Even though supermarkets, restaurants, and even people are a lot more open to the idea of a vegan diet, sometimes it still feels like your only options are salads and soups. Plus, it’s difficult to find restaurants that know how to celebrate plants to their full extent if you don’t live in a big city.
If this is the case, you may have to learn how to turn plants into scrumptious meals in your own kitchen. Luckily, all you need is a dash of creativity and some crafty tips tucked up your sleeve to learn how to whip up vegan dishes that’ll have even your non-vegan buddies salivating.
So, if you’re ready to transform simple veggies into culinary masterpieces, we put together a few easy-to-make vegan recipes that even the kids will love. We also have a few tips on how to make sure you’re getting all your necessary nutrients while on a plant-based diet.
Delicious Meal Ideas
Here, in the Western world, we seem to have forgotten that plants can be both healthy and delicious. We focus heavily on meat-based meals and mostly use animal-based products, which is why it’s difficult to follow a fully vegan diet.
But, if you extend your search to a global level, you’ll learn that the world is filled with cuisines that are vegan-friendly. Starting in Ethiopia, going through the Mediterranean area, traveling to Asia, and ending in Mexico, you’ll be on a fantastic culinary adventure.
But until you get there, here are a few ideas for vegan-friendly meals to try making at home.
Buddha Bowls
This is a highly versatile meal that goes well for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And you can make it with whatever you have in the fridge and pantry.
All you need is a base (typically grains like brown rice, quinoa, or farro), toppings (anything goes, from roasted vegetables to raw slices full of crunch and zest to tender greens), dressing, and the cherry on top (seeds, sauerkraut, or kimchi).
And here’s a Buddha Bowl recipe: start with a canvas of brown rice or quinoa topped with colorful splashes of roasted chickpeas, vibrant beet slices, sun-kissed cherry tomatoes, and avocado (when it actually decides to be ripe). Drizzle on a tangy tahini dressing and sprinkle sesame seeds like you’re seasoning with fairy dust.
Tacos
Tacos are also versatile since you can fill them up with whatever you want. Envision that warm corn tortilla cradling spiced black beans like precious gems, topped with crunchy cabbage slaw and creamy avocado slices. Lastly, add a squirt of lime juice to make it dance on your tongue, and you’ll have a fiesta in every bite!
Tacos are also great for meal planning since you can make the fillings on Saturday and store them in the fridge for the whole week. This way, when you’re feeling peckish, you just grab a taco shell and add the filling. You’ll have a delicious meal in under 10 minutes!
For a refreshing meal, check out this vegan taco recipe – we’re sure the kids will love it!
Sheet Pan Dinner
For those days when even boiling water seems daunting, a sheet pan dinner will have your back.
All you have to do is sling sweet potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and broccoli onto a pan like you’re dealing cards at a Vegas table. Next, drizzle them with olive oil and your favorite spices. Roast everything until the edges are caramelized, and serve.
Consider a Meal Kit Delivery Service
In order to cook delicious vegan meals, you need fresh, ripe ingredients that are preferably organic and full of nutrients. This makes shopping for ingredients quite the adventure, and you don’t have the guarantee you’ll find everything you need every time.
Plus, most of us have a thousand things to do in a day, so shopping for ingredients every day is quite the ordeal. Here’s where a meal kit delivery service like Green Chef becomes not just convenient but a game-changer for the vegan on-the-go.
Such a service delivers all you need right to your door. Plus, all the ingredients are pre-measured and ready to rock your kitchen in minutes. Moreover, the Green Chef vegan meals include organic ingredients and come with step-by-step cooking instructions. So there’s no need to try and squeeze those last bits of energy your brain still has in storage.
Tips for a Well-Balanced Vegan Lifestyle
The vegan lifestyle involves a series of sacrifices that the regular omnivorous fellow doesn’t have to face. However, it’s not all leaves and fruits – there are ways to have a balanced and healthy lifestyle on a vegan diet.
For instance, you have to welcome diversity into your life. Make the most out of your vegan diet and try a variety of foods that you may not have considered otherwise. As we already mentioned, the world of vegan cuisine is quite diverse and features a multitude of ingredients. So make sure to try as many as possible.
Now, let’s talk protein because that’s the drumbeat everyone wonders about when you say vegan. Fear not! There’s a whole band that includes lentils, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, and quinoa, just waiting for their solo. Rotate these rock stars in your meals to keep those muscles strumming along.
Also, don’t forget your vitamins (many vegans have a B12 deficiency). To avoid this gap in your diet, include fortified almond milk in your diet or consider a B12 supplement. Iron may also be a bit scarce, but you can solve this problem with lots of spinach.
For your fats, avocados and nuts are packed with omega-3s. A sprinkle here and a dollop there make for brain-boosting additions to any meal while keeping things smooth as silk.
Key Takeaway
Venturing into veganism can often feel like paddling upstream in a ravenous river of omnivores, where every menu and family dinner is a testament to the conventional meat-and-potatoes fare. But if plants are calling your name, whispering sweet nothings about compassion and vitality into your ear, don’t let those carnivorous currents deter you.
Embrace that inner voice cheering you on to make choices that resonate with who you are and the world you envision. Remember, being vegan is not about deprivation – it’s about the transformation of meals, mindsets, and maybe even a bit of the world around you.
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