Splurge a bit at the weekend barbeque? Get back on track by experimenting with meatless meals today.

For more than a decade, the global Meatless Monday initiative has encouraged everyone to skip meat one day a week to promote wellness and reduce our environmental footprint.

You might be surprised by the number of meatless meals you already enjoy. When we began searching for healthier entrees, we found this recipe for Stuffed Portobellos from Cooking Light, which I blogged about a while ago.

In this recipe, contributed by a Cooking Light reader, we combine frozen soy crumbles, diced tomatoes, and other ingredients and seasonings. I also stir in ¼ tsp. of fennel seed for flavor reminiscent of Italian sausage and use fat-free cream cheese rather than the reduced-fat version. After cleaning the mushroom caps, we fill them and bake as instructed.

This is a flavorful recipe that reminds me of sausage-stuffed mushrooms, with less fat.

Not a mushroom lover? Search for many other meatless picks on the Meatless Monday site or on the website one of your favorite healthy magazines, such as Eating Well and Cooking Light or, for pint-sized eaters, Parents magazine.

Whether you choose to go meatless on Monday or any other day of the week, sampling plant-based dishes may introduce you to a whole new range of exciting possibilities.