Move Over Meat: Simple Truth Vegetarian Cooking

By: Sarah Koeninger, RD LD, Dietitian Supervisor, Kroger Customer Connect

Have you recently had a meatless meal? Did you realize it at the time? What about your parents or grandparents — do you think they would have chosen to eat a meatless meal out of preference and not necessity? Chances are you may have decided to eat certain foods because they are vegetarian, but people in previous generations ate meatless meals only out of necessity. Families tended to be bigger, so diets were made up of foods that would go a longer way. In addition, modern-day amenities such as refrigeration have come a long way in the last couple of decades.

Today, people choose meatless options for a variety of reasons: budget, religious beliefs or morals, lifestyle choice, environmental concerns, and so on. Regardless of the reasons behind it, vegetarian cooking today is not only easy but also full of possibilities. Vegetarian food is composed of a wide variety of ingredients, flavors (the majority of herbs and spices are vegetarian), combinations and style (fruits and vegetables can add a pop of color to any meal). Whether you are looking for a meal that is lacto-ovo vegetarian (no animal ingredients other than dairy and eggs) or completely vegan (no animal ingredients or ingredients derived from animals), your local grocer or farmer’s market is full of possibilities.

Vegetarian dishes include the classic combinations of beans and rice, pasta and marinara, grilled cheese (yes, there is vegan cheese) and tomato soup, or a nice big salad. If you want to explore the world of meatless eating, the Simple Truth® brand can help, from brown rice to canned or dry beans, from dry quinoa (which can be used like rice) to frozen quinoa options like White Quinoa with Olive Oil and Sea Salt. There’s also the convenient variety of the Meatless line, such as Meatless Breakfast Patties, Meatless Crumbles and Meatless Griller Strips. Consider going vegetarian for a day (or longer if you would like), and let Simple Truth® assist you in stepping out of your protein comfort zone.