Veg Out!

October is Vegetarian Awareness Month. Even if you’re an omnivore, you can join in on the festivities. Here are some ways to celebrate World Vegetarian Day (TODAY!) October 1st:

• Go vegetarian for a day! Instead of just abstaining from meat, try planning meals centered around other foods that are high in protein, such as beans tofu, and other soy products, or nuts and seeds.

• If you (or the kids!) aren’t ready to forgo meat just yet, then use the day as an opportunity to eat a little more “green” than you might ordinarily. Snack on an apple instead of potato chips.

• Talk with your kids about healthy eating habits. You might take a family field trip to a local farm or farmer’s market. Let them explore and talk to them about where their food comes from.

• Get your kids more involved. Researchers say that picky eaters are more likely to branch out their tastes if they are somehow involved in making the meal. Let the kids pick out a vegetable to try for dinner, or let them help you cook. The meal may not be perfect, but it will give kids useful skills, as well as motivation to eat something they usually avoid.