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34 Phonebox Magazine | January 2026Phonebox FoodieEver fancied going without meat for a day, a week, or even longer? With Christmas and New Year over, early January could be the time to try a vegetarian diet for a few weeks. Here%u2019s how.There have been people following vegetarian diets for centuries. Experts have traced this way of eating, as a principle, back to 1000 BCE. That was when groups from India and some Mediterranean countries believed that a meatless diet led to philosophical enlightenment. Certainly the fi rst offi cial recording was not until 530 BCE when Greek philosopher Pythagoras encouraged the practice of eating only plants and not meat, to his pupils. In India, Buddhists stood against the idea of eating meat on ethical grounds. They didn%u2019t like the idea of killing animals for food, and Hinduism later picked this up, too. However, in some Buddhist nations such as China and Japan, fi sh was excluded from the rule and continued to be eaten. This is known today as pescetarianism and is primarily a vegetable diet, but with some fi sh or seafood.Easy changes to your dietHere are six well-known dishes that can be eaten with no meat:Chilli %u2013 Replace the minced meat with either a corn substitute or add extra black and kidney beans.Quesadillas %u2013 A Caribbean easy-to-prepare dish that can take beans, salsa, avocado and tortillas or pitta bread.Curry %u2013 All the fl avour and all the spice, but not a piece of meat in sight. Potatoes and carrots are a great way to start here.Pasta %u2013 Cook your pasta ribbons, shells or spaghetti as normal, but toss through peas, onions, sweetcorn and red peppers to create a tasty dish.Salad %u2013 There are many colourful vegetables and fruits available to create a savoury and tasty salad. Add some cheese for an extra layer of fl avour.Noodles %u2013 Another easy way to prepare a satisfying dish using only noodles and a variety of vegetables. It%u2019s a great way to experiment with fl avours.A new year looms%u2026 so try vegetarianismVegetarian pastaIngredients8 ounces pasta 1 tablespoon olive oil3 bell peppers 1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow, sliced %u00bd white onion, diced4 garlic cloves, minced1 inch fresh ginger root, minced2 tablespoons Jamaican jerk seasoning1 teaspoon dried thyme1 teaspoon ground turmeric1 teaspoon sugar or granulated sweetener%u00bd teaspoon ground black pepper400 ml full-fat coconut milk2 tablespoons lime juicesaltcorianderInstructionsCook the pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse and set aside.Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil, peppers, onion, garlic and ginger. Saut%u00e9 for 10 minutes or until softened and beginning to brown.Add the jerk seasoning, thyme, turmeric, sugar and pepper. Saut%u00e9 while stirring for 1-2 minutes or until the spices smell fragrant.Turn the heat to high, add the coconut milk and lime juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce begins to thicken.Add the pre-cooked pasta and toss to coat.Taste the pasta, adding salt as needed.Garnish with fresh chopped coriander.Ariana Grande Albert Einstein Leonardo da Vinci Paul McCartney Billie Eilish Pythagoras Miley Cyrus Bill Clinton Pamela Anderson Ellie GouldingFamous veggies