My Plant-Based Family

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

Meal Plans 2014

Meal Plan Monday: Change of (Meal) Plans

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I was about to get the kids dressed this morning so we could take my husband to the airport for a business trip when we got a phone call explaining that the trip was cancelled due to a winter storm. I was thrilled, my husband would be home all week, but my lazy plans of sandwiches and noodles would have to change. We need a real Meal Plan.

I also have Healthy Cravings this week. Healthy Cravings is a monthly class/support group for people in the Phoenix area who want to make healthier food choices. This month’s class is about adapting recipes!

My Meal Plan is directly impacted by my schedule. What and How I cook depends on how much time and energy I’ll be able to put into meals.

Meal Plan Monday

 

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

Cereal was on sale this week so my kids will be happy to have cereal most days. I don’t eat cereal very often and prefer a hot breakfast.

  • Baked Sweet Potatoes with cinnamon
  • Crock Pot Breakfast Hash (a new recipe I need to share but haven’t because it doesn’t photograph well)
  • Fruit
  • leftover pancakes
  • leftover breakfast scramble

Lunch

My kids usually have something easy like sandwiches, toast, baked potatoes or leftovers. I usually add raw veggies to my kids lunch; carrots and broccoli are very common.

Dinner

This week we have company over one night, Healthy Cravings another night, new recipes to try and appointments almost every afternoon. Can you relate?

I like to have a dessert at Healthy Cravings so I will probably do some baking as well. My son has been “mentioning” that he likes Banana Bread a lot lately. I may finally take the hint and make it for him.

What does your Meal Plan look like this week? 

Meal Plan Monday: Are You Snowed In?

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Meal Plan Monday

Just in case you are snowed in, this week’s Meal Plan will focus on comforting meals that use basic ingredients that I usually have on hand. Here is an old list of basic supplies but I warn you it is in desperate need up an update, which I’ll try to do soon. If you bought my ebook The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide then you already have an updated copy in the book.

Plant-Based “Snowed In” Meal Plan

Breakfast

Lunch

  • Sandwiches (peanut butter, sunbutter, veggie, etc)
  • Taco Soup with Baked Potato
  • Bean Burritos make with Unfried Black Beans and grains or veggies
  • Leftover Chili with Bake Potatoes
  • Veggie Soup

Dinner

These recipes do not use a lot of fresh fruit or veggies but if you have them I recommend you add them. I wanted this Meal Plan to be pretty basic and rely on beans and grains. Add any extra veggie you have. If you are snowed in, I hope you have plenty of food stored.

I’m in the process of cleaning out my freezer and it is amazing some of the stuff I find in there. If your freezer is full try planning a meal or two based on food you have in your freezer. I have several soups stored in 2 serving containers including Green Chili, Cilantro and Rice Soup, Chili, and Enchilada Soup.

Are you snowed in? What foods do you rely on during emergencies?

 

Meal Plan Monday: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Meal Plan Monday

Last week was Meal Planning Week here at My Plant-Based Family. After focusing on Meal Planning for a week it makes coming up with another Meal Plan the last thing on my mind. I’ve been procrastinating for hours. In the mean time I’m let me kids play out, I ate leftover birthday cake (for breakfast), a Chickpea Salad Sandwich (for snack), got tax documents together and took care of mommy stuff like changing diapers and singing songs.

I finally started checking my fridge, pantry and freezer to get meal ideas for the week.

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

I’ve been changing up my breakfast routine. For years, I ate oatmeal every morning but my youngest can’t have oats (even gluten-free oats) so I’ve been shying away from them. Recently Sarah at Gazing In published her latest book Oats Gone Wild that has rekindled my interest.

  • Oatmeal from Oats Gone Wild
  • Baked Sweet Potatoes
  • Breakfast Hash (I still need to get this recipe posted)
  • Smoothies
  • Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins (I baked some in a donut pan)

Lunch

I like to rely on leftovers for lunch when I have time. I’ll often make my kids a quick sandwich, the sooner lunch is done the sooner we can attempt nap time.

Dinner

Our afternoons and early evenings are Very busy these days. I’ll be sticking to easy entrée’s when possible and making some of these meals early in the day and reheating them just before dinner.

  • Baked Potatoes with Steam Broccoli and my brown gravy
  • Bean Burgers with Green Beans and Baked Potatoes
  • White Enchiladas with Cilantro-Lime Quinoa
  • An Asian Noodle Dish (I don’t have a specific recipe in mind yet)

On a side note, my ebook The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide: How to Cook, Shop and Eat Well is now available on Amazon. You can still get it as a PDF copy at my store. Add to Cart  Read a review and get a coupon code that is good for 25% off through the 28th at Pursue A Healthy You.

Meal Plan Monday: A Little Bit of Everything

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Plant-Based Meal Plan

I’ve been up to my ears in Meal Plans since I launched my Custom Meal Plan service last week. It is hard shifting back to OUR preferences when I’ve been thinking about other people’s meal plans. Some of the Meal Plans I’m designing are for families with omni members. Other plans are Plant-Based Meal Plans for people who have been eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) but are hoping to jump into a plant-based lifestyle.

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

I like to keep breakfast simple. I have a lot of leftover cooked quinoa that can be made into a quick breakfast if I’m ever unprepared.

Lunch

My kids keep me busy during the day so I opt for quick lunches, or recipes I can get started and forget about for a while.

  • Baked Potatoes
  • Sunbutter and Jelly Sandwiches
  • Noodles, steamed veggies and marinara sauce
  • Veggie Wrap
  • Leftover Soup

Dinner

I spend the most time cooking dinner but I save time by cooking, at least part of it, in bulk. This week I’ll cook beans for the burritos and nachos early in the week. I may also cook enough rice for the burritos and stir fry on Tuesday.

I really wanted to make my Crock Pot Mexican Casserole this week and another secret recipe I’ve been perfecting but my Crock Pot broke this weekend! It’s so sad! I need to buy one but I’m fighting my frugalness. I’m not sure which will win out.

I’m also in the mood for muffins! If I take a break from my Custom Meal Plans I may whip up a batch or two.

Plant-Based Diet Ebook

Meal Plan Monday: Back in the Swing of Things

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Meal Plan Monday

Have you missed my Plant-Based Meal Plans over the last few weeks? The holidays are over, school has started, and it’s time to get back in the swing of things, that includes meal planning.

When I create a Meal Plan I focus on meeting our nutritional needs, including our food restrictions (due to allergies) while staying on budget. I also have to make sure I plan for enough meals to keep us fed but not so many that I’m stuck in the kitchen all the time. It’s a balancing act that I figure out each week. I typically plan for 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 5 Dinners and use leftovers as needed. This week I’m hosting Healthy Cravings and teaching a cooking class so I’ll plan for “easier” items on my Meal Plan.

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

I use Meal Plans as a guideline. I don’t stress about getting everything made. On any given day we may change our minds and move things around. We may decide to make pancakes or nachos. Using a Meal Plan also helps me make sure I have the ingredients I need for the week and prep anything that takes a little extra time.

Do you Meal Plan?

Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide