My Plant-Based Family

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

Meal Plan Monday

Last Week of School Meal Plan

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This is the last week of school in our area. Next week kids in our area will  be running wild. It will be short-lived because it is too hot so most kids stay inside playing video games all summer. We gear up for swimming lessons at the beginning of June. My kids sleep really well while they are taking swimming lessons.

As summer begins (temps are already over 100 degrees) it becomes really important to keep the kitchen cool. I try to avoid the oven unless it is something I can cook early in the day. Most of our meals are either made on the stove, in the crock pot or served cold. Don’t forget about the grill though. You don’t have to be a meat eater to enjoy your grill this summer.

Meal plan

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

Even though it is easier to serve cereal spending a little more time on breakfast is well worth it.

Lunch

We love leftovers for lunch, especially when we can make something “different” from the previous dinner. Switching veggies can transform a meal or adapt a salad to a wrap.

Dinner

The Taco Muffins are the most difficult meal planned for dinner and I made it yesterday (in a loaf pan). I like to have an easy meal planned for Monday’s. This week I may even dig into my stash of canned beans to save a little time. I’m neck-deep in work but we still have to eat.

 

Over the weekend I was featured in a guest post about my ebook, The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide. Read the guest post HERE! There is also a discount code for 25% off the PDF version. If you’ve been waiting to purchase my book, now is the perfect time.

 

Is it summer yet? Plant-Based Meal Plan

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I recently polled the fans on My Plant-Based Family’s Facebook page. Most of us are dealing with warm temperatures so these Meal Plans will be moving toward lighter recipes fit for summer. For those of you in cooler climates, sorry! It will warm up soon. You can think about me this summer when your weather is beautiful and I’m melting in the Arizona desert.

Meal Planning Help is on the Way

For any of you local readers I’ll be having some classes this summer including a Meal Planning Class. If you are interested be sure to send me an email myplantbasedfamily@gmail.com and I’ll send you all of the information as it becomes available.

Until then you can read some Meal Planning tips (Part 1 and Part 2).

Meal Plan

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

We often fall into the cereal trap when we aren’t properly prepared. We eat a LOT of EnviroKidz Cereal (the peanut-free varieties) because they are safe for my little guy who has a lot of food allergies.

Lunch

I don’t mind combining a few things at lunch time but I don’t typically cook a full meal. Batch cooking helps me have a few things prepared that can be mixed and matched like quinoa, potatoes, beans, and veggies.

Dinner

I often cook extra at dinner so the leftovers can be used for lunches.

Do you have Meal Planning questions? Join the My Plant-Based Family Facebook Group and ask away!

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Spring Meal Plan

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Have you created your Meal Plan for the week yet? If not, what is standing in your way? Is it too hard, too time consuming, or just too much trouble? I’ll admit I don’t always stick to our plan 100%. Sometimes I am missing an ingredient, or our plans will change. Some days I just don’t get the prep work done ahead of time. Still having a Meal Plan helps to focus my food prep and keeps me cooking instead of order takeout or eating cereal (again) for dinner.

As the weather heats up here in Arizona I know my days using the oven are numbered and I’ll be switching to the Crock Pot for more of our meals. Using the Crock Pot also helps me have dinner prepared at the right time. Often I get distracted and don’t start dinner until too late. If it’s in the Crock Pot I’m ready.

On the plus side my garden is producing and I think I’ll be harvesting my first ripe tomatoes this week. I see some jalapenos growing out of the little blossoms, and I have more basil than I know what to do with.

Spring Meal Plan that is vegan and Gluten-free

Spring Meal Plan

Breakfast

Every morning I get us super early and make a homemade breakfast for my family. Just kidding, we’ve been relying on cereal quite a bit lately. Some days we have oatmeal or other oat-free hot cereal like Bob’s Red Mill Mighty Tasty Gluten-Free Hot Cereal. I prefer dinner leftovers for breakfast but most mornings are made up of the following:

  • Cereal with fresh blueberries and mangos
  • Toast with SunButter Natural Sunflower Seed Spread and Apples or bananas
  • Breakfast Rice with Cinnamon, Apples and Raisins
  • Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon
  • Baked Potatoes with a little sea salt (I’m the only weird on who eats this)

Lunch

I eat leftovers whenever they are available but my kids normally want sandwiches. We usually have a fruit or veggies as a side.

  • SunButter Sandwiches with jelly
  • Gluten-Free Pasta with marinara
  • Leftover Soup with Baked Potatoes
  • Veggie Wrap OR Veggie Sandwich on tasted bread

Dinner

I usually put more work into dinner that the other meals. We have several evening appointments this week so I’m hoping to make many of these meal ahead.

