Every week we are exploring vegetarian meals for meat eaters. Cooking with seasonal vegetables can seem really limiting at first, but the possibilities are endless. And it is worth it. Just cutting one day of meat eating out of our diet can keep thousands of pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere a year. No seriously, it's that big a deal. Plus, it's a great opportunity to have some new adventures and try new things. Just another way to take care of the planet AND make life a little bit better! 

Also, as they point out on the farmer's market episode of Parks and Recreation "It's like a tree barfed in my mouth." Chard is an acquired taste, but it is super good for you, and I think these recipes are just genius enough that they could potentially win over Leslie Knope.

from little bits of

I don't think I even realized that baked sweet potato was a thing, but baked sweet potato with kale is REALLY a thing, but now that I am looking at this recipe from little bits of, I totally get it. Bitter kale, sweet potato, tangy onion- it sounds pretty delicious! The Foodie Physician has the same flavor combination in a quesadilla.

from A Spicy Perspective

Both kale and chard make delicious pesto, a little different from the basil pesto most of us are used to, but you can still use it as a dip, in salads, or on pasta. Pesto is the best. This kale pesto from A Spicy Perspective only takes 5 minutes to make. I saw some chard recipes too, so you could try both and decide what you like better!

from Feasting at Home

This Feasting at Home recipe brings my favorite flavor combo (beets and goat cheese) to a chard salad. I told you we wouldn't do salads, but this warm one looks hard to resist.

from Pinch of Yum

The other salad I couldn't resist was from Pinch of Yum. This Thai salad looks really flavorful and filling, which is especially helpful if you are just starting on vegetarian meals. Don't you just want to eat the picture?

from The Rustic Foodie

This soup from The Rustic Foodie looks really warm and inviting, like a minestrone that you eat when you have a cold, and you have a chef taking care of you. It actually doesn't look that tough, but it comes out looking beautiful.

from The Garlic Diaries

I also think this kale hummus from The Garlic Diaries looks really fun. Could be a great way to work these greens into food for kids too. I mean, I trust any blog with garlic in the title.

How do you eat winter lettuce like chard and kale? Have any of you successfully convinced your kids of this delciousness.

Want more vegetarian recipes to try? Awesome! Adding more meatless meals to your diet is such a fun challenge and you can discover so many things you like. Check out this page for all of the Meatless Monday Recipe Round Ups!