit differently for lunch the next day.
Other Options
Take a look at my recipes.
I create them to be nutritionally complete as they are. But I also try to include as many variations as possible to keep everyone happy. For instance, my Vegetarian Sheet Pan Dinner has enough protein, starch, and veggies to be a completely nutritionally balanced meal for everyone.
But I also give ideas for switching out the protein source, eliminating the protein to create a side dish, and switching up the vegetables if you don’t like broccoli. (You monster!)
Another crowd-pleaser is my Roasted Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie. While a bit harder to personalize per person, it is jam-packed with lots of umami flavors that most meat-eaters don’t mind that it’s meatless.
This makes it perfect for a multivore family dinner.
Or browse various heavily researched nutrition articles found throughout the site, such as the time I dispelled the myth that fruit is unhealthy because of its sugar content.
If you’re new to vegetarianism…
Learn about the health benefits of a vegetarian diet. I have also written about the benefits of vegetarianism that don’t have to do with your health.
Worried that you’re not healthy? I extensively discuss behaviors and nutrient deficiencies that can make a vegetarian unhealthy so that you can find your trouble spots.
If you’re new to cooking…
I try to keep my recipes simple. If you follow me on Facebook, you may see many elaborate recipes I’ve made for dinner because I like to experiment in the kitchen at least once a week or so.
I get bored eating the same things over and over again.
However, the recipes on this site are more low-key. They are simple and/or quick to make. Check them out and let me know what you think.
Alternatively, you can check out my free handout on super simple meals for crazy busy nights.