My Plant-Based Family

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

Meal Plans

Meal Plan Monday: Simple Plant-Based Meals

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This week my focus is on keeping meals simple. We’ve got our normal stuff this week like school, sports and homework but I also have a kid home sick, my new meal plans will debut and I’m going out of town to the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference!

Simple Plant-Based Meals

In order to keep things flowing as smoothly as possible I’ll focus on SIMPLE plant-based meals. I know, most of my recipes are already simple but these are going to be even easier, requiring no prep work and minimal effort.

Breakfast

This week we are eating cereal and oatmeal, well oatmeal may be a little optimistic.

Lunch

My kids will eat sandwiches this week with fruit and Gluten-Free Pretzels. I’ll have leftovers and if I need to make something it will probably be veggie soup. I don’t know about you buy soup is my favorite way to eat veggies.

Dinner

These are my goal meals. There is a good chance my kids will live on sandwiches and cereal. Is that wrong to admit? I have no idea what they will eat when I’m out of town, my hubby’s got it under control, I’m sure it will include lots of broccoli.

Gluten-Free Pasta with Marinara Sauce and a side salad.

Crock Pot Brown Rice and Broccoli Casserole (because it’s my hubby’s favorite).

Baked Potatoes and Steamed Veggies

Taco Soup I’ll use canned beans and veggies in this. I haven’t decided if I’ll use the Crock Pot or stove yet.

Each of these should make enough for dinners and leftover lunches.

I also held my Gluten-Free Lunch Box Class this weekend. It was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to offering an online version in the future.

What does your week look like? Any big plans? What are you doing this week to keep it simple?

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Meal Plan Monday: Quick Meals and Comforting Soups

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September signals fall sports, dropping temperatures and back to school activities (read homework). Thankfully, I’ve found my back to school routine for the most part. Our evening sports practices make for hurried dinners at least twice a week. I love making quick meals and comforting soups, especially when they are easy.

This weekend is my Gluten-Free Lunch Box Class. If you live in the Phoenix area you don’t want to miss it! The deadline to sign up is Tuesday! Next week I’ll be releasing the New Meal Plans so be on the lookout for more clues this week on Facebook and Twitter!

Meal Plan Monday

Breakfast

I know I’ve mentioned it before but I’ve fallen in love with Oatmeal again. The slightly cooler mornings make it my go to breakfast. I always use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Oats (it’s a 4 packs).

  • Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal
  • Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
  • Cereal (on busy mornings)

Lunch

I pack a lunch for my kindergartener but my preschooler and I eat at home.

Dinner

I just restocked my pantry so I get to have some of my favorites this week.

I’m thinking of doing a little baking too! Maybe these Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins or Gluten-Free Apple Muffins with hit the spot. They would taste amazing with Sarah’s Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Creamer (warning: contains nuts).

What do you have planned for the week? Have the temperatures cooled down enough for warm soups and comfort foods?

Meal Plan Monday: It May Be Fall But…

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This time a year poses a conundrum for me. As you know if you’ve been here for a while I live in Arizona. I should be on the Arizona Tourist Bureau I love AZ so much.

The problem is that the weather here is different from the rest of the country. Most people here aren’t quite ready for soup and chili even though it’s “Fall” in many places. I try to strike a happy medium, plus I am ready for those delicious comfort foods. I made Veggie Pot Pie last night.

So I try to keep a middle of the road approach to Meal Plans. I know I can’t make the perfect meal plan for my friends in Michigan, Africa or Australia. Hopefully you will find something that inspires you. Or do what I do and take a look at the Recipe Page.

Plant-Based meal plan

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

We recently reintroduced oatmeal to our house and we are loving it. We have a few other breakfasts for busy days though.

Lunch

I usually utilize dinner leftovers for my lunch and pack a lunch for my 5 year old. I usually post his lunch pictures on Instagram.

  • Taco Salad
  • Chili topped Baked Potatoes
  • Soup and a Baked Potato
  • Veggie Wraps
  • Leftover Veggie Pot Pie ( I have an older recipe here but I’m working on a new one. This one uses a little Earth Balance and wheat flour. The new one I’m working on is GF and oil-free.)

Dinner

Have you planned your meals for this week? What season are you cooking for?

Don’t forget! I have some very special Meal Plans available soon! Especially if you’ve been curious about my Custom Meal Plans.

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Meal Plan Monday: Some Plant-Based Fall Favorites

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September is finally here and I’m wondering if it’s Fall in your neck of the woods. We are still hanging out over 100 degrees everyday but I’m still making hearty soups, Banana Bread and other fall favorites.

We are also juggling school, sports, church and other commitments while trying to eat healthy.

Plant-Based Meal Plan Monday

Plant-Based Fall Favorites Meal Plan

Breakfast

After a long break from oats I’m ready to reintroduce oatmeal this week. I’ve really been missing them and plan to make a few fun variations. I usually buy gluten-free oats.

