Try a few meatless meals; when you eat meat, go for small, high-quality portions instead of gorging on tasteless fare slathered in fat.

You don't need meat for a truly enjoyable meal.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—A new position statement by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) underscores the benefits of a vegetarian diet, and comes on the heels of other reports linking plant-based diets to longer life and better health. In the statement, the ADA notes that vegetarian diets are often associated with health benefits such as lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower risks for heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Vegetarians also have lower cancer rates. Studies reported on by Rodale.com in the past few months have linked meat-eating to a higher risk of vision loss and lung cancer, and found that eating large amounts of red meat raises overall risk of death. Other recent reports have identified meat production as an important contributor to global warming.

Whether you’re ready to take animal protein completely off the table, or just want to ease into a less meat-centric way of eating, here are some of meatless recipes from some of our favorite Rodale foodies. You can try each on its own for a lunch or light dinner, pair with salads and bread, or mix and match some of the selections to create a larger meal.