Guest post from Steph of Cheapskate Cook:
You probably know that serving at least one meatless meal every week will help save you a lot of grocery money over time. Unfortunately, our family members might not be on-board with a plant-based dinner.
How do you serve meatless meals and still keep the troops happy?
I've found 3 easy ways.
1. Add Cheese
I know it's the easy way out, but adding cheese is almost always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Who can resist melting cheese?
We serve it with Meatless Nacho Dip, 5-minute Lentils & Rice, and Cheesy Lentil Pie.
Don’t forget classics like homemade pizza and 1-Pot Macaroni & Cheese.
2. Cook What Your Family Loves
If you try a meatless recipe that your family loves, SAVE IT. In many cases, you can rotate through their top 3-5 meals once or twice a week without anyone getting tired of them.
For example, my kids love Cumin Beans & Cornbread, vegetarian Homemade Chimichangas, and anything made with lentils. If I plan at least 1-2 of those meals every week, everyone is happy.
3. Make it "Mostly" Meatless
Maybe you or a family member just doesn't like a meal without a little bit of meat — if that’s the case, try making a mostly-meatless meal.
This can be Hamburger Soup with most of the meat substituted with beans or lentils, Chicken Noodle Soup with a few more vegetables (or some white beans) and a little less chicken, or a pan of Mostly Meatless Nacho Dip.
Bonus Tip: Suck it up, Buttercup
When money is tight, we all have to make sacrifices. Certainly, we want the loved ones at our table to be happy with their meals, meatless or no. However, learning to do without builds character and keeps the bills paid.
Sometimes, we just have to suck it up and add a little extra cheese!
Find Steph at Cheapskate Cook, where you'll get quick meal hacks, frugal recipes, free menu plans, and the tools to save money and eat healthy even without a health food store.
