Easing into Meatless or Mooless Mondays

The proposition is just this: If you eat meat, be a Monday vegetarian. If you're already vegetarian, be a Monday vegan.

Simple, right?

But the logistics are not so simple.

Let's start out slow. How can you "give up meat" (or dairy and eggs) one day a week?

I've taken some tips from Rudy Hadisentosa's online book, How to Successfully Become a Vegetarian, at Veggie123.com. In Chapter 4: "Where Do I Begin?" Rudy has a "Ten-Point Plan to Becoming a Vegetarian."

While this is about becoming "all veg, all the time," we can adapt some of the points for the Meatless/Mooless Monday once-a-weekers. Here I've adapted Rudy's first three steps.

Step 1: Eat meat-free dinners that you already enjoy.

Think of foods you love that are already meatless--salads, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, spaghetti in tomato and basil sauce, beans and rice--and eat those on Mondays.

Step 2: Adapt three favorite recipes to make them vegetarian.

In other words, just take out the meat! I often eat cheese and tomato sandwiches; who needs lunchmeat? (Yes, I'm vegetarian, not vegan--but I'll be a Monday vegan from now on!) Do you really need meat in spaghetti sauce? How about trying tofu tacos?

Step 3: Add brand-new vegetarian meals to your repertoire.

Maybe when I said, "tofu tacos," you said "YUCK!" If so, you've never had tofu done right. Here in China we eat stuff that looks, tastes, and feels like fish, chicken, beef--and it's all veg. Check your supermarket for Boca Burgers or Morningstar Farms; you'll be surprised what you'll find (even ribs!)

OK, next time I'll tell you how to find veg restaurants, and give you a source for vegan recipes.

Until then, Live and Let Live.