5 Easy Plant Based Dinners

5 Easy Plant Based Dinners

More and more people are incorporating more veggie meal plans into their healthy eating plans. Plant-based diets are really all the rage, primarily for their natural, whole food qualities and high vitamin and antioxidant content.

While the benefits are clear, you do have to think carefully about any plant based diet. In particular, getting enough protein in a vegan diet can be a big challenge, and plant based protein isn’t nearly as diverse in its amino acid content as animal protein. This presents a further challenge to those who work out and stay active.

In order to help you make the right plant based diet decisions, make sure you check out my article on Vegan Sports Nutrition here.

If you’re especially concerns about getting enough protein, I’ve outlined the Best Vegan Protein Sources here. There are a lot of options if you do your research!

That being said, it’s often day-to-day variety that is the biggest challenge to plant based eating. So to help you out, I’m offering up 5 super easy plant based dinners.

5 Easy Plant Based Dinners

1. Double Baked Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Wash a few sweet potatoes (1 per person) and bake them for 30 to 40 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. (If you’re short on time, you can also cook them in the microwave. Just poke them with a fork in a few spots and heat on high for 5-7 minutes.)

When cooked, slice down the middle and scoop out some of the sweet potato. In a separate bowl, mix with steamed veggies of your choice, guacamole, and salsa or tomato sauce. Put them back in the oven and bake for another 5-8 minutes.

2. Easy Pasta Primavera

Cook a package of whole grain whole wheat pasta (depending on number of servings needed) until al dente (preferably linguine, spaghetti, or spaghettini). Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and top with steamed veggies of your choice (zucchini or egg plant are great for adding lots of flavor along with kidney beans and pistachios for the protein!). To better incorporate the flavors, add the mixture to a frying pan and heat on low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes.

3. Spinach and Avocado Salad

In a large mixing bowl, add the desired amount of fresh baby spinach (organic preferred). Drizzle in a 1-to-1 mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (or use salad dressing of your choice). Add sliced avocado (high in protein), half a can of rinsed black beans, and your choice of veggies (corn kernels and tomatoes go well), plus a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds and a couple sliced strawberries.

4. Veggie Thin Crust Pizza

Using a whole wheat or whole grain thin pizza crust or a whole what tortilla, top with tomato sauce and veggies of your choice (mushrooms, zucchini, and red peppers are a good combination). If desired, top with a cheese alternative (shredded). Bake at 375 degree Fahrenheit for 8 to 10 minutes.

5. Bean Burritos

Warm up a whole what tortilla on a plate for 10-20 seconds. Remove from microwave and add refried or whole beans (black beans work best), veggies of choice (grilled peppers taste delicious), whole grain brown rice, guacamole, and salsa. Wrap and serve.

Have any questions or feedback about these 5 Easy Plant Based Dinners? Please leave a comment below…