Liz Weiss, RD, has some great suggestions.
Make Soup: Soups like bean and veggie-filled minestrone are hearty, so the meat lovers at your table will feel full and satisfied after a steamy bowlful.
Offer Meat-free Burgers: Frozen veggie burgers are a hearty alternative to beef or turkey burgers. Topped with lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, and ketchup and served on a whole grain bun, they’re an ideal stand in. Grilled Portobello mushrooms, which tend to have a "meaty" texture and flavor, are another mouthwatering swap.
Make Steak… with Cauliflower: This is one of Liz's favorite veggie “hacks." If you slice a head of cauliflower into “steaks” and then bake them, you’ll end up with hearty veggie steaks that mimic the mouthfeel of an actual steak. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but the texture is comparable and oh-so satisfying.
Use Meat-free Grounds: Faux ground beef “crumbles” can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores. Hearty and substantial, they look like ground beef and taste like it too. Use them instead of beef or turkey in tacos, sloppy Joe’s, and lasagna.
Make-Your-Own Pizza or Taco Night: Pizza and tacos are easy to adapt to individual taste and diet preferences. For pizza, set out a bunch of toppings (broccoli, mushrooms, sautéed bell peppers, shredded mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, fresh herbs, and lean chicken or sausage) and let everyone create their own pie… some with meat and some without. Do the same for tacos with beans, shredded cheese, corn kernels, diced avocado, salsa, and sautéed ground beef or turkey.
Listen in as Liz joins host Lisa Davis to share information on these tips and more.
You can also check out Liz's blog with more links and recipe ideas: "5 Ways to Feed Your Family When One Child is a Vegetarian."
Liz Weiss is an award-winning broadcast journalist, speaker, blogger, and spokesperson. She is the co-author of three cookbooks, The Smoothie Bowl Coloring Cookbook: Healthy Recipes and Playful Mandala Food Designs for Kids and Adults (M3 Press, 2015), No Whine with Dinner: 150 Healthy, Kid-Tested Recipes from The Meal Makeover Moms (M3 Press, 2011), and The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers: Improving the Way Your Family Eats, One Meal at a Time (Broadway Books, 2004). Liz champions good nutrition on her website, MealMakeoverMoms.com where she shares healthy “makeover” recipes and practical mealtime advice for families. Liz co-hosts the food and family radio podcast, Cooking with the Moms, and she’s the co-creator of Meal Makeovers, a mobile recipe App filled with kid-friendly recipes and cooking videos. Liz is a columnist for Live Well Digest, a WIC publication, and Relish magazine.