What's the easiest switch you can make for the environment? Eat less meat!

On Mondays, 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 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere a year. No seriously, it's that big a deal. Cutting down on fish (and only eating sustainable fish) can also help with our huge plastic problem, because plastic fishing nets are the largest source of plastic in our oceans. The production of fish and meat come at a huge environmental cost, and we are simply eating too much.

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!

It's pumpkin time! Or maybe it started being pumpkin time a month and a half ago? I do love this time of year, and our house tends to fill with lots of decorative gourds I can't quite resist. This can also be the perfect time to replace a bunch of meat with warm, cozy meals featuring amazing fall veggies like pumpkins.

If you are in a house of meat eaters, but you want to introduce more vegetarian or vegan meals, good for you! It is such a great way to help the environment and to switch up your menu. Here are some ridiculously delicious pumpkin recipes that everyone will love (no one will even miss the meat):



Want something that is warm like fall but also has some real spice? This pumpkin curry from Yup...It's Vegan! is packed with vegetables, spice, and deliciousness. You wouldn't think of pumpkin and chickpeas as going together, but this really works.



This feta and pumpkin tart (ironically from the blog Meat and Travel) has really strong flavor. It could be perfect for dinner or a fall brunch you have coming up soon. A tart feels like a treat too, and you could probably sneak other fall veggies like beets in there too.



At our house, we love roasted veggies, especially in the fall. These roasted pumpkin slices from Drizzle and Dip combine that warm and earthy flavor with a tangy yogurt sauce. It could be a side or a main dish!


Pumpkin's creamy texture lends itself well to pastas. If you want to try something completely vegan, Wallflower Kitchen has a pumpkin mac and cheese recipe that isn't so complicated that it will scare you off, and it still has that amazing creamy texture. It could be the perfect way to sneak a vegan dish into your repetoire!


Want to try another pumpkin pasta dish? I love this stuffed shells recipe from A Couple Cooks. It seems pretty straightforward, but the pumpkin is a nice twist on stuffed shells.



Ok, I must be in a pumpkin and pasta mood, because I can't resist sharing this pumpkin pasta recipe from Farmstyle Food. I love the combination of sweet pumpkin (they actually use a type of squash), parmesan cheese, and garlic.



Want something that really screams fall? I love this vegetarian pot pie from Joy the Baker. I want to eat this right this second as I write to you. Such a fun, simple recipe for a fall favorite. Perfect when you are getting cold and need a cozy dinner.


If you want some pumpkin bread or cookies, it can be a cool place to try some vegan recipes! These vegan pumpkin cookies from Nora Cooks just shows how delicious vegan baking can be. Consider taking the leap and trying it!

Ok, what is your favorite pumpkin recipe? Tried any new vegetarian or vegan recipes lately?



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!