Meal Plans 2019

I’m convinced that the best way to successfully adopt a plant-based diet is to follow a Plant-Based Meal Plan, at least in the beginning.

When we first started eating plant-based, it was completely new. Every single thing we ate before going plant-based had meat or dairy in it. I was nowhere close to being a healthy eater. To transition, I had to be deliberate and plan every single meal.

Making the move to a plant-based diet payed off and I was able to reverse illness. That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about meal planning and sharing meal plans with you.

This Week’s Plant-Based Meal Plan

Monday

Instant Pot Oatmeal

Sandwiches, Veggies and Hummus

Plant-Based Nachos

Tuesday

Toast with peanut butter and banana slices

Leftover Beans, Rice and Salsa

Spaghetti and Asparagus

Wednesday

Instant Pot Breakfast Rice

Leftover Spaghetti and toast

Orange Tofu Stir Fry (I showed a sneak peak of the sauce in my Instagram stories)

Thursday

Overnight Oats

Sandwiches, Veggies and Hummus

Black Bean Chili and Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

Friday

Strawberry, Cherry and Kale Smoothie

Leftover Chili and Baked Potatoes

Instant Pot Mexican Casserole

Tips for New Meal Planners

If you are brand new to meal planning or following a meal plan someone else creates, it’s important to start small. It can be overwhelming to cook three meals a day if you aren’t used to it. That’s one of the reasons we eat leftovers for lunch.

I also give myself the option to skip any dinner and eat leftovers when possible. We don’t usually have leftover spaghetti or tofu because my kids love them, but we always have leftover chili because it’s too spicy for my kids. Yay, more for us!

We don’t need a lot of variety for breakfast or lunch but like to eat something new for dinner. Some foods lend themselves to being leftovers. Like beans and rice, we have it early in the week so we can use the leftovers in several different recipes like nachos or burritos.

Do you follow a meal plan? What are you eating this week?

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.

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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?