Busy, busy, busy! With work, chores, after-school activities, homework for the kids, and paperwork brought from the office, there's little time left for trying something new at dinnertime. We're here to lend a hand. During October we'll post Meatless Monday recipes and tips sent in by our readers—and some of our editors' favorite dishes, too— each Monday throughout Vegetarian Awareness Month. This week, we are featuring a contributed by Marlena Medford – Quick and Easy Thai Vegetable Stew. It's a perfect recipe to add to your repetoire of seasonal dishes when you use any of the fall squashes…

Monday marks the official start of Vegetarian Awareness Month. Happy World Vegetarian Day! What better time to try something new? To help out, we'll post Meatless Monday recipes and tips sent in by our readers—and some of our editors' favorite dishes, too— each Monday throughout October. Do you have a vegan or vegetarian recipe you'd like to share with us? Email it to jennifer.mohan@patch.com. This week, we're starting off our celebration of meat-free meals with recipes submitted by Kelsey Morgan, who blogs about food at An Apple A Day. The “part-time cook and full-time teacher” sent recipes …

Q: What do hip hop artist Usher and President Bill Clinton have in common? A: They've both converted to veganism to embrace the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet. If you're interested in eating less meat—or no meat at all—October is your month! Monday is World Vegetarian Day, the official start of Vegetarian Awareness Month. If you're already vegetarian or vegan—spread the love! Share your best recipes for meat-free meals and snacks, and we'll feature them on Meatless Mondays throughout the month. Swapping beef for beans just once a week might not only be good for you, it might be …