If you live in a real meat-lovers' household, having a vegetarian over for dinner can seem kind of daunting. What should you serve? Here are 5 simple tips that will ensure everyone has a delicious time. 1. Don't panic. If you usually plan your meals around your protein of choice (steak with a side of greens, for example) the idea of not being able to use meat can hinder your culinary imagination. The first step is to think about the vegetarian meals you naturally make and enjoy. You might not label them as vegetarian when you make them, but most of us love a good mac and cheese, frittata or a satisfying bowl of pasta with veggies and cheese. These are all delicious options which just happen to be vegetarian. 2. Quiz your guests. Make sure you know what your guests eat and don't eat. Being a vegetarian can mean different things to different people. Some may call themselves vegetarians but still eggs, some may even still eat fish, or in certain cases, chicken. Others, might be stricter vegetarians and abide exclusively to non-animal products and not even eat eggs. Knowing exactly what you're dealing with will minimize any stress while you plan your menu. 3. Know your basics. Make a quick list of the ingredients you're planning on using to make sure none of them are meat-based. Are you planning on using broth in one of your recipes? If you are, make sure you can use vegetable broth instead of chicken or beef if your guests won't eat a protein-based broth. Remember dessert! Sweet treats like pie are not what you would automatically think of as not being vegetarian, but if your pie dough contains lard it's definitely in the not-suitable zone. 4. Don't think vegetables only. The naturally tendency might be to think of vegetarian meals as mostly consisting of, well, vegetables. While that is certainly part of the equation, there can be so much more to a vegetarian meal. You can wow your guests with vegetarian-friendly meals like a roasted vegetable strudel, a flavourful spiced soup with homemade garlic bread or a breakfast-for-dinner crowd-pleaser like potato hash with eggs. 5. Think seasonal. Seasonal produce is not only more budget-friendly, but it also tastes better and has more flavour. It's sometimes easier to mask the flavour of bland produce when you have a juicy piece of meat or flaky piece of roasted fish alongside, but if there isn't, make sure that your vegetables are as tasty as they can be. What do you usually serve to your vegetarian guests? Golden Onion Frittata; photography by Jeff Coulson/TC Media