A Meatless Meal Plan To Keep You Fueled All Day Long
For many people, making the transition to a vegetarian diet can seem overwhelming, especially if they have eaten meat for the majority of their life. It can certainly be intimidating to think about all of the changes you may have to make in order to completely eliminate meat products from your lifestyle, but rather than looking at the long term, why not try to stick it out one day at a time and see how simple it can be. Vegetarian recipes can be just as easy as any meat-filled meal and you can get creative. Here is a meatless meal plan for one whole day that can help you get started on the path of vegetarianism.
Breakfast
Bacon, eggs, and sausage often dominate the breakfast table, making it difficult for a vegetarian to figure out what they can eat. Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and it is essential to eat something that will fill you up so that you don't end up snacking and eating more than you should. Oatmeal is a wonderful choice for vegetarians because of its ability to be used in a wide variety of ways. Here are some ideas for using oatmeal to start your day:
Basic oatmeal
Baked oatmeal
Protein pancakes
Depending on the ingredients that you use to make your oatmeal, you can even end up with a vegan recipe. Try substituting almond milk for cow's milk and you will have a dairy-free breakfast.
Lunch
Coming up with a vegetarian lunch can be tricky, especially if you work full time. It is often easier to grab a bite to eat at the nearest fast food establishment, but a little bit of preparation on your part can help you stick to your meat-free day. While salads are a quick and easy go-to, there are many other vegetarian lunch options that can keep you full until dinner time. A hearty vegetable soup is the perfect choice for a cold day, as it can warm you up and keep your belly satisfied. Try adding a little cooked brown rice into the mix for some added substance or enjoy a chunk of crusty bread for dipping. Cooking up a big batch of soup at the beginning of the week will allow you to have leftovers for lunch for several days following. Try some of these vegetarian recipes for other lunch ideas:
Veggie wraps
Pasta primavera
Bean burritos
Quinoa salad
Dinner
Dinnertime is one of the best times to get creative with your meatless recipe ideas. If you have the time, have a day each week where you sit down and make your menu for the upcoming week. This will allow you to get all of your shopping done so that you have everything you will need on hand. For many people, dinner can be a hard period to stick with a meatless diet. Because dinners traditionally feature some type of meat item, many people find that they crave meat for dinner. If this is the case for you, why not try a meat substitute product? Finishing off your day with a hearty meatless dinner will leave you feeling satisfied and proud of your commitment. For a fast and easy dinner, you can cook up a veggie burger patty topped with all of your favorite hamburger toppings. On nights when you have time to create a complete recipe, try using faux chicken in place of poultry in your favorite weeknight meal. Meat substitutes are easy to use instead of meat in the following dishes:
Pastas
Casseroles
Stir-fries
Soups
A vegetarian diet does not mean that you will be eating a lifetime of tasteless meals. Dinners can be just as delicious without meat.
Snacks
Chances are you can't make it through the day on only three meals. Snacks are a great way to get some added nutrients into your diet and they are simple to fit into a vegetarian diet. Here are some grab-and-go snack ideas:
String cheese
Fruit
Crackers
Popcorn
Carrots and hummus
Yogurt
Vegetarian recipes are not as complicated as you may think. Sticking with good, clean food can help you get through the day feeling full, healthy, and committed to your lifestyle choice.