With restaurants like Papa Joe's and J Cafe serving delicious vegetarian dishes here in Westminster, it seems easy to give up meat, at least for one meal. Since October is Vegetarian Awareness Month, with World Vegetarian Day kicking off the month on Oct. 1, why not give it a shot?

Established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977, the purpose of the day is to celebrate the health and animal awareness that one supports by choosing to be a vegetarian.

Although leafy salads and vegetables come to mind as eats that vegetarians prefer, there are so many ways to keep a balanced diet while avoiding meat.

For breakfast, you could try banana bread protein pancakes. For lunch, whip up some black bean stuffed poblano peppers. And finish the day with lentil burgers for dinner.

What local restaurants offer great vegetarian options? Tell us in comments. 

There are many riffs on being a vegetarian. If you don’t want to give up fish, you can be a pescatarian. An ovo-vegetarian eats eggs but not dairy products, and a vegan diet excludes all animal products.

And if you can’t quite give up being a carnivore altogether, fear not. Meatless Monday is a great way to test the waters of vegetarianism. By pledging to not eat meat on Mondays, you can benefit the planet and your health.

Aside from reaping the rewards of keeping your body healthier, families that make this small change at the dinner table can also help conserve the world's water resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recently released Oxfam America report.

So, while Kermit the Frog would say, “It’s not easy being green," many people would disagree. Finding a balance with being a vegetarian or weighing options to become a vegetarian can be less difficult with lots of information regarding World Vegetarian Day.