Lunch

I pack a lunch for my kindergartener (did you see my new Lunch Box Guide?) but my preschooler still eats at home. We usually eat dinner leftovers, veggie soup or baked potatoes.

  • Baked Potatoes topped with steamed veggies and/or beans
  • Leftover Burrito Bowls
  • Tortillas Rollups with SunButter and apples
  • Leftover Soup with a baked potato
  • Sandwiches using Sunbutter or hummus and veggies

Dinner

I like to keep it quick when possible but I don’t mind doing a little prep on the weekends or earlier in the day if needed. This week I’ll cook beans and Brown Rice to be used in the burrito bowls and with the Red Lentil Curry ahead of time. I’ve considered getting a Rice Cooker but haven’t bought one yet. I’m not sure if I’d use it enough.

  • Stir Fry using carrots, peas, broccoli, yellow bell pepper and brown rice.
  • Gluten-Free Mac and Cheeze I’m working on a new recipe.
  • Burrito Bowl with Rice, Beans, and Homemade Pico de Gallo.
  • Chickpea Noodle Soup or Chickpea and Rice Soup using the same recipe except using 1 cup rice instead of noodles.
  • Red Lentil Curry this recipe is used exclusively in the Custom Meal Plans.

What are you eating this week? Have you made the shift to Fall yet?

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Meal Plan Monday: Dinner in 30 Minutes or Less

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We are still celebrating Back to School month here at My Plant-Based Family. I know your kids may not have started school yet but I hope this month has given you some great ideas to get you ready. I’ve still got some things to share.

Back to School Month

We’ve had a Back to School Meal Plan that was filled with my quickest and easiest meals, and Batch Cooking Meal Plan that helped you prepare for the week ahead of time and a Crock Pot Week Meal Plan that used the Crock Pot every day.

This weeks Plant-Based Meal Plan fill focus on having dinner in 30 minutes or less. I’ll be using canned beans or beans that were previously cooked (I’ve got a few bags in my freezer). I’ll also “cheat” a little by cooking the Baked Potatoes in my Crock Pot.

Plant Based Diet Meal Plan

I don’t assign days to our dinners because I don’t always know what our schedule will be like. We have t ball on Monday’s and Wednesday’s but we also have a teenager and I never really know when we will be home. When he is home I make TWO dinners. He can eat a whole (4-5 person) dinner by himself. If you can relate please let me know.

All of these choices are fairly quick. I just use what is available and quick cooking.

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Pizza Pasta using seasonal veggies with steamed veggies on the side.

Gluten-Free Pancakes this recipe is only in Gabriel’s Fundraiser Cookbook. Get it now, it’s only available until the end of August. I may serve this with a Breakfast Stir Fry.

BBQ Chickpeas on top of Baked Potatoes with Steamed Veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

Veggie Soup using whatever is around. I’ve been making soups ever few days for lunch. We’ve had Taco Soup, Enchilada Soup, Potato Soup, Broccoli and Potato Soup and more.

Simplified Red Lentil Curry used exclusively in my Custom Meal Plans. I’ll be serving this over quinoa, rice or potatoes.

There you have it, a Plant-Based Meal Plan with dinner in 30 minutes or less. You may have to be strategic but it can work.

I’ve got a few recipes coming up this week. I’ll give you a few hints. They are round, sweet and the perfect dessert for you kids lunch box! The are also vegan, gluten-free and nut free.

 

Plant-Based Crock Pot Week

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It’s Back to School month at My Plant-Based Family! This month we are focusing on packing lunch boxes, easy dinner time meals and getting ready for school. Make sure you check out my Back to School Community Board on Pinterest for more ideas.

I’ll be talking about lunch packing throughout the month (I’m also sharing my son’s lunch boxes on Instagram). Today my focus in on easy dinners, specifically Crock Pot dinners! My kindergartener starts baseball this week so it will be great to have an easy dinner planned.

I love my Crock Pot! I wish I had two but I don’t really have room for another one. I love cooking in it though. Many of my recipes are designed specifically for the Crock Pot but that doesn’t stop me from making my normal stove to recipes in it too.

Meal Plan Monday Plant-Based Crock Pot dinners

Plant-Based Crock Pot Dinners

Tomato Soup with a side salad and toast

Easy Crock Pot Broccoli and Rice Casserole, this is my husbands favorite recipe!

Taco Soup with Baked Potatoes

Spaghetti Squash with Marinara and a side salad

Pinto Beans in the Crock Pot to use in Bean Burritos or Bean and Potato Burritos.

These meals assure us a delicious homemade dinner no matter how busy we get. Another way to save time is though batch cooking. I hope you read last weeks Batch Cooking Meal Plan for additional time savers and meal ideas.

Don’t forget to get your $2.00 coupon code for The Plant-Based Diet Starter Guide.

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