Are you ready for a new Plant-Based Meal Plan? Me too!
The weather in Arizona has been crazy, over half the state is covered in snow! That is unusual for us. While it’s warmed up a bit, it’s still pretty cold; warm, comforting recipes are the only cure we have until the weather comes around.
This page contains affiliate links
My big kids, who are adults, live in much colder places than we do. I still call them the big kids and probably always will, even after our little kids are grown too. Last week, I was talking to my daughter about dinner ideas. She got an Instant Pot for Christmas and we brainstormed some recipes for her and her husband to make. That conversation had me thinking about these recipes.
Plant-Based Meal Plan
Breakfast
We typically stick to easy breakfasts during the week. Quick and easy oatmeal, Instant Pot Oatmeal or Instant Pot Breakfast Rice require very little hands on time and can be started ahead of time and eaten once you are ready.
Lunch
We usually have leftovers or something really easy for lunch. Leftover soup is one of my favorite lunches because it tastes just as good as something I made fresh but doesn’t take as much time away from my work schedule.
Leftover beans and rice with salsa is another favorite. You could wrap it in a tortilla, or scoop it with chips if you are in to that sort of thing. I’ve been having a lot of chips and salsa lately.
Dinner
Lately, my aim is to cook meals that can be eaten multiple times, either the next night, or for lunch the next day. I’m also trying to cook them in 30 minutes or less. Some meals may take more time cooking, but if my hands-on time is short, I don’t mind a longer cooking time, especially if it’s in my Instant Pot and I can be busy doing something else.
Monday
Veggie Pad Thai: I’ve been craving this Veggie Pad Thai for weeks but haven’t had a chance to make it. My daughter who lives across the country is even planning to make it this week!
Tuesday
Chipotle Black Bean Chili: This was a new recipe last week and I can tell you that we love it! It’s too spicy for my kids but I’ve eaten some every day since making it. It has black beans, quinoa and a good mix of veggies. Enjoy it on a baked potato, with tortillas or on it’s own. My mom loved it too.
Wednesday
Minestrone Soup: If my family had to pick one soup that everyone loved, it has be Minestrone Soup. I’ll save time by making it in the Instant Pot but you can easily make it on the stove.
Thursday
Chili Fries: Don’t worry, these are a healthy version of chili fries. I’ll use the leftover Chipotle Black Bean Chili and serve them over potatoes wedges I cook in my Air Fryer. Since the chili will only need to be reheated, I’ll only have to cook the potatoes. If I run short on time, I’ll cook “baked” potatoes in my Instant Pot instead.
Friday
Chickpea Noodle Soup: This is another soup my family loves. They can’t get enough of it and I’m pretty sure it’s because of the Dry Veggie Broth Mix that I use. You could use your favorite broth but if you have nutritional yeast and some basic spices, you can make your own.
These recipes rely on ingredients I normally keep stocked in my fridge and pantry. The only item that isn’t a regular is the chipotle peppers in the chili but since I’m in love with that new recipe, I’m pretty sure I’m going to keep those stocked.
Family Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
All of these recipes except the chili are family friendly. The chili is spicy and my kids don’t like spicy. If you have teens or kids who love spicy food, they would probably like it.
The thing is, family friendly is really in the eye of the beholder. One of my sons loves fruit and veggies, the other not so much. On the night when we have the Chili Fries, they will just have the fries with a side of something else.
On Minestrone Soup night, one of my kids will pick through the veggies in the soup and only eat some of them. I’m ok with that. I sometimes skip foods I don’t like too.
When there are meals they truly don’t like, I have them fix themselves something like a sandwich or oatmeal. I’ll pull out some veggies or fruit to accompany their choice.
If you need help getting your kids to eat healthy foods, I’ve got some tips!
Do you follow a meal plan every week? Do you need help making a weekly meal plan or do you prefer to wing it?
Leave a Reply