Switching to a plant-based diet

[Anonymous]

My mom had a heart attack a few weeks ago and her cardiologist recommended switching to a plant-based diet. She was largely plant-based anyway, I think - she doesn’t eat much.

Anyway, I’m thinking about switching to a plant-based diet now. DH mentioned that a lot of good recipes are a ton of work. Does anyone have recipes that are easy and tasty? I’m a working mom so things I can prep the night before are especially good. My third grader does okay with salads and my first grader does okay if he likes it. I don’t own a food processor or mixer.

Thank you for any ideas or tips!

[Anonymous]

Curries are pretty easy, and can use mushrooms, sweet potatoes, lentils and other veggies as a base. Serve it over rice. I use jarred curry sauce.

Mexican is easy to adapt as well using beans and/or mushrooms. If you're not avoiding dairy it's even tastier.

Tofu is kind of a pain to make on a weeknight.

If you can meal prep on the weekends you can make soups/stews.

[Anonymous]

Check out A Dozen Cousins and Maya Kaimal premade lentils, beans and curries. They are vegan and fantastic over rice, or with vegetables. I eat meat but do vegetarian meals a lot. Very busy right now with two kids under three so I spend a bit more to get really quick and simple healthy stuff.

When I’m on my game I make and freeze soups, curries etc.

Tofu takes a while to get the hang off but is worth learning. I personally don’t like tempeh but many do. I also use nuts, seeds, hemp hearts, chia, etc to add nutritional value to oatmeal, smoothies, etc.

It can be hard to cut over to being completely plant based. If you don’t have a lot of good go to recipes, you will end up over-relying on processed plant foods which are fine occasionally but not what you want to live off of. Unsolicited advice, but consider starting slow.

[Anonymous]

I like to keep things simple. For dinner I sauté a veggie with olive oil, salt and pepper; pick a grain such as rice, polenta, farro; and a type of bean or legume.

Black beans and rice, peppers and onions on the side
Polenta topped with mushrooms, side of chickpeas
Bulgur mixed with chickpeas, herbs and cucumbers, side of broccoli
Farro with chickpeas and tomatoes, side of green beans
Lentils over rice, side of Brussels sprouts

I deconstruct for my young kids and they eat the portions of the meal they like, along with additional stuff (often string cheese or toast, lots of fruit).

I e been a vegetarian for 35 years and I don’t own a food processor or mixer so I think you will be ok

I don’t personally recommend any of the processed proteins like tofu or seitan or whatever trendy mock meat is current, but you may like something like the impossible burger.

I’m terrible at meal planning so this makes it easy for me!

[Anonymous]

We’re a veggie family with a picky kid and these are our lifesavers:
-Pasta made from lentils or chickpeas combined with pasta made from brown rice and quinoa. You have to cook them separately, but I make a box of each and have leftovers for lunches.
-Edamame is great because if your kids like it, you can find it at a lot of restaurants. We also used it as a gateway to tofu. Firm or extra firm tofu cut into strips and baked was known as edamame fries at our house for a long time.
-Eggs, if they work for you. We eat them every day so I don’t stress as much about protein the rest of the time. Also breakfast for dinner like eggs and pancakes.
-Avocados are great for healthy fats.
-Beans in tacos, beans and rice, etc.
-We also do deconstructed versions of the meal for our kid too because he doesn’t like spicy or most sauces.

The part I found hardest about switching to veg was changing how I planned a meal. Before it was meat and a side now it requires thinking about the meal more as a whole like roasted sweet potatoes with broccoli and white beans.

[Anonymous]

Highly recommend switching to higher protein grain—that makes it easier. I like farro a lot but I know others like quinoa. Brown rice is good.
Trader Joe’s makes good precooked lentils. You can replace ground beef with those lentils in a lot of recipes.
Cookie and Kate has some good recipes.
I like the falafel recipe on once upon a cook but it does take a bit of time.
Trader Joe’s also has a really nice miso sauce—you can just add some greens and chopped tofu and scallions for a nice soup.
Another easy one is what I call three sisters quesadillas—mashed butternut squash, mashed black beans, sorinkle some corn and some cheddar cheese. So yummy.
White beans sautéed with garlic and sage over polenta or pasta is really good. You can add some greens to that too.

[Anonymous]

When did we stop saying vegetarian? And vegan? Why do we need rebranding so the millennials can feel like they created something that exists already?

[Anonymous]

Lifelong vegetarian who hates to cook - here are some recipes I make that are not hard, and are really tasty:

https://minimalistbaker.com/enchilada-stuffed-butternut-squash/

https://minimalistbaker.com/1-pot-golden-curry-lentil-soup/

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-black-bean-burgers/

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016062-red-lentil-soup-with-lemon

Another regular is to roast some broccoli, throw tofu in the air fryer, and make an easy peanut sauce. Rice on the side.

Good luck and I hope your mom is recovering well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did we stop saying vegetarian? And vegan? Why do we need rebranding so the millennials can feel like they created something that exists already?

Plant based does not mean vegetarian or vegan. It means eating animal products sparingly. Ie, not an all out abstention.

[Anonymous]

What is your level of cooking skills?
Depending on that you will have to learn or you might already be great at it.
Cooking plant based doens't mean no meat, but way less meat.
Do you know how to sautee onions, carrots and celery for bases of dishes?
I am suprised your DH says good recipes are a ton of work, I mean isn't that something we can say about meat based dishes too?
What do you want to eat? What do you like eating? Start with that, and then take it up. If you cook zuchinni and you hate it, you will order pizza that day, waste money and time.
Tell me what veggies and grains you like, and I will give you some recipes.
I learned to cook from my grandma born in 1910. I still cook the same way she used to cook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did we stop saying vegetarian? And vegan? Why do we need rebranding so the millennials can feel like they created something that exists already?

I thought Micheal Pollan was the face of ‘eat, mostly plants ‘ thing. He is not a millennial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did we stop saying vegetarian? And vegan? Why do we need rebranding so the millennials can feel like they created something that exists already?

Specifically to make you feel less special and to steal your thunder when you tell people you are vegetarian or vegan?

Honestly, who cares. As long as people are doing what is healthy for them, call it whatever you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When did we stop saying vegetarian? And vegan? Why do we need rebranding so the millennials can feel like they created something that exists already?

Specifically to make you feel less special and to steal your thunder when you tell people you are vegetarian or vegan?

Honestly, who cares. As long as people are doing what is healthy for them, call it whatever you want.

I think plant based is a way of saying I'm going to eat mostly vegetables, so of those "better than" products but I'm totally having a burger or bacon when I NEED to so I don't want to put myself in a box. I mean, plant based could be mostly vegetables with a meal of cocaine, so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curries are pretty easy, and can use mushrooms, sweet potatoes, lentils and other veggies as a base. Serve it over rice. I use jarred curry sauce.

Mexican is easy to adapt as well using beans and/or mushrooms. If you're not avoiding dairy it's even tastier.

Tofu is kind of a pain to make on a weeknight.

If you can meal prep on the weekends you can make soups/stews.

Why does "Curry" exist when it's a food, but not when it's a smell?

[Anonymous]

Buy Beano OP!