Try going #Meatless this Monday.

At UFood Grill, we believe that veggies deserve to be at the center of the plate- a vegetarian/vegan meal should taste JUST AS GOOD as a one with meat when you dine with us. So, an initiative like meatless Monday is something to get excited about.

 

What the heck is Meatless Monday?

Meatless Monday is exactly what it sounds like- going vegetarian (or VEGAN) on Mondays. But why? Going vegetarian for 1 day a week isn’t just for alliteration, the tradition comes from an old wartime rationing strategy. When meat was scarce on the home front and Americans had to try make do with what was available, Meatless Monday came around. (More History) Meatless Monday has since been revived in the modern era for a number of reasons:

  • Eating vegetarian adds variety to your meals, incorporating ingredients and creativity to your home cooking and how you dine out. When you try to change your eating habits, you find foods you didn’t even know you liked.
  • Vegetarian and vegan diets can be much healthier for you- adding a variety of nutrients to your diet.
  • Meat/animal based products are expensive, eating vegetarian is a great way to save some money.
  • Eating less animal protein is a boon for the environment; your doing the Earth a favor when you think about your diet!

On top of these reasons, getting involved and thinking about your food makes the whole process, and finished meal, more enjoyable.

 

“How can I do this- I can’t imagine a meal without meat”

Don’t be afraid. Eating less meat is possible, even if you are a fully fledged, eat-meat-at-every-meal carnivore. You can do it by experimenting: an easy way to start is to pick a meat-based meal and replace the meat with an  non-meat food, where the flavors make sense. Give these a try:

  • Replace the Chicken in Chicken Parmesan with a grilled Portobello mushroom
  • Replace the ground meat in chili with diced squash, mushrooms, onions, and peppers- also add more beans to give it more body
  • Pick your favorite veggie in a stir fry and add more in place of meat- I like to add more bell peppers and baby corn
  • Replace the meat in your favorite stew with butternut squash or pumpkin (works especially well with Bolognese/Ragu)

Try being creative here- play with your food and experiment. You never know how something will come out until you try it.

Ways to go Meatless at UFood Grill

As a chef, I have to think about all the dietary needs of our customers. Vegetarians like to eat delicious food as much as their meat eating counter parts; the menu I have created for UFood was created with vegetarians in mind. Our steamed brown rice and quinoa UBowls can be made vegetarian with a double portion of vegetables at no extra charge. Be it caramelized roasted cauliflower with our tikka masala sauce or sweet Thai chili sauce with fragrant cilantro over steamed broccoli, carrots, and edamame beans; it is really easy to be vegetarian at UFood. Vegetarian items on our new menu:

  • Roast Curry Cauliflower bowl
  • Sweet Thai Chili Bowl
  • Edamame Broth Bowl
  • Margherita Panini
  • Artichoke Melt Panini
  • Grilled black bean burger with homemade pickles and burger sauce
  • Breakfast sandwiches
  • Breakfast Panini
  • Huevos Rancheros Burrito
  • Unfries
  • Crispy Sweet Potato Wedges
  • Steamed broccoli
  • Harvest Kale Salad
  • Caesar Salad

It doesn’t have to just be Monday though- it can be any day of the week!

(Monday just works with the title better)

Go #Meatless this Monday.

(Helpful links on vegetarian diets: One, Two, Three) More on history of Meatless Monday UFood Grill