I'm not a vegetarian but I was for a long time.
I always think of my vegetables first when I'm planning a meal. I never (and have never) thought of vegetables as a "side" like so many others. Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for a "one pot meal," so I usually don't use many substitute meat products. There are certain things, though, like meatballs that I'll sometimes
make with spinach or I make a stir fry or noodle bowl without even contemplating putting meat into.
One of my best friends decided to become a vegetarian and had no idea what to make. I told him that he probably eats vegetarian meals, but never thinks about it: pasta/veggies with sauce, pizza, loaded baked potatoes, rice and beans, mac and cheese, burritos, quesadillas. I was right!