Traditional Recipes With A Twist! (Meatless Monday Edition)

Going meatless once a week can not only save you a few bucks, it can help boost your immune system and help prevent a TON of diseases and illnesses by giving your body a shot of nutritious veggies and fruits that might otherwise be missing from your diet.  Many kids groan at the thought of having a meal that consists only of vegetables, but that's not what Meatless Monday is about at all.  It's simply taking a break from meat, fish and poultry.  You can still eat all the carbs, grains, and starches you would normally consume.

Today's recipes offer traditional dishes with a twist, and not just because they are meatless.  Whether it's a complimentary ingredient, or a complete substitution, we're sure you'll find a winner out of this bunch.

Let's kick things off with a classic kid's favorite, given a superfood twist.  Quinoa Mac and Cheese by Simply Quinoa, not only substitutes regular pasta with quinoa, but it also adds a shot of hidden vegetables, with pureed butternut squash to give it a creamy, dreamy texture.  Use whatever your favorite cheese is, or even use a few different varieties to kick this dish up a few notches.

The next dish again, really throws some great ideas and large doses of veggies with it's take on another classic, spaghetti and meatballs.  Skinnytaste.com features Eggplant Meatballs over "Zoodles" or zucchini noodles.  Stick to regular pasta if you don't think the family will go for the zoodle-noodle switch, as Gina's eggplant meatballs offer a plethora of nutritious goodness.

Our final dish is a simple spin on another favorite.  When it comes to cobblers, crisps, or crumbles, why use one fruit when you can use two?  Instead of plain ol' cherry crisp, Good Housekeeping features a "triple tested" hit with their Cherry Nectarine Crisp.  If you can't use fresh fruit or are out of season, check your local grocer's freezer and follow the thawing directions on the bag.

Here's to healthy eating and a happy Monday!