My daughter, 10, came home Wednesday of last week and announced she wanted to be a vegetarian. I certainly support her choice and feel its a healthy one. But I do not have the first clue on how to adjust my shopping and cooking, especially since I personally (as well as the 3 other members of the family) have no interests in cutting meat 100% out of my diet. I look forward to learning how to increase our plant based food intake. But I really feel overwhelmed and don't know where to begin. What worrys me the most is how to get protein into my daughters diet. My lack of knowledge and experience tells me beans and nuts (she currently will not eat most nuts) which leads to little to no variety which I feel is not healthy and not to mention boring. This seems like as good as any of a place to put out there my situation and fears. Thank you in advance for any helpful information.

I am the only vegetarian in the house for about a year now, but I cook only vegetarian dishes. Everyone eats the meals I make and when they get a hankerin' for meat my husband or mother (she lives with us) cooks it themselves or orders out. My goal is to make everyone as healthy as possible.

We have been married for 50 years and I've been a vegetarian for 30 years. I also prepare things like spaghetti with meat on the side and veggie lasagna. Last night I made a kale quiche which my husband really enjoyed. I often prepare meat dishes for him but I don't like doing it. When I first became a vegetarian our teen-age sons said, "We just hold Mother by the feet and push her around the yard". It's a good thing I have a sense of humor.

I am the only vegetarian in my house as well. But, since I do the shopping and a good portion of the cooking the rule is no meat in the house. I like to get the kids involved (they're teenagers now) so they often pick the recipes (must be vegetarian) and help me prepare it so it hasn't been as much of a struggle. When we go out to restaurants, though, all bets are off. I'm the only meatless plate of the bunch! :-)

Add me to the list of only vegetarian in the house. I do pretty much like Alice says, I make a meat (I mean really, only one or two ways to cook those suckers up, right?) toss it to the side, and focus on the "real meal" :p Tacos are a favorite here, everyone does their thing and I have black refried bean burittos, cheese enchiladas, spaghetti also works as I do both meat sauce as well as alfredo sauce....things like that.

I am the only vegetarian in my family too. I just make a random meat as a side for those that want it (usually one that doesn't take too much attention), but the main dish is completely vegetarian.