This summer, I have decided to become a vegetarian for the second time in my life. I’ve always loved animals and felt disgusted by the factory farming industry, but it seemed daunting to completely change up my diet. Now that it’s summer, I have tons of time to try out new recipes, and so far I’ve found that I’m eating more delicious and well-rounded meals than ever! Even better, many of the meals I’ve come up with have been quick and easy. So, if you’re considering becoming vegetarian but are unsure about what to eat, fear not! There are easy vegetarian meals out there that you can make even at your busiest times. Here are 12 that I’ve been eating:
1. Egg, spinach, and cheese medley flatbread sandwich by Kelloggs
These breakfast sandwiches are perfect for on the go! They take less than two minutes in the microwave and are actually pretty tasty. Pair it with some fruit and coffee and you’re set.
2. Peanut butter and banana toast
This is an easy classic, and is good for you too. Just make sure to get some high-quality, whole grain bread. Add some honey to turn this into a sweet snack.
3. Oatmeal with nuts, honey, and fruit
I love oatmeal because you can pretty much add whatever you want to it to make an awesome breakfast. I like adding walnuts, dried fruit, and honey as a natural sweetener to my oatmeal.
4. Apple slices with crackers and peanut butter
There’s something so perfect about peanut butter and apples, making this snack is a no brainer. I like to buy the peanut butter crackers already made because they’re easy to pack for work, but you could easily make your own.
5. Cheese, cucumber, and flavored Triscuits.
I like to pair slices of cheese and cucumber with zesty crackers, like the rosemary and olive oil flavored Triscuits, to create a savory take on this classic snack.
6. KIND Bars
These snack bars are amazingly delicious without tons of calories and man-made sweeteners. I love the almond and coconut bars because they taste just like an Almond Joy candy bar, but are only 190 calories. Another good one to try is the dark chocolate cinnamon pecan bars.
7. Salads
Salads are the best because you can add whatever you want to them! I usually like to combine lettuce, chopped cucumbers, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, a veggie patty (Morning Star Farms isn’t the best for you, but makes some really yummy and convenient options to try. I prefer a soy-free patty like those made by the Hilary’s brand) cut into bite sizes, with either ranch or honey mustard dressing. There are tons of other combinations, though! Just make sure that you have some sort of protein in there, like nuts, cheeses, and/or beans.
8. Wraps
Just like salads, wraps are awesome because you can make them however you like. I find that I have to use large tortillas made for burritos because I like to pack them full of good stuff, and the other wraps don’t seem to hold up. My favorite wrap combination that you can try includes avocado, lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, salsa, and chickpeas.
9. Sweet potato and black bean quesadillas
Take quesadillas to the next level by adding in nutritious ingredients. I like to put sweet potato (I buy the kind you can steam in the bag via the microwave to cut back on prep time), black beans, and corn in mine.
10. Meat-free burrito bowls
Make your own burrito bowls in a snap with pre-made ingredients! Of course, if you would like to increase the nutritional value of your meal, you could skip the shortcuts and the microwave. I use Sabra’s ready to eat guacamole, Uncle Ben’s brown rice (the kind that you just heat up in the microwave), salsa, corn, sweet potatoes (again, the kind you can steam in the bag), shredded cheese, and Beyond Beef Feisty Crumbles.
11. Stir fry veggies and tofu
This one takes a bit more time and preparation, but it’s not too complicated. Drain the tofu 30 minutes in advance and chop up whatever veggies you’d like. I usually go with onion, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Then stir fry them up together with a sauce of your choice. Here’s a good recipe you can follow if you’re unsure of how to cook your tofu.
12. Lean Cuisine meals
These are perfect for when you’re too tired or busy to cook. There are a variety of meatless options available, including the delicious Vermont white cheddar mac and cheese. Pair these meals with a side salad to fill you up.
