During the month of July I welcome other bloggers to share their Meal Plans with you. Each Monday in July I plan to share a guest post. We have heard from Whitney J. Weiss at Bows, Blue & Boots and Jenn Seybestyen of Veggie Inspired Journeyl. 

Today I’d like to introduce you to Bekky Yates of Entering Vegan Territory. Bekky lives in the UK. I think your mouth will be watering once you take a look at her meal plan.

 Meal Plan Your Way Into Vegan Territory

It may not be sexy, but when it comes to feeding a family there’s no denying that meal planning is the key to keeping your food bills in check and keeping your sanity in the kitchen – and meal planning is also a helpful tool in helping you stick to healthier food habits…

Omnivores interested in adopting a plant-based diet sometimes struggle to know where to start; here’s my answer: start with your meal plan. Most people, whether they usually meal plan or not, will have a repertoire of perhaps seven to ten meals that they eat in rotation, with a little seasonal variation. If you’re thinking of going plant-based but the idea of suddenly having to cook and prepare entirely new foods every day is just too daunting, then don’t do it – instead, start by adding just one plant-based meal to your meal plan. Choose a day when you have a bit more time and try out a vegan recipe. If it’s a success, make it again next week, and then again until you have it down pat. Then look for another new recipe and do the same. Even if you added just one vegan meal to your repertoire each month, you could be completely plant-based in around six months.

Of course, if you’re already plant-based, or if you’re just the kind of person who prefers to jump right in, you can leap feet first in to vegan territory by following my easy introductory meal-plan:

Breakfast

The Basics: Oats; fresh or frozen Fruit; some non-dairy Yoghurt & your preferred plant Milk (soya, almond, rice, oat or coconut – I recommend opting for one that is fortified with B12).

Nobody wants to have to think too hard about a week day breakfast: you can eat a delicious, nutritious breakfast every day simply by soaking some oats in a little plant milk and topping with non-dairy yoghurt and fresh fruit – try peaches, plums, strawberries, raspberries or blueberries. Vary the fruit each day to mix things up. Follow me on Instagram if you need some visual inspiration…

If you prefer your cereal with some crunch, why not try making some Crunchy Cranberry-Almond Granola.

Monday

Lunch – mashed avocado & freshly ground black pepper on toast with a handful of cherry tomatoes.

Dinner – DIY Summer Rolls  (no cooking required, just the veg to chop… you’ll be amazed how filling these are!)

Snack – Raspberry Traybake (this can double as dessert if required, and/or it can also be frozen for use in packed lunches at a later date)

Tuesday

Lunch – Simple Green Bean, Tomato, Basil & Black Olive Salad (can be made in advance if a pack-up is required)

Dinner – Roast Med Veg & Chickpea Harissa Couscous (or Quinoa)

TIME-SAVING TIPS: while you’ve got the oven on, roast some extra courgettes and red peppers to use in tomorrow’s lunch … AND if you’re making this with quinoa, make some extra for baking with – it will keep it in the fridge for a couple of days until you’re ready to use it.

Snack – Raspberry Traybake from yesterday, if there’s any left – or a piece of fruit.

Wednesday

Lunch – Butterbean, Walnut & Roast Med Veg Salad (can be made in advance if a pack-up is required)

Dinner – Lemony pan-fried courgettes with new potatoes, peas and vegan-friendly sausages – gently pan fry the courgettes in garlic and olive oil. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the pan and cook until tender. Boil the new potatoes separately. When  cooked, drain and slice and add these to the courgette pan.

Snack Carrot-Quinoa Muffin (these can be frozen for use in packed lunches at a later date – but leave some out for tomorrow!)

Thursday

Lunch –Green Bean & Potato Salad dressed in Mustard (using the rest of the potatoes you cooked last night)

Dinner – Simple Vegetable Sushi

Snack – Carrot-Quinoa Muffin (if there’s some left from yesterday!)

Friday

Lunch – 100% Plant-based Ocean Paté on toast, with cucumber

Dinner – Sweet & Sour Stir Fry with rice

Snack – – a glass of Beetroot-Berry Juice Boost (or make a little into Pink Milk for the kids)

Bekky Yates started her website Entering Vegan Territory in April 2014 as a way of sharing all the new stuff she found herself learning after she and her family decided to go from veggie to vegan earlier that year. Having previously spent time living in France, Austria & Russia, she now lives in Leicestershire, England with her two gorgeous girls, where she works as a freelance translator and editor. When she’s not in the kitchen or dreaming up recipes Bekky likes to work up an appetite by going out running with friends. She loves being vegan and can’t wait to explore further into vegan territory in the years to come. Like her Facebook page Entering Vegan Territory or follow her on Instagram or Twitter.