It's possible to leave the nutmeg out of recipes, but it will significantly change the flavor of any dish, though it depends on what you're making. For example, if you're making mac and cheese, you won't miss out on a lot of the nutmeg flavor. But if you plan on making chai tea or pumpkin pie, the nutmeg is a deep and essential flavor that you can't leave out! If you really have no nutmeg and will make a recipe that requires its intense flavor, it's best to use substitutes for nutmeg.