• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Live-In Kitchen logo

  • Recipes
  • About
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Work Together
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Vegetarian Recipes

    How to Feed a Vegetarian (or Vegan)

    Lindsay Moe

    931 shares

    Learn how to feed a vegetarian or vegan when you’re used to eating meat!

    How to Feed a Vegetarian (or Vegan). Simple tips for keeping everyone happy and full! // The Live-In Kitchen

    It can be difficult to feed a loved one who abstains from meat or animal products if you have never had to think about it before.

    It can also be difficult to eat bread and cheese for dinner when everyone else is digging into steaks with mashed potatoes and gravy.

    I have been on both sides of this situation. When I visit a friend or family’s house they often ask, “What can I make you?” Before becoming a vegetarian we would often entertain vegetarians or vegans and I would also have to rack my brain to find something that would fit their dietary needs. Now I want people to know that it doesn’t need to be so complicated. With a few simple swaps and recipes you can always have something satisfying to whip up without needing to visit a specialty store or even step outside your comfort zone.

    I’m going to share with you a few steps to run through when planning a meal to keep it vegetarian (and possibly vegan) while still satisfying everyone at the table. Let’s go!

    How to feed a vegetarian

    Remove the Meat

    I don’t want to assume anything about your knowledge of vegetarians and vegans, so let’s start at the beginning. Vegetarians don’t eat meat  (although some will still eat fish, eggs, or poultry – it’s best to ask), and vegans generally don’t partake in any animal product (dairy, eggs, and honey are out). If your first instinct is to make pork chops, stop and reconsider.

    Look for Hidden Meat

    Most vegetarians will take offense to anything made with chicken or beef stock, even if there are no chunks of meat in whatever you’re making. One of my favorite vegetarian anecdotes involves a famous actress discussing her vegetarian ways, then mentioning that her favorite food was French onion soup. She was horrified when the reporter informed her that French onion soup is made with… beef broth.

    southwest salad in a white bowl surrounded by more vegetables and cilantro lime dressing

    Make a Swap

    Vegetarian substitutes are everywhere these days. There are a wide variety of prepared veggie burgers and “chicken” patties in the frozen food section if you’re looking for convenience (these are also easily made from scratch).

    You can also experiment with TVP, tofu, tempeh, and seitan. These ingredients can be intimidating and hard to find, however, if you’re not used to cooking with them. An easier way to go can be replacing meat with beans.

    In general I like to swap beef for black beans, pork for pinto beans, and garbanzo beans, great northern beans, or canellini beans for poultry. Canned beans make this super simple, and of course you will want to adjust your recipe and cooking time to reflect the swap.

    Don’t Worry

    Chances are you have more vegetarian meals in your repertoire than you realize. Serve up a favorite pasta dish or hearty salad. When in doubt make an extra vegetable or grain side dish. Relax and enjoy your visitors.

    You may feel like they’re picking apart your meal but most likely they are just happy to be there (and maybe filled up on “safe” food before they came). If you have concerns about what someone will or won’t eat, don’t be afraid to ask questions and maybe give them a call ahead of time to see how you can accommodate their needs.

    a plate of tofu breakfast scramble with breakfast potatoes and avocado slices

    Make it Vegan

    If you have a vegetarian dish it’s not too hard to make it vegan. Vegan cheese is a readily available swap for dairy cheese (or just leave it out).

    Eggs can be replaced by flax eggs. Earth Balance makes a popular vegan “butter”. Focus on grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. If you’re having a hard time coming up with a vegan main dish, make several side dishes you feel comfortable with, such as roasted squash or a rice pilaf, and there will be plenty to eat.

    In need of a few easy recipes to get you started?

    Easy Canned Butter Beans

    These creamy beans are vegan, filling, and so easy to make!

    Veggie Stacked Enchiladas

    These enchiladas are packed with veggies and protein, no rolling required!

    Vegan Tempeh Tacos

    You'll be surprised how easy it is to make vegan tacos that mimic the texture of real meat!

    The Best Marinated Tofu Recipe

    Don't let tofu intimidate you. This recipe makes it easy for everyone to fall in love with it!

    Healthy Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars

    Sweet breakfasts can be healthy too! These bars are packed with protein from a variety of nuts.

    Vanilla Almond Vegan Baked Oatmeal

    This vegan breakfast is a real crowd pleaser. It's warm, filling, and easy to prepare the night before.

    Easy Vegetarian Chili

    This vegetarian chili is actually vegan if you leave off the cheese and sour cream. Serve it in a bowl, or go big as a topping for veggie burgers and hot dogs.

    Crispy Quinoa Bake

    This recipe is easy to throw together with whatever veggies you have on hand. The Mexican flavors make it a comforting casserole that can be enjoyed on it's own or eaten with chips like a dip!

    Do you still have any questions unanswered about feeding a vegetarian or vegan? What are your favorite dishes to make for those who don’t eat meat? Let me know in the comments!

    More Vegetarian Recipes

    • A baking dish full of meatless baked ziti on a linen striped napkin next to bunches of parsley.
      Meatless Baked Ziti
    • overhead photo of a mediterranean buddha bowl
      Mediterranean Inspired Bowl
    • topview image of biscuits topped vegetarian pot pie in a cast iron pan with spices in a bowl.
      Biscuit Topped Vegetarian Pot Pie
    • a greek chickpea wrap cut in half on a plate.
      Greek Chickpea Wraps

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Vegan Mother Hubbard says

      August 27, 2013 at 10:03 am

      This is an excellent guide. I can’t wait to share it with others. Just one note: flax eggs aren’t the only egg substitute and are often the wrong choice. They’re great in some cookies, quick breads, and muffins. However, they aren’t usually a good idea in most cakes, some cookies, and some quick breads. Other egg substitutes include whipped silken tofu, soy/almond/coconut milk yogurt, mashed banana, Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer, Ener-G Egg Replacer, and sometimes applesauce. The conversion is typically 3 tablespoons per egg called for in the recipe. If you’re unsure, google vegan versions of the same type of recipe to see what’s being used. Use that as a guide for adjusting your own recipes.

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        August 28, 2013 at 7:27 pm

        Thank you so much for adding this information! Yes, Google is your best friend in finding out exactly how to swap a specific recipe.

        Reply
    2. olive says

      August 27, 2013 at 4:08 pm

      Great post. It is tough. We cut out meat and dairy this year. It was surprisingly easy for us, but it’s a challenge to cook for others sometimes.
      Perfect timing. I’m pondering what to cook for a family guest Labor Day weekend! 🙂

      Reply
    3. Jess says

      October 12, 2014 at 10:54 am

      This was great, except for that some vegetarians eat fish or poultry. That’s incorrect. Pescetarians eat fish, and people who eat poultry are still meat eaters or omnivores, no matter how many plants they eat. It’s confusing to the general public when idea is perpetuated. Veganism or vegetarianism can not be associated with eating flesh. I did enjoy going through your vegan recipes, and pinned a few. Thanks!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • single serving vegan cookie dough on a spoon
      Vegan Cookie Dough for One
    • featured image of two shot glasses with buttery nipple shot
      Buttery Nipple Shot
    • zesty cream cheese stuffed mini peppers close up
      Zesty Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
    • single serving lemonade in a glass with lemons
      Single Serving Lemonade

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Lindsay
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement

    Extras

    • Newsletter
    • Resources
    • On the Side

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Wild Flour Media

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 The Live-In Kitchen

    Please read my Privacy Policy.
    931 shares