subject: Vegetarian Meal Plans for Every Day [print this page] Vegetarian Meal Plans for Every Day Vegetarian Meal Plans for Every Day
Do you think that vegetarians eat salads three meals a day? That is a common misperception. Neither do they sit around chewing on raw vegetables, snacking on slices of tofu, or ranting about the evils of meat. Vegans and vegetarians enjoy a variety of foods, relish their meals, and live exceptionally healthy, long lives. There are vegetarian meal plans that can accommodate every individuals' tastes and budget, it is just a matter of finding the right one for you.
Vegetarian Cooking is Easy
You don't have to go out and get a bunch of new cookware; what you have will work just fine. Investing in a rice cooker or a pressure cooker might be smart, especially if you want to cook up your own beans. A pressure cooker will cut cooking time significantly for beans and some grains, but isn't critical.
Since you will retain the most nutrients in foods that are cooked less, vegetarian cooking can actually take less time, although prep might be a bit longer. As with any other meal plan, preparing certain foods in bulk will allow you to carry ingredients through several meals. Always cook double portions of grains and beans for efficiency.
Vegetarian Dinners
For many people, dinner is the hardest meal of the day. They come in tired from work and don't want the hassle of cooking a complete meal. This is where planning comes into play. If you pre-make black bean burgers, marinate some root vegetables, and cut up salad ingredients over the weekend, you have at least a couple of dinners ready to go the second you get home.
Dinner doesn't have to be a protein, a starch and a vegetable be creative. Set some quinoa to cook, stir fry anything you find in your veggie drawer with some garlic and tamari, toss in a scrambled egg, and you have dinner in 20 minutes.
If you prefer a more traditional meal, make a vegetarian meatloaf, bake some sweet potatoes, and steam some broccoli. Gravy can be made from vegetable stock if you really want that comfort food feel.
Smoothies to the Rescue
You should always have a stock of frozen berries, raw nut butters, vegan protein powder, and bananas on hand. Toss these into your blender with some water or nut milk and make a smoothie. Great for breakfast or as a snack, smoothies give you a blast of energy and are easy to take with you on your way to work in the morning.
What About Lunch?
The point of a meal plan is that you plan for your meals. Seems like a simple concept but it tends to get forgotten quickly in the day to day hullabaloo. Each time you prepare dinner, make some extra for lunches.
Prepping a salad for dinner? Set aside a portion, undressed, for lunch the next day. Making soup? Put some right into a thermos and set it aside. All you need to do is add a piece of fruit, maybe a piece of organic dark chocolate, and you have lunch ready in a jiffy.
Of course, everyone needs help figuring out new things to eat from time to time. For that we have cook books. When you feel that your meal plans are getting too routine, pick up a new book or scout the internet and try out some new recipes. It won't take long before you are excited about your meals once again.
