Does your cooking style change in the summer? I like simple all year-long but in the summer I DO NOT want to spend time in the kitchen and I pretty much refuse to turn on the oven. I’ll occasionally make an exception, but rarely.
I also take advantage of batch cooking. For example I’ll cook a large pot of quinoa without any seasoning to be used for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. I double batch of Mexican Rice will find its way into burritos, salads and as a side dish. The Crock Pot comes in handy for beans to be used in most meals.
Plant-Based Meal Plan
Breakfast
I’ve been embracing chia seeds at breakfast but most days are cold cereal. I’ll often sprinkle chia on whatever we are eating.
- Chia porridge with maple syrup and fruit.
- Toast with WOW Butter and apple slices.
- Cereal and rice milk
- Breakfast Rice with raisins and diced apples
- Breakfast Quinoa with blueberries and chia seeds
Lunch
Batch cooking saves lunch time every day. Most of the time I don’t even reheat the food because my kids like leftovers cold.
- Baked Potatoes with raw veggies
- Green Chili White Bean dip with Salsa and Baked Potato
- Mexican Rice and Unfried Black Bean Burrito
- Pasta Salad
- Sandwiches with lots of fruit
Dinner
I’m all about ease and keeping the house cool these days. Most of these dishes are quickly mixed together for a meal. I cook large batches of foods, like Mexican Rice, to use in multiple dishes throughout the week.
- Taco Salad
- Quinoa Salad
- Veggie or Portobello Fajitas with Mexican Rice and Unfried Black Beans
- Pizza Pasta with a garden salad and Sweet & Tangy Salad Dressing
- CHICKpea Salad sandwiches or wraps
My kids are eating lots of fruit and some veggies for snacks. The top picks this week are apples, blueberries, grapes, nectarines, apricots, cherries, plums, bell peppers, cucumbers and carrots.
My kids are allowed to eat fruit almost any time. If they still have a meal on the table they may have to eat it first but raw fruit and veggies between meals is the norm. We don’t often have chips, crackers, or other processed foods available.
What do meals look like in your house during the summer?
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