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What's on your vegetarian/vegan meal plan next week?

49 replies

TheTroubleWithShoes · 01/05/2021 15:04

I'm not vegetarian or vegan but I'm trying to go eat more plant based foods and possibly go vegetarian/vegan in time.

I find it a little more difficult to plan vegetarian meals. It seems ro be more difficult for me for some reason. Does anyone have any tips?

So far for next I have the following planned(not for any particular day)

Pumpkin and mushroom pasta
Shakshuka with black eyed beans
Leon recipe book Superfood salad
Mezze platter
Baked peanut crispy tofu, probably with jasmine rice and some green veg.

After that I'm stuck.

What do you have planned?

OP posts:
schroeder · 01/05/2021 20:31

Linda McCartney sausage sandwich
Tofu and red pepper stir fry
Lentil soup ( homemade but frozen)
Broccoli and tomato quiche
Quorn dippers in wraps
Linda McCartney pulled pork burgers
I am the only vegetarian in the house and work full time so I rely on easy stuff more than I would like.

reluctantbrit · 01/05/2021 20:32

We try to eat less meat and things which work well are

Halloumi burger with roasted peppers
Veggie fajitas, often added halloumi instead of meat
Sweet corn and courgette fritters
Potato, carrot and courgette rösti
Tagliatelle with ratatouille
Potato, roast veg and halloumi one pan dish
Pasta with pesto (green, red, pepper) and roast vegetables/ratatouille

We try not to eat halloumi more than once a week.

I personally gag with lots of mushy food so lentils, risotto etc are difficult for me hence the amount of roast vegetables and halloumi

theneverendinglaundry · 01/05/2021 20:33

I'm vegan and my husband is vegetarian.

On the meal plan I have so far:

Carbonara style pasta, with smoky roasted mushrooms instead of bacon

Shepherd's Potato, which are jacket potatoes stuffed with lentil and mushroom shepherds pie filling

Thai red curry - loads of veg in a shop bought thai red curry sauce, I may add some tofu too

3 bean chilli

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

schroeder · 01/05/2021 20:34

I always wonder what people mean by 'plant based do they just mean vegan?Confused

HeyMicky · 01/05/2021 20:36

Sweet potato and feta quiche

Cabbage and noodle stir fry

Bibimbap - rice, veg, kimchi and a fried egg on top

Roast butternut squash and lentil salad with goats cheese and rocket

Veggie bbq tonight - miso aubergine, grilled gem lettuce with Caesar dressing, grilled asparagus, elote corn, slaw, balsamic mushroom kebabs

MowldyStupidAndAssive · 01/05/2021 20:43

Tonight - Oomph kebab strips, tomato and mint salsa, green salad, pitta breads, tahini/yoghurt sauce, and potato wedges
Sunday - red onion and smoked tofu tart, new potatoes, lemony carrots and green veg
Monday - Iceland foot long vegan sausage rolls Blush, mash and peas
Tuesday - leek and lemon risotto, tomato salad, green salad
Wednesday - lasagne (red layers with a mix of green lentils and vegemince, white sauce layer with spinach and Oatly crème fraiche)
Thursday - homemade tofu nuggets, roast veg (unsure what veg yet, whatever is left in fridge), basmati rice and tahini/lemon sauce
Friday - probably homemade pizzas

Thenthatsthatthen · 01/05/2021 20:45

Crispy tofu with black bean or katsu sauce, cauliflower rice &stir fried veg
Pea, spinach and chilli soup with rolls
Homemade veggie lasagne with mangetout and/or tender-steam broccoli
Bean chilli with avocado and corn salsa
Itsu frozen gyoza meal kit, stir fried veggies and soft boiled eggs
Some sort of freezer meal or takeaway on Saturday
Roast dinner Sunday-usually cauliflower cheese or a pie of some sort (usually using whatever leftover veg I have in a cheese sauce) instead of the meat.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 01/05/2021 20:54

I think I need a foot long vegan sausage roll or two in my life! Definitely going to try these.

MowldyStupidAndAssive · 01/05/2021 20:59

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie they were reduced in our Iceland this week, a 2 pack for 75p 😋

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 01/05/2021 21:09

That's insane. How on earth can they be so cheap??? I'm going to get some next time I'm anywhere near an Iceland.

ginislife · 01/05/2021 21:59

This is a great thread for me who currently has a vegetarian who doesn't eat cheese or tomatoes living here and I struggle to think of tasty things for her. Luckily she doesn't eat meat because she doesn't like the taste rather than for ethical reasons which does make life slightly easier

KobaniDaughters · 01/05/2021 22:14

@schroeder because veganism is more than a diet. I say I’m vegan just cos it’s easier but really I eat a plant based diet as I don’t subscribe to the whole ethos of veganism

This week we’re having:
Japanese rice and tofu
Pulled jackfruit buns with coleslaw
V. Sausage, red cabbage and sweet potato stew
Falafel, hummus, pita, fattoush etc
Bruschetta lentil spaghetti
Pizza
Might try to get some fresh asparagus for a risotto

KobaniDaughters · 01/05/2021 22:15

@MowldyStupidAndAssive whatever-veg-in-the-fridge roasted with lemon tahini sauce is one of my staples too

BlueShrew · 02/05/2021 14:50

@schroeder

I always wonder what people mean by 'plant based do they just mean vegan?Confused
@Schroeder someone might eat vegan (plant-based) food for their health or the environment without being an ethical vegan, so for example, they might still wear wool, silk or leather, drink non-vegan wine or use products tested on animals. Calling yourself plant-based as opposed to vegan is more accurate in that situation.
RumHoney · 02/05/2021 14:55

Quorn cottage pie
Stir fry with tofu
Something from the freezer (probably a tagine)
Aubergine curry
Pea and mint risotto

BlueShrew · 02/05/2021 15:02

Bean chilli and rice
Crispy tofu with katsu sauce
Mushroom stroganoff with pasta or rice, or mushroom risotto
Vegan pizza night (either homemade or Chicago Town)
Miso aubergine "buddha bowl" with whatever other veg we have and brown rice
Lentil lasagne
Deliciously Ella cashew turmeric pasta
Veg haggis or nut roast or halved butternut squash with roast potatoes
Weekend cooked brunch with Richmond meat free sausages and either This Isn't Bacon or Naked Without the Oink bacon with potato scones on rolls
Roast red pepper and tomato soup

For convenience, Tesco tins of plant based soup are good, about 45p each from memory. Tesco also do a free-from jar of korma sauce for about 90p (I usually add frozen cauliflower and peas or fried tofu but I've heard This Isn't Chicken is really good) and both green and red vegan pesto to throw over some pasta for about 90p each, sometimes with a tin of butter beans thrown in (normal pesto is neither vegan nor even vegetarian as parmesan contains rennet).

Undersnatch · 02/05/2021 15:14

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/burnt-aubergine-veggie-chilli This veggie chilli recipe is my recent fave, has added bonus of some dark chocolate in it so has become known as ‘chocolate chilli’ that even my 5yr old will eat! Served with tacos, guacamole, sour cream mmmm.

badlydrawnbear · 02/05/2021 15:19

We meal plan on Fridays, so:
Friday pizza
Saturday I was at work, DH seems to have ordered take aways for DC and him
Sunday biryani tray bake
Monday dhal
Tuesday pea and mint risotto
Wednesday beige oven food to fit around DC's activities
Thursday tomato gnocchi bake

DH is vegan, DC and I are not. We usually eat vegan meals for dinner because it is easier to cook one meal for everyone, but this week he is on some kind of diet that means he can't eat until much later.

dubyalass · 02/05/2021 17:19

I'm not veggie or vegan but not a regular meat eater either. Loads of very tasty-sounding ideas here - thanks!

