My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

Meal Plan Monday

Soup Week Meal Plan

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This week I’ve created a Soup Week Meal Plan. It is dedicated to all of you who are dealing with cold weather right now. Even though the weather is great here I still enjoy soups but I won’t be able to say that in a few months. In fact, I got my first sun burn of the year on Saturday.

I’ve been cooking Steel Cut Oats in my Instant Pot but we rely on cereal for breakfasts too. I have an “emergency” gluten-free waffle stash for my 4 year old. On those mornings when we are running really late he gets to eat a waffle on the way to preschool.

I’m about to make some baked potatoes for the week. I like to pour leftover soup over baked potatoes for a hearty lunch. Surely it will be the envy of the office.

Soup week meal plan

Soup Week Meal Plan

Potato and Kale Soup I make it in the Instant Pot but you can make it on the stove or in the Crock Pot.

Hearty Lentil and Barley Stew contains gluten but make it gluten-free by using rice, quinoa, millet or amaranth in place of the barley.

Chickpea Noodle Soup

Green Chili, Cilantro and Lime Soup is perfect the perfect comfort soup but I confess we don’t give it to the kids.

Slow Cooker Potato Soup is the easiest Crock Pot soup you’ll ever make!

Later this week I’ll share a tip that will make preparing soups even easier!

Last week I shared an EPIC round-up of 40+ Meatless recipes for Lent. If you know anyone who needs meatless ideas please pass it along!

 

Dinner Meal Plan, the one with Hot Dogs

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This week we have a very special interruption to our Dinner Meal Plan. We have a birthday and my soon to be 6 year old has requested hot dogs. It’s a tradition for the birthday boy to choose dinner so hot dogs it will be. Last year he requested a cake with black and white stripes and Angry Birds on it. Here is a picture of the excitement!

 

birthday

The Meals

I’ve gotten away from planning every meal of the day but I’ll give you a few ideas of what we are eating. Breakfast has been Breakfast Rice, cereal and Baked Sweet Potatoes (these come out perfect in the Instant Pot) and Gluten-Free Steel Cut Oats also in the Instant Pot.

Lunches are usually leftovers. I’ll admit to skipping lunch a few days a week when I’m in the office. I love what I’m doing and don’t even think about lunch until it’s almost time to leave. I pack my kids lunches and snacks every day. I just did a recap last week.

Meal Plan Monday

Dinner Meal Plan

Faux Cheezy Black Bean Quesadillas with Mexican Rice

Potato Kale Soup

Hot Dogs and Birthday Cake

Burritos with Unfried Black Beans, Cilantro Lime Quinoa and Pico de Gallo

Fiesta Pasta

I’ll save time this week by using Black Beans for 3 different dishes! I’ll cook up a large batch in my Instant Pot. If you don’t have an Instant Pot you can read my Beans Guide for soaking and cooking directions.

This meal plan is really easy because most of the recipes use similar ingredients which I usually keep on hand. The biggest deal will be making the birthday cake and reading the ingredient list on a dozen packages of hot dogs before I find the right ones. I’ll come up with some side dishes for the birthday dinner as well.

We’ve had a complete lack of Mexican Food lately so I’m making up for it this week.

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My Dinner Meal Plan for the week

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I didn’t get much batch cooking done this weekend so this week I’ll mostly stick to easy meals, especially the first few days of the week. Veggie Pad Thai is always a favorite at our house. It is different every time because I use whatever I have on hand. This weeks version will be especially good because I have more veggies than usual to work with.

I also have a new recipe for you. I’ve been making oil-free fried rice since before I was plant-based. I’ve made it so long didn’t even think about sharing it so this week I finally will. It’s not fancy or exotic, it’s simple and delicious.

This week our breakfasts will mostly be cereal but I just bought Gluten-Free Steel Cut Oats and I have a membership to Amazon Prime
so I’ll have those in two days. I plan to try them in my Instant Pot for the first time. Yes, I get excited about this kind of stuff.

We will enjoy leftovers for lunches. My husband always takes his lunch to work and one of his co-workers was admiring it every day, so he started to share. Occasionally he takes two lunches now, one for him and one for his buddy.

With that in mind, check out my plant-based dinner meal plan for the week!

Plant-Based Dinner Meal Plan

Plant-Based Dinner Meal Plan

Veggie Pad Thai

Oil-Free Fried Rice Recipe Coming Soon (I’ll try to post some teasers on Instagram tonight.)

