It’s interesting how intimidated people can be by the idea of “vegan food.”  I’ve even heard people say that they’ve never had “vegan food” before.  “Vegan food” is fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.  When we take it out of the box, we begin to realize that “vegan food” is food we already know and love.  It’s bananas and apples, green beans and rice.  Once we demystify it, we realize we all eat “vegan food” everyday, regardless of if or if not we’re vegan!

If your family is intimidated by foods that seem unfamiliar, how about making some simple changes to foods you’re already eating?

• If your family enjoys spaghetti, saute lots of vegetables like onions, garlic, broccoli, and red bell pepper, cover them in marinara, and then use that to top your favorite pasta, preferably whole wheat.
• If your family loves tacos, use black, pinto, or garbanzo beans in lieu of meat, and top it with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and guacamole or avocado.
• In your chili, use cooked lentils in place of ground beef.
• Do you have some soup lovers in your house?  It’s easy to make a simple soup with vegetable broth and your favorite bite-sized vegetables.  Then add in beans or lentils.  Serve it with some crusty bread.
• Even the classic peanut butter and jelly is vegan!