I would add Anna Jones' dal with roasted sweet potatoes and coconut (recipe on her website with lots of other delicious ideas).

burblish · 02/05/2021 20:30

Vegetarian and I don’t meal plan, but some of the dishes I’ve cooked this weekend or will likely make over the next few days:

  • Vegetable and black bean chilli (with rice or cornbread, or to fill enchiladas)
  • Stuffed parathas (pea and potato)
  • Dal, rice/naan and veggie curries
  • Vegetable lasagne
  • Carrot and red lentil soup with homemade bread
  • Veg uttapam (lentil pancakes - although I usually can’t be arsed to prepare the batter so I just use semolina mixed with natural yoghurt instead, as a super quick and effective substitute)
  • Mock duck Chinese-style pancakes with hoisin sauce
  • Thai green curry with tofu and coconut rice
  • Gnocchi with tomato and red pepper sauce
  • Homemade pizzas
  • Shakshuka
  • Pitta pockets (pittas stuffed with hummus, pan-roasted red onion and peppers, halloumi and olives)
TheTroubleWithShoes · 02/05/2021 21:18

Thank you all so much for the amazing tips and recipes . I'm looking forward to trying out as many of them as possible.

Procrastatron I hope that you feel better soon.

OP posts:
Graphista · 02/05/2021 23:11

Can I gently say you seem to be making it unnecessarily hard for yourself? That won't lead to a long term change which is what you're hoping for. Keep it simple to start with and don't attempt more than one new, complex recipe a week or you'll quickly become disheartened and demotivated.

Start by having what you'd normally eat but veggie versions.

This is the kind of thing I eat on a regular basis, simple, healthy food that's easy to make (I can't stand for long periods)

Pasta and sauce - plenty of veg (I like peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, corn), any sauce (but mind not all pesto is veggie, cheese or tomato and herb sauce super easy to make) or even just a couple knobs of butter and some herbs

Stir fry - again plenty of suitable veg (I like any of the aforementioned aside from tomato plus you could also have spring onion, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, beansprouts, magnetout, thinly sliced carrot, courgette) you can also have meat substitute if you like them - quorn or any number of soya or pea protein products are easily available now. Personally I prefer quorn of these but I'm also very happy having a stir fry thats "just" veggies. Sauce - dead easy to make your own as long as you have the basics in (soy sauce, tomato purée, honey, spices, garlic) or you can go ready made (even though pics and serving suggestions may include meat many are veggie or even vegan) and serve with rice, noodles or even Cous Cous.

Stews/casseroles/chilli/curry - again really easy and one pot wonders so you save in washing up too plus a great option for batch cooking and freezing and creating what I call "home made ready meals" which are ideal for busy/cba cooking days. Again you can go pure veggie, maybe using lentils in place of mince for chillis and plenty of root veg for "British" style stews and casseroles or you can also use meat substitutes. Serve with potatoes or rice or even oven chips. You can make your own gravy/sauce using stock, herbs, spices and other flavourings (really easy these are very forgiving dishes) or you can use packet sauces (again even though they might be eg "chicken casserole" but they're often veggie or even vegan)

Freezer to oven meals - you don't have to use meat subs, there are plenty of vegetable options like nut cutlets, vegetable "burgers" or fingers or grills (the kind with veggies in a breadcrumbed form) or vegetable pies (love a good pie) and just have with chips, side veg as usual.

Roast - again you can have meat sub if you want or a nut roast and then pile on roast potatoes, veg, stuffing (sage and onion usually veggie) Yorkshire puddings and veggie gravy - yum!

Any number of egg dishes, rice dishes, bean dishes, salads, wraps and sandwiches (sandwich spread is veggie)

Last night I had quorn kebabs with pitta bread and coleslaw, tonight pasta with veg, quorn rashers and pesto sauce

What you do need to watch is nutrition, plenty of dark green veggies and vit c food and drink for iron absorption, b vitamins can be a factor too

MouseholeCat · 03/05/2021 00:32

Black bean and sweet potato burrito bowl.
Stewed chickpeas (in a tomato sauce), pita and sauteed swiss chard.
Veggie fried rice with a peanut sauce.
Black bean burgers, sweet potato fries and salad.

Haven't gotten beyond that yet!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/05/2021 14:21

Great post, Graphista.

A nice way to narrow things down is to think along the lines of things like:
something with rice
a pasta meal
something with salad and new potatoes
something with mash or roast potatoes and vege etc

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