Meal Planning
7 Easy Vegan Meal Prep Ideas for a Healthy and Tasty Week
What is Vegan Meal Prep?
In a nutshell, vegan meal prep is the process of prepping your meals for the week so that you can eat healthy and delicious food without having to worry about what’s for dinner. It’s also a great way to save money by buying ingredients in bulk and making large batches of food that can be used throughout the week (or even frozen).
Here are some other benefits:
- You’ll have more time on your hands because you won’t have to think about what’s for dinner every night!
- You’ll feel less stressed out because there are no last-minute trips to the grocery store or fast food drive-thru when hunger strikes at 7pm on Monday night.
- You’ll save money by buying ingredients in bulk–and then using them over multiple meals during the week instead of buying separate items each night from scratch.
Vegan Meal Prep Tips
- Plan ahead.
- Prepare meals in bulk.
- Make snacks, desserts and drinks for the week.
Vegan Meal Prep Recipes
Vegan Meal Prep Recipes
Vegan breakfast ideas
- Vegan overnight oats
- Vegan banana bread pancakes (with or without chocolate chips)
Vegan lunch ideas - Avocado toast with lemon tahini dressing and sunflower seeds (or whatever you have in your pantry!)
- Chickpea salad sandwich on whole wheat bread, with lettuce and tomato if you want to make it extra fancy! You can also use this chickpea salad recipe as a base for other lunches like wraps or salads by adding different toppings like avocado slices, sprouts etc. If you want something more substantial for lunch try this vegan chickpea curry recipe which is super easy to make on Sunday evening so that you have leftovers for the rest of the week! It’s also delicious served over rice noodles if you don’t feel like having another sandwich 🙂
Vegan Meal Prep Containers
- Reusable containers.
- Compostable containers. These are great if you want to go green and reduce waste, but they’re not as sturdy as their plastic counterparts and may break down faster in the microwave or dishwasher.
- Insulated containers, which come with a lid that keeps your food hot or cold for hours on end!
Vegan Meal Prep Grocery List
Vegetables:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Red bell peppers
Fruits: - Apples (oranges, bananas) Grains: * Quinoa Legumes: * Beans (black, pinto) Nuts/Seeds:
- Almonds
- Flaxseeds
Plant-based proteins:
Dairy alternatives:
Vegan Meal Prep Meal Plans
You don’t have to be a vegan to enjoy these meals. They’re easy, healthy and tasty!
7-Day Meal Plan:
Breakfast: Vegan Banana Bread Oatmeal with Raspberries (1 serving)
Lunch: Chickpea Salad Sandwich (2 servings) or Hummus Veggie Wrap (2 servings) Dinner: Baked Ziti with Spinach and Mushrooms (4 servings) or Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa & Beans (4 servings)
Snacks/Desserts: Chocolate Almond Butter Cups (1 serving), Apple Cinnamon Muffins(6 muffins), Banana Nut Bread(6 slices).
Vegan Meal Prep Ideas for Beginners
If you’re new to vegan meal prep, it can be a bit intimidating. But don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to simplify your meals and make them easier on yourself. Here are some tips:
- Simplify your meals by using a meal delivery service. These services deliver pre-made vegan meals right to your door–all you have to do is heat and eat! If this sounds like something that would work well for your lifestyle, check out some of our favorite companies here.
- Try meal prepping with a friend or family member who is also interested in eating healthier foods more often (and maybe even going vegan). Having someone else there will make the process less lonely, plus it’s always nice when people share their food with each other!
Vegan Meal Prep Ideas for Busy People
- Cook once and eat twice:
If you’re not a fan of cooking, this is the best way to get started with vegan meal prep. Simply make a big batch of something delicious (like chili or soup), then enjoy it for lunch one day and again for dinner the next day. This method works especially well if you have access to a microwave at work, since reheating leftovers can be super quick and easy! - Use frozen and canned foods:
Frozen veggies are great because they’re already cooked, so all you need to do is heat them up before eating them as part of your meal prep plan! Canned beans are another excellent choice–they’re cheap, healthy, easy-to-use options that can fit into almost any recipe easily without much extra effort required from you (just drain them first).
Vegan Meal Prep Ideas for Picky Eaters
If you’re a vegan who’s trying to get your family on board with the meal prep idea, try these tips:
- Experiment with flavors. Your picky eater might not like the taste of tofu or tempeh at first, but if you add it to their favorite dish (like spaghetti) and make it the main component of that meal, they’ll probably be more open to trying it again next time.
- Incorporate familiar ingredients. If your kid loves chicken nuggets from McDonald’s, try making them yourself using seitan instead of meat–they’ll still have that familiar texture and flavor! You can also use this trick when making tacos or pizza; just substitute vegan cheese for regular cheddar or mozzarella.
- Try new ingredients in small amounts first before adding them into larger recipes later on down the line when everyone has gotten used to eating them regularly already
Vegan meal prep is a great way to save time, money and eat healthier. There are many options for meal prepping, but it can be tailored to fit individual needs.
Vegan meals are usually less expensive than non-vegan ones, since they don’t include meat or dairy products. If you’re going vegan because of the health benefits, then this will also help keep your grocery bill down!