Potato Kale Soup

White Enchiladas with Cilantro Lime Quinoa

Homemade Pizza using a recipe from Gluten-Free Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

What are you eating this week?

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Meal Plan Monday is Back!

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The 31 Day Plant-Based eCourse is now over, except for a few people who started late. It’s been replaced with a “self-paced” eCourse. I can now return to my normal schedule. Part of that is bringing back Meal Plan Monday!

Let’s hop to it! I’ve already did some batch cooking last night, yes during the Super Bowl. I have breakfast rice, brown rice, lentils and leftover Veggie Pad Thai to work with.

Meal Plan Monday

For breakfast I made a giant batch of Breakfast Rice (with apples and blueberries) in my Instant Pot. We will nosh on that throughout the week. Lunches will be leftovers and Bean and Grain bowls for the grown ups. I pack lunches for my kids.

Dinner Meal Plan

Leftover Veggie Pad Thai

Lentil-Quinoa Salad (made with rice instead of quinoa)

Lentil Tacos with Mexican Rice

Cheesy Broccoli and Brown Rice Casserole (Crock Pot)

Minestrone Soup with a giant salad

Did you create a Meal Plan yet this week? What are you eating? 

For more inspiration check out my Meal Planning archives!

 

For the Love of Lentils Meal Plan

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This will be the last Meal Plan of the year! Let’s face it, this time of year I’m not so good at following a plan anyway. Besides, I’m getting the Meal Plans ready for those participating in the eCourse and Challenge starting January 1st so I won’t be posting Meal Plan here for a while. Feel free to look through the Meal Plan archives.

Last month I started working a full-time job, which I love, but I have a lot less time to cook. I’m been making all of my old favorites in my Instant Pot to save time. This weeks Meal Plan uses lots of Lentils. I love lentils. They taste great, are very versatile, so easy to make, are inexpensive and super healthy. If you haven’t given them a change yet do so this week.

Plant Based Meal Plan

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Quinoa-Lentil Tacos with Mexican Rice

Hearty Lentil and Barley Stew (I’ll substitute a different grain for the Barley)

One-Pot Pizza Pasta 

Green Chili, Cilantro and Lime Soup or Lentil Taco Muffins if you want to keep up with the lentil theme

Lentil Pot Pie

All of these meals are perfect for winter. Comfort food that will fill you up! I’ll probably be the envy of the office when they smell my leftovers each day.

The Meal Plans included in the eCourse will be much more in-depth than these. There will also be a section in the eCourse that will teach Meal Planning. The last Meal Planning Class was $30 and only open to people who could attend in person. The eCourse will cover so much more for the same price. It’s 31 days of Plant-Based training! Sign up today!

Meal Plan Monday: December is Here

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If you still have Thanksgiving leftovers just eat them. Don’t cook another thing until those leftovers are gone. Thanksgiving leftovers are some of my favorite. I’ll eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I have them. I’m always sad when they are gone.

Did you over indulge on Thanksgiving? If you cooked healthy, plant-based recipes you probably only ate too much. If you used some of my recipes I’d love to hear your thoughts.

If you don’t have any Thanksgiving leftovers you may need some dinner inspiration.

Plant based meal plan

Plant-Based Meal Plan

I’m taking advantage of my Instant Pot this week. I love that I can cook dinner quickly after I get home or set a timer so it doesn’t begin cooking until I want it to start. If you don’t have an Instant Pot I recommend you buy one or at least put it on your Christmas list. You could also make these recipes in a Crock Pot or on the stove although it will take much longer.

Enchilada Soup made in the Instant Pot

Chili  made in the Instant Pot

One Pot Pizza Pasta

Sautéed Mushrooms and Baked Potatoes (cooked in the Instant Pot) with steamed greens

Lentil Quinoa Tacos

Now that December is here things start to move more quickly, or so it seems. Don’t get caught off guard by everything you “have to do.” Prioritize your health!

31 Day Plant-Based eCourse and Challenge

Have you Heard?

The 31 Day Plant-Based eCourse and Challenge starts January 1st! It’s going to be a life changing experience for a lot of people. Are you one of them?

You’ll get daily tips and encouragement to turn your plant-based aspirations into a reality. If you’ve been meaning to make a change now is the time! The eCourse is packed with information and the challenge will give you the extra push you need to achieve your goals whether they include weight loss, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, or physical fitness.

Have you signed up yet?