Many carnivores have the notion that if there isn’t meat on the plate, it isn’t a meal. With Americans consuming about 200 pounds of meat per person annually, it might be time to take a break.

We hesitate to use the v-word, as it seems to drive off anyone who doesn’t consciously abstain from meat. But consider that the word vegetarian may come from the Latin vegetous, meaning lively, because that’s how people following this diet felt. So, whether you’re a committed herbivore or just want to play one for an evening, we’ve got a menu for you.