How To Be Creative When Planning A Vegan Meal

Are you tired of eating the same old foods every day? Do you want to spice things up a bit but don’t know how? Don’t worry; being vegan doesn’t mean you have to be bored with your meals. It’s quite easy to be creative and develop new, exciting dishes that will keep you interested in cooking for yourself and others. This article will offer some simple tips for ensuring that your vegan meals are just as exciting as everyone else’s.

Use Different Flavor Profiles

Your tofu scramble has to have turmeric in it, right? If you enjoy Indian food, go ahead and use the spice regularly. But if one day you want something completely different, why not try a different spice? This way, you can break out of your flavor rut and cook foods that taste incredibly different from each other but still delicious. Some great examples of spices to use include: cinnamon, cumin, thyme, rosemary, or basil.

Try New Foods

Sure, many ingredients make a regular appearance in vegan meals but don’t get stuck on those. Try adding foods you’ve never heard of before and see the result. You might be pleasantly surprised, or it might not turn out so well. Either way, at least you tried something new and expanded your horizons a bit. And, hey, maybe you’ll find a new favorite food to use all the time!

Experiment With Different Cooking Methods

Tofu scramble is a pretty traditional way to prepare tofu, but why not try baking or grilling it? You might be surprised by the resulting flavors and textures.  Or, if you usually sauté your vegetables, how about baking them in the oven? There are so many different ways to cook with vegan ingredients that it’s just a matter of finding out what works best for you.

Make Sure You Always Have A Variety Of Ingredients On Hand

You never know when inspiration will strike, so the best thing to do is make sure you always have a variety of fresh ingredients on hand. This way, even if you have no inspiration for dinner tonight, you can still whip something up because you have all the makings for it already. Here are some foods that are great to keep in your pantry or fridge for those times when you need them:

Noodles: spaghetti, ramen, soba

Rice: white rice, brown rice, wild rice, basmati, or jasmine

Beans: black beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans

Protein substitutes for meat: tofu, tempeh, seitan 

Nuts: cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans

Oils: olive oil, coconut oil

Spices: turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, garlic powder

Whole Grains: quinoa, oats (not technically a whole grain but still high in fiber and nutrients), couscous

Vegetables: carrots, onions, celery

Fruit: apples, bananas

This list is by no means exhaustive; it’s just to get you started. But if you make sure your pantry and fridge always have these ingredients, you’ll never be at a loss for something to make for dinner again!

Plan Ahead

If you have a busy week coming up, it may be wise to cook extra food on the weekends, so you have plenty of leftovers for lunchtime. This not only saves you money but also ensures that your meals are unique and exciting! For many people, planning a meal can be a fun and exciting activity that leaves them feeling satisfied at the end of the day. If you’re struggling to think of new meal plans, try some of these tricks and see if they don’t help!

Spice Things Up With Some Vegan Cheese

Okay, so it may not be the healthiest option. But if you’re in a bind and need something to bring your meal together quickly, vegan cheese is your friend. There are also plenty of healthy recipes for making your own at home. Try coconut oil-based cream cheese with fresh chives or cashew ricotta with red pepper flakes. You can also make your own healthy vegan pizza with marinara sauce, vegetables, and vegan cheese.

Try One New Dish Every Week

Once you’ve found recipes that are easy to make and don’t require too many unusual ingredients, start trying something new every week. Use your favorite cooking apps or check out an online recipe site for inspiration. You’d be surprised by how simple it is to make your meals exciting again! Try new spices, cooking methods, and recipes to keep yourself interested.

Get Inspired Online

There are some fabulous vegan YouTubers out there who make cooking easy and fun. It’s no wonder so many people have turned to YouTube for recipe inspiration! Youtubers like Hannah Hart, Kalel, and Buzzfeed Food are all great choices to get your creative juices flowing. You can also find some fantastic recipes that are veganized versions of classic comfort foods on this list of healthy vegan YouTube channels.

Utilize The Buddy System

After you’ve tried a few new vegan dishes, make sure your friends are doing the same! Don’t be shy — bring them along to the grocery store or share recipes with each other online. Not only will they appreciate your creativity, but you’ll get plenty of opportunities to try out new foods. A friend can be a great resource when you’re looking for inspiration. Plus, what better way to make sure your vegan lifestyle is sustainable?

Try A Vegan Meal Service In Your Area

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants aren’t the only ones that can offer exciting vegan meals. Suppose you don’t want to cook but still want to try something different. In that case, many organizations in most major cities provide vegan meals for anyone in need of a healthy meal. This is a great opportunity to get used to trying new dishes and meeting like-minded people.

Conclusion

You may think that planning a vegetarian or vegan meal is difficult, but there are many options. With the right planning and inspiration, you’ll never have to worry about cooking boring vegan meals again!