Vegan Meal Prepping Like a Pro

Meal prepping is a great way to not only save time and money, it also ensures you plan well to get in all the nutrition you need to thrive on a plant-based lifestyle. Guest writer, Reese Jones, shares her top tips for vegan meal prepping like a pro…

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Meal prepping is a smart and strategic way of making sure that you are always eating healthy. This is especially important for vegans who often make substitutions for common ingredients.

Nutritionists list the recommended portions for vegan meals; the size of a clenched fist for carbs, the palm of your hand for protein, and a cupped hand for nuts and seeds.

Servings for fruits and vegetables should be five portions – at the very least – per day. There are other recommended portions for snacks to eat throughout the day, but you can always customize these to your liking and personal needs. This should be a helpful guide when you are prepping your vegan meals.

Here’s how to do it like a pro…

Make a list and check it twice

The secret to expert meal planning is to be as organized as possible. Meal prepping is a great way to save time and money, and an even better way to start your week.

You can begin by researching some vegan recipes you want to make which you can envision yourself cooking based on your week’s schedule.

Make a list of basic ingredients you will be needing from the grocery depending on these recipes, but leave some room for free-styling, depending on what looks fresh when you arrive at the store.

When you get back home, do an inventory again of everything you have. This will allow you to determine what needs to be prepared ahead of time – like chopping vegetables, sautéing sauces, or storing cooked grains.

Create customizable bases

A worry people may have about vegan diets is that they will not get a sufficient amount of protein due to the absence of meat, but this can be solved quite easily with whole grains.

Whole grains are actually a great source of protein that you can cook in several different ways. They even contain numerous minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

These are actually quite simple to prepare if you have the right appliances. A rice cooker, for example is a very handy tool in every vegan kitchen, especially if you love a good curry! Or an appliance such as an Instant Pot, tackles several jobs in one gadget and makes a great investment.

They also allow you to make big batches of grains at the start of the week, which you can then turn into a base for various dishes. One Bite Vegan has even covered some grain-based meals, like Buddha bowls, quinoa salads, and savory oatmeals.

Cooking batches of whole grains ahead of time will assure you that you will never go hungry or run out of exciting combinations to experiment with.

Choose your storage wisely

Make sure that you choose the right storage options to ensure that none of your food spoils.

Opt for reusable Tupperware containers as these come in a number of shapes depending on how large your meals are. This will be a helpful guide if you are watching your portions and want to ensure that you fit the right amount of nutrients in every meal.

These are also microwave-friendly, which will save you lots of time if you pre-assemble your meals. You can also use these to store prepped ingredients to be incorporated into your meals throughout the week.

Glass containers can be used for bigger batches of food that need to be stored in the freezer. Seal these as tight as possible to avoid any sort of contamination.

Following these suggestions is a great way to start prepping your vegan meals. Once you get into the habit, you’ll never look back.

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Reese Jones is a yoga teacher and a vegan fitness coach. She is passionate about promoting sustainable and healthy habits to help make the world a better place. When she’s not with a student, you’ll find her meditating in the local park with her dachshund, Carrot.

 

Looking for recipes to help with your meal prepping? Give these a go!

20 Vegan ‘Bowl’ Recipes

20 Healthy Vegan Salad Recipes

20 Protein Packed Vegan Bean Recipes

20 Vegan Instant Pot Recipes

20 Vegan Sheet Pan Recipes

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