Easy Vegan Recipes

Following a vegan diet can lead to some great health benefits. An added bonus is that vegan food is typically easier to prepare than more traditional meals. Improvise easy vegan meals by combining the two main ingredients of a vegan diet: whole grains and fresh produce.

Whole grains are your friends

The first thing that all new vegans must learn is that whole grains are the key to a healthy and balanced diet. These include barley, oats, maize, millet, quinoa and many more delicious options. All good vegan recipes should contain one of these grains. Try cooking up some oats and fruit for breakfast, toss a handful of raw quinoa into your salad and serve your dinner veggies over a bed of brown rice to get the total whole grain experience.

If switching over to a vegan diet seems intimidating, consider adding vegan foods to your regular lifestyle one at a time. Exchanging dairy products like milk and ice cream for ones made of soy or rice is an easy step that you can take.

Optimize your nutrition

Vegans cut out all meat and dairy from their diets, so vegan recipes must include alternative sources of calcium and protein. For protein, look to foods like tofu, soy milk and peanut butter. For nondairy calcium, add some broccoli, collard greens or kale to your dinner plate. If more fiber is what you need, try having some blackberries or raspberries with your dessert. Remember that most grocery stores now carry vegan food options such as pasta sauce, frozen pizza, nondairy products and even cookies. Take advantage of these options to round out your vegan recipes.

Once you know the basics of vegan eating, creating recipes is easy. Begin each meal with a whole grain, add some hearty vegetables, and eat some sweet fruit for dessert. You can even use packaged products to transform your favorite old recipes into tasty vegan treats.

Vegan food is typically less expensive