The Smoothie Vegetarians

When life gets busy, it can be helpful to have some quick recipes and meal ideas to help with getting through the day. Here are some good ideas for when you want some delicious foods. These recipes can be helpful if you want to snack or you can make larger portions for a full meal. The first idea is a chicken alternative with an Asian themed side dish. Trader Joes seems to have a lot of good frozen options that can go well with this. Gardein can also be bought at a lot of grocery stores and it comes with a lot of good meat alternatives. I like to use either Gardein or one of the Trader Joes meat alternatives to make dishes like these. There is also Kung Pao cauliflower which is also really good. If you cook it for a bit longer than what the package says it will also ake the cauliflower more crispy if that is your preference. On the side I sometimes like to have some veggie spring rolls dipped in a spicy sauce. I will either pair this with rice or no...

During the week, you may want to make quick, but flavorful vegan meals. I have a few awesome suggestions for weekly vegan meals. First off, one of my favorites is ravioli, but it can be made with a healthier twist. The brand rising moon has a  lot of good flavors to choose from such as butternut squash. The brand also has other flavors including garlic and roasted veggie as well as spinach florentine. For this meal, you can put any sort of plant-based sauce. Sometimes I use a tomato based sauce, sometimes I use a red bell pepper based sauce. or I may also use a homemade white sauce. For a white sauce you can blend cashews, garlic, and any other spices you want to create a creamy sauce. I also like to have some veggies sauteed on the side for more health benefits. It can also be helpful to have some frozen things if you are extra busy like myself. The brands Sweet Earth, Beyond Meat,...

Sometimes it can be helpful to meal prep for the week, especially if you are typically really busy. Here are some recipes that may be good for you if you want to make some good meals for yourself and your loved ones. One meal you could do is take some of the Gardein Chicken tenders and bake those. You can put them over some rice or shredded veggies with some seasoning. I usually put a lemon on the side to add some extra flavor. Another thing that I typically put lemon on is some fishless fillets by Gardein. I had this with some cauliflower rice with lemon and garlic to flavor it. I also decided to have some zucchini on the side for extra vegetables. Another meal I love making wraps with some tortilla chips. For this above, you can stuff a tortilla with cucumber, tomato, hummus, and any other veggies that could be added. This is a great meal that can be healthy but filling. I like to have tortilla chips and salsa on the side as well. The last one that I wa...

There are a few options besides fast food that you have for during a flare or are too tired, when you're not up to cooking, or not up for cooking a lot. These are the tips I've figured out over the years: Meal prep, and cook in batches. At the beginning of your week, meal prep your food (or the middle, depending on your schedule, and whether you work or not). Or make a large batch of a dish, or a few dishes. Things like soup, chili, and pasta all keep and reheat well. There are practically endless options online, especially on apps/sites like pinterest . Plenty of other suggestions  here . It's really helpful for me to cook in large batches and have leftovers in the fridge or freezer to reheat. Your circumstances may be slightly different, and you may find it more desirable to cook smaller amounts more frequently. Just do whatever you prefer. Have items on hand to make food prep and storage easier. Such as food processor or mini-chopper; blender; rice cooke...

I like to make a lot of Asian inspired meals. I have been learning how to cook over the years, and the more I do it, the more I find out what I like to eat. Some of my top meals are of this type because I love the flavors. I prefer foods that are spicy, but from time to time I like to have foods with sweet and sour sauces. With all of these ways to customize meals, I can change things up and make both eating and cooking an enjoyable experience. For a while, it was a challenge to find certain ingredients in the store, but as these vegan brands are expanding, they are becoming more easily accessible to the population. I am delighted to find out that more and more people are trying these vegan products!!! (photos by Danielle) I usually have a number of ingredients, but I switch it up depending on what sauce I plan on using and what other ingredients I have in my house at the time, usually I make recipes consisting of veggies and a grain. I like to use the sweet and...

This dish is fun, bright, and full of flavor. I really enjoy playing with exotic flavors and this sauce is amazing. With ginger, toasted sesame oil, vinegar, and maple syrup, it is very well-balanced; I use it for darn-near everything!  There is such a wide variety of veggies that textures are abound, and everyone in the family can eat and be pleased—even the littles will like it. It can be made with brown rice, yakisoba noodles, or eaten plain. It is vegan and without noodles, gluten-free! Enjoy, Tara Ingredients:     ¼ head of small purple cabbage     3 dino kale leaves     1 baby bok choy     ½ orange bell pepper     1 head of broccoli     Handful of shiitake mushrooms     ½ large zucchini     8 oz. extra firm tofu, diced Sesame Ginger Sauce     3 tbsp. Tamari (or soy sauce)     2 tbsp. rice ...