October is Vegetarian Awareness Month.

Whether someone is trying to incorporate more meatless meals throughout the week, or already following a vegetarian or vegan eating pattern, Vegetarian Awareness Month is a great time to focus on plant-based nutrition. A quick overview of some vegetarian ingredients (vegetarian ingredients) can be helpful for those looking to try new foods, like tempeh, or working with vegetarian recipes.

There’s a lot of misinformation about vegetarian diets. Help patients and clients learn the difference between myths and facts when it comes to topics like if soy is safe to consume and how to get enough protein. For families with vegetarian kids and teens, getting the right amount of nutrients is especially important and additional planning may be needed for kids who don’t consume dairy.

While dining out can be a challenge for anyone with special dietary needs, reading menus carefully and asking questions about how a dish is prepared can help. Some global cuisines offer a variety of meat-free options, and airlines and airports have increased their vegetarian offerings in recent years. For those who cook, there also are plenty of healthful vegetarian meal ideas to make at home, like vegetarian taco salad, savory penne with lentils and kale or meatless bean and veggie chili.