What I [got him to eat] Wednesday
Some people eat meat, some people don’t. I don’t. And to be honest, I don’t really care if other people do. It’s just not my thing.
But what I don’t understand, is when someone won’t not eat meat.
Some people are literally opposed to eating a dinner without meat. Maybe it’s to exasperate me. Or maybe it’s because some people just love Lunchables (you think I’m kidding? I’m not.), but whatever the reason, it’s quite a challenge to convince some people that a vegetarian dinner can be quite good. I knew I had a challenging mouth to feed.
Thankfully, my twitterbuds came to my rescue, once again. After lots of ideas, one particular suggestion rose to the top:
Mama Pea’s Chickpea Tacos
(Mama Pea also just published a cookbook, so you should totally check that out too.)
My guy friend (who is opposed to all things vegetarian) had never had chickpeas before. So I knew this was a risk. But I did it anyway.
The guy topped his with cheese…
I kept it simple with beans and lettuce. You can’t see the chickpeas, but I swear they’re in there
I liked the chickpeas so much, I ate some on the side.
Although the guy was hesitant, at first, to say anything positive about this dinner, he did go back for seconds. I’d say that speaks for itself 😉
Anyways, vegetarian or not, everyone loves nut butter.
(Actually, that’s not true, but they should.) And last night I was in the mood to make a new kind of almond butter. Don’t get me wrong, I love plain old A-butter, but I was in the mood to spice it up.
Cinnamon Swirl Almond Butter
- 1 cup of almonds
- 2 tbsp date sugar (you could probably use brown sugar)
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt (omit if your almonds are already salted)
- pinch of nutmeg
Does anyone have tips to get “totally-opposed-to-anything-not-meat”-eaters to try new foods?
<3 Liz
Cinnamon Swirl Almond Butter?! That sounds delicious!
I usually start with dishes that don’t scream “I’m meatless” like vegetable soup or a veggie pasta dish. Thankfully, however, my husband is really on-board with a meat free diet, as long as I don’t try to feed him tofu. 🙂
I agree, I do eat meat but same concept goes along with the subject of eating healthy, alot of my family members just don’t get “healthy”.
Seriously.. that nut butter is going to be made tomorrow!
I love meat, but I’m not opposed to NOT eating it either 🙂 I just looove chicken!
Cinnamon Swirl Almond Butter?! Yes, please!!
And kudos to you for getting him to eat a vegetarian meal!
YAY!!! I am so glad the chickpea tacos worked out! I thought that might be a good one!
It was definitely a good introductory recipe for someone who was totally opposed 😉
I want chickpea tacos! My only suggestion are making meat-eater friendly recipes, like spaghetti with sauce and crumbled tempeh mixed together or chik’n patties – just to start out!
Way to go!! I bet he loved them 😉 These tacos looks deliciouS!!
I often make food for meateaters. I try to not make anything that are supposed to taste like meat, cause it usually doesent (to them, at least). I often make risotto, since it doesnt need meal anyway 🙂
well done!!! so glad he went back for seconds. as he should!!
My manly friend isn’t opposed to not eating meat, but he hates tofu and all those type things. I’ve never forced it on him, but he did happily eat my tofu quiche and tempeh chili when he realized that mine had a lot more flavor than the animal-filled alternatives my mother made.
So I guess my strategy is just to make really great food that happens to be vegetarian/vegan.