Does being vegan mean eating the same food and feeling unsatisfied all the time? Not. People who follow this type of diet have numerous options to combine their favorite products and get themselves tasty dishes anytime. Whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can cook something quick and easy and feel yourself full till the next meal. Moreover, such meals don't require exotic products or extra cooking skills. You only need to know the proportions and follow the steps while cooking. In this article, we will present some cool recipe ideas to diversify your diet and make it more satisfying.
Vegan Meals: Cook Yourself or Order Delivery?
One of the biggest questions for vegans is what meals they want to have. Some prefer to have their meals delivered, as they don't have time to cook for themselves. This option may cost more than if you buy food and cook it yourself, but since they run out of time, it's worth it. If you are looking for a reputable delivery service with vegan recipes, try our vegan meal plan. It's a flexible plan consisting of three meals. With them, you receive a full amount of carbohydrates, fats, protein, and fiber and cover the daily amount of calories. Moreover, meals do not repeat from day to day. Our chefs cook different dishes all the time, so you won't struggle to eat the same food all the time.
However, if you have time to cook vegan meals yourself, it's the best option. When you do it yourself, you know what's inside your vegan breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and what proportions you have for each ingredient. Whether you cook breakfast burritos, healthy began cake, or a tofu scramble, it will be tasty and nutritious. So, what can you cook for each meal? Let's break down the best options.
Best Homemade Vegan Recipes for Breakfast
Breakfast comes first and stands out as the most important meal during the day. The main purpose of this meal is to wake your body up and give you enough energy for your daily tasks. Usually, people take simple carbs for breakfast, which is not good for our bodies. The consumption of these carbs will satisfy you for an hour or two, which is not enough, and you will start feeling hungry soon. Your breakfast should consist of multiple components, including complex carbs, protein, and fiber. So, what vegans can cook for the first meal?
The first option is a vegan French toast, perfect for weekend breakfast. The key ingredient in this meal is chickpea flour. It's not an exotic ingredient, as you can easily find it in the grocery store, and it will make a difference in how your French toast tastes.
Prepare all the ingredients beforehand. Make sure the batter is mixed well, the bread is sliced, and the skillet is heated up. You can use vegan butter or oil to cook your French toast; just make sure you won't burn your toast. Cook each slice no longer than 30 seconds, as it's enough to cook the batter. Serve vegan French toast with jam or honey.
The second option for a vegan-style breakfast is a breakfast skillet. The idea is to mix vegetables and simmer them till they reach perfect condition. There are several variations available, so you don't need to stick to one option. The most popular ingredients for such meals are chickpeas, red pepper, spinach, and red pepper. In addition to that, you can add mushrooms as a good source of protein. Also, add potatoes, so the meal will make you full. Use your oil of choice to cook (you get a better flavor and healthy fats) and mix your veggies with Italian seasoning. Also, consider adding avocado and/or salsa for a better flavor. Chop all veggies into cubes, so it will be easier to cook such a volume of food.
Lunch Recipes for Vegans
Lunch comes in the middle of the day, when we need to fuel our bodies to stay active for the rest of the day. A perfect meal for lunch should contain enough calories and be balanced in carbs, protein, and fats. The first option for a vegan lunch is a crunchy Thai noodle salad. Instead of eating regular salad, you can diversify it, making it creamy, spicy, and filled with more high-quality components. Interesting fact: in this salad, you use almond butter dressing instead of oil or any other sauce. It consists of almond butter, coconut vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, one tablespoon of maple syrup, ground ginger, siracha, red paper flakes, and warm water. This dressing makes the salad creamy and spicy, so you eat not just a raw salad but a nice, juicy mix of vegetables and noodles (it's better to use brown rice noodles to reach the needed flavor). Also, consider adding carrots, as it resonates with almond dressing and noodles.
The second meal for lunch we mention in our article is a salad wrap with avocado. The idea is to use lettuce instead of tortillas, as it makes the meal a bit lighter. It takes about 10 minutes to prepare 1 serving of this meal, as you get two large wraps. To cook the mix for these wraps, use the following ingredients:
1 large avocado
1 can of chickpeas
1 diced stalk of celery
half of a large red bell pepper
1 diced medium-sized carrot
1/4 cup of cilantro
1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
Mash avocado in a small bowl, then add chickpeas, pepper, carrots, and other ingredients. Add spices at the very last moment. Take a leaf, scoop the mix you made, and put it in the center. Do it till you use all the mix. Wraps can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
What to Eat for Dinner as a Vegan?
Dinner should be light and nutritious. The best options for dinner are soups and/or salads with light vegan dressing. Let's start with one of the recipes from this category, as it may be a roasted tomato basil soup. The basic ingredients are tomatoes, garlic, onions, and fresh basil, as they create a saturated taste and flavor. Other key ingredients are vegetable broth and milk (coconut, almond, or soy milk are the best). Core and seeds should be removed from tomatoes, and you also should chop them in half. After that, roast tomatoes and vegetables, adding some oil, paper, and salt. When it's done, blend vegetables to ensure they are completely smooth, and add broth, milk, and other ingredients. Next, put the mix in the pot and place it on the stovetop. Simmer for 10-15 minutes and add more salt if needed. Serve with breadcrumbs.
Another option you can have for your vegan dinner is an eggplant bourguignon. A nice veggie meal to get with pasta or mashed potatoes. It's not heavy for your stomach, and it will satisfy you at the end of the day. The only disadvantage is the time needed to cook this meal, as it takes around an hour. You will need eggplant, mushrooms, carrot, onion, 3 gloves of garlic, 1 cup of vegetable broth, 2 cups of dry full-bodied red wine, and 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. For seasoning, use 2 bay leaves, 1/2 teaspoon of smoked salt, and olive oil to cook. Additionally, cook pasta or mashed potatoes to serve your meal.
Cook veggies in the pot, adding some olive oil. Add mushrooms, carrots, and eggplant first. After that, add garlic and broth, and stir the mix. Add wine and tomato paste, so the liquid will be dense. Stim the mix for about 30 minutes, so the alcohol will cook off. Turn the heat off and add extra salt if needed. That's it.
As you can see, there's nothing complicated about cooking vegan meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Focus on the products you like the most and cook your favorite meals. However, if cooking is not an option, there's always an option to order a vegan meal plan full of healthy dishes.
FAQ
What can vegans eat for lunch?
For lunch, vegans can have avocado chickpea sandwiches, tomato soup, or vegan Caesar salad.
What is the best time to have dinner?
Dinner should be taken at least three hours before bed, so your body will digest everything and you won't feel uncomfortable during the day.
What foods should you eat to consider yourself 100% vegan?
As a vegan, focus on plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Use vegan butter instead of classic butter and plant milk instead of classic milk.
