October is almost upon us, and you know what that means (or not?): World Vegetarian Day is just about here. The observation, set to be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 1, is meant to “promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.” It also kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month, a website promoting the day said.

The day was established in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society and was backed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978 as a time set aside to raise awareness of the positive effects of a vegetarian lifestyle on “humans, other animals and our shared earth.”

Care2, a website dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle, has a few tips for making the most of the day. Here are some of their tips:

Consider going meat-free for the entire month. Don’t just skip out on eating beef and pork, but also try and give up fish and fowl, as well.

Host a vegetarian meal or potluck. Invite friends and family to dispel myths about vegetarian dishes as being boring.

Happy #WorldVegetarianDay! Did you know German traditional cooking is mostly veggie? http://t.co/bUb01mVAsh pic.twitter.com/2rrQ83pLOD — The Local Germany (@TheLocalGermany) September 30, 2015



Invite local officials to your meal. Care2 encourages trying to influence public policy, in hopes of influencing a healthier diet.

Destroy some myths about vegetarian lifestyles. Many people think vegetarian diets are unappealing, or insufficient in providing necessary nutrients. Care2 encourages organizing a meeting to educate open minded individuals on the healthy benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.

Encourage local libraries and book stores to provide books about vegetarianism.

Push for local restaurants to offer more vegetarian options. While many restaurants offer dishes without meat, you could try and suggest ways they can increase their vegetarian offers.

Network with vegetarians. Try and reach out to other vegetarians through social media, and connect with like-minded individuals who also understand the importance of eating less meat.

Looking for some good recipes? Huffington Post has some great tips.