If you need some ideas for Cinco de Mayo meals check out last weeks Mexican Food Meal Plan! It is full of Vegan and Gluten-Free ideas!

This post contains affiliate links. 

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Plant-Based Mexican Food Meal Plan

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You may think it is silly of me to have a Mexican Food Meal Plan. You would be right since we eat Mexican food most of the time. It’s just who we are. Our fresh fool supply is also extremely low since we haven’t been to the store in a while but I still have beans and grains along with a few tomatoes and jalapenos so all is well.

By the way, I hope you all had a great Easter! My husband and teen son were both out of town so our weekend wasn’t typical. We are all trying to get back into the swing of things.

Mexican Food Meal Plan

Breakfast

Some of these items don’t quite fit with out Mexican food theme but that is ok. I usually prefer a quick breakfast but I don’t mind combining a few things that are already cooked.

Lunch

You’ll notice most of these recipes use black beans. I cook a large batch to use in multiple recipes to save time.

Dinner

If I have enough leftovers I may not make all of these dishes. I’ll definitely make the first two because they make great leftovers and I can use them in other meals.

I may even try to work in my Taco Muffins!

Does a Mexican Food Meal Plan look like something you can get behind or do you have a different set of favorites? If you’ve tried some of these recipes I’d love to hear which are your favorites!

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A Plant-Based Meal Plan using Basic Pantry Staples

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Last week I shared my list of Basic Pantry Staples, as well as Refrigerated Staples, for Plant-Based living. This week I wanted to share an easy Meal Plan that could be made using those staples. Truthfully, most of my Meal Plans can be made with basic pantry staples but this plan will be extra easy.

Meal Plan Monday

Breakfast

We usually opt of easy breakfasts most days but even the longer cooking items on this list can be made ahead and reheated in the mornings.

Lunch

I love having leftovers for lunch. Some days I use leftovers to create a whole new meal. Having basics like potatoes, beans and chopped veggies can bring lunch together quickly.

Dinner

I’m willing to spend more time on dinner but that doesn’t mean I want to spend an hour in the kitchen. Most of these choices can come together quickly, especially if you batch cook beans and grains on the weekend.

This is definitely more food than we would eat in a week. I offer this menu as a guide, pick and choose what you would like to try. I prefer to cook larger portions less often.  Some weeks I eat Baked Potatoes everyday with different toppings. Last week for example, I ate baked potatoes with Steamed Broccoli, Pico de Gallo, Black beans and Pico, Barbecue sauce, well you get the idea.

What does your Meal Plan look like this week? Did you get the Basic Staples for a Plant-Based Diet yet?

Meal Plan Monday: Fast Food Detox

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We had a great time last week with our family in town visiting, but man, oh man did we eat out. A lot! It was just easier. Excuses, excuses. Our bodies are in need of a fast food detox.

This week my husband and I are ready to eat nothing but real, whole food, that is made in our kitchen. The kids will just have to go along with my plan because they don’t get a say. They may get sandwiches if we decide to eat something that isn’t “kid-friendly.” As I type I have people working in my house, and the water turned off to make repairs. If they are not done soon it may challenge my resolve but I have enough bottled water to cook rice and lentils. I think.

This week is also Healthy Cravings. I’ll be showing everyone who attends how to eat healthy without breaking their budget.

Meal Plan

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

I’ve been craving savory foods for breakfast but since I don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking I’ve been eating leftover casseroles, soups or baked potatoes. Not quite typical but it’s been really good.

Lunch

I’m planning salads this week. Restaurant salads usually contain a lot of unhealthy ingredients. I always feel like I have to remove more items than I keep. My salads are big, filling and really hit the spot. I’ll do a few other things too. We usually have fruit with all of our meals. 

  • Lentil & Rice Salad
  • Bean and Grain Bowl
  • Taco Salad
  • Baked Potatoes with Steamed Broccoli and raw veggies
  • Sandwiches for the kids

Dinner

I want all of my dinners this week to be veggie-centric feasts. It’s easier to accomplish a “fast food detox” when I’m eating delicious foods in hearty portions.

I need to add a few other touches but I haven’t done my grocery shopping yet so I will wait and see what produce looks best. I will also bake some potatoes and cook some beans for quick meals and snacks like these Bean and Potato Burritos. If you saw the Green Chili White Bean dip I posted last week you’ll want to make some